Lemon Brown Butter Pasta

5 from 3 votes

This simple + easy pasta dinner has a bright and savory lemon brown-butter sauce and crunchy lemon-herb breadcrumb topping that truly makes this one a hit for the entire family!

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Total Time25

Course: Main Course

Keyword: breadcrumbs, brown butter, easy, family-friendly, gluten-free, homemade, kid-friendly, lemon, meatless, pasta, skillet, vegan, vegetarian, weeknight

Servings: servings

Calories: 525kcal

Author: Shanika

Ingredients

PASTA:

1 (16 oz.) package Ribbon-shaped pasta (I use Tagliatelle; See Post for Info!)

SAUCE:

½ cup unsalted butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 lemon, freshly-squeezed
1 teaspoon lemon zest
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon dried thyme
Pinch of red pepper flakes
1-1 ½ cups freshly-grated parmesan

ROASTED TOMATOES [OPTIONAL]:

2 cups Herb Roasted Tomatoes

LEMON BREADCRUMBS:

1 cup breadcrumbs, homemade or store-bought
1-2 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 lemon, thinly sliced

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

ROAST THE TOMATOES [OPTIONAL]:

To roast the tomatoes, see my Herb Roasted Tomatoes recipe.

COOK THE PASTA:

Cook pasta according to packaging. NOTE: Tagliatelle cooks about the same time as other pastas, usually 7-10 minutes, depending on brand.

TO MAKE THE LEMON BREADCRUMBS:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a bowl, add the breadcrumbs, garlic powder, parsley, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, thyme, and olive oil together, mixing until combined and "semi-wet" in texture. Add mixture unto prepared baking sheet along with thinly sliced lemon (nestling them in between the breadcrumbs a bit and on the side) and bake for 5-8 minutes or until crumbs are golden brown and crispy. Remove from oven and let cool.

TO MAKE THE BROWN BUTTER:

In a large 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter, stirring occasionally and letting it cook for 3-4 minutes, until dark bits begin to form and the entire butter becomes fragrant and darker.

TO MAKE THE SAUCE:

In the same skillet with the brown butter over medium-low heat, add the garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute or so, until fragrant.
Add the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, oregano, parsley, smoked paprika, thyme, and red pepper flakes, stirring to combine. Add the lemon juice and lemon zest, stirring to combine. Add the drained cooked pasta and tossing in lemon-brown butter sauce until coated. Lastly, add in the grated parmesan, continuing to toss until coated. Remove form heat.
Serve immediately in your prepared plate(s) or bowl(s) and top pasta with spoonfuls of lemon breadcrumbs, additional freshly-grated parmesan, and a few roasted lemon wedges, if desired.
Bon Appetit!

Notes

STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days.
OIL: You can also use coconut oil or grapeseed oil, instead of olive oil.
PASTA: You can use long pastas like Pappardelle, Fettuccine, etc. however, I would recommend tossing with tongs to ensure that pasta is fully manageable and fully coated. Otherwise, other pastas such as Penne, Rigatoni, Paccheri, Orecchiette, etc. are perfect.
GREENS: To add a bit more flavor to this dish, you can always feel free to add in your favorite greens such as kale, spinach, broccolini, collards, or asparagus.
GLUTEN-FREE: To make this dish GF, simply use Gluten-Free pasta and ensure that the breadcrumbs is GF-friendly.
VEGAN OPTION: To make this dish entire vegan, simply substitute the butter with vegan butter. Also, sub the parmesan with vegan parmesan.
EQUIPMENT: Here, I’ve curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Lemon Brown Butter Pasta . Everything from my fave high-powered blender, baking sheets, wooden spoons, mixing bowls, and more.

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