Creamy Lemon & Garlic Pasta with Crispy Breadcrumbs

This may be my favorite pasta recipe…ever! It’s lemony, garlicky, creamy and the breadcrumbs give it crunch! Everyone loves pasta and this one is so simple and flavorful that I’m sure it will become one of your favorites as well! Toss in some grilled shrimp or chicken to make it a little heartier and add some protein! It would be perfect anytime of the year, but the lemon gives this dish so much freshness along with the thyme! The flavor combination is just perfection

The pasta water in the recipe is very important so be sure not to drain it after cooking! I cooked my pasta to al dente and left it in the water until it was time to add it to the sauce! That way, it’s very easy to just dip into the pot for more pasta water when you need it! Also don’t skimp on the freshly ground black pepper because it adds so much flavor! I also added my favorite seasoning…Honey Aleppo Pepper to the breadcrumb mixture which gave it a salty, slightly sweet taste with a little bite! It you haven’t tried this pepper, you are missing out! I put it on everything and could eat it right out of the jar!

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Creamy Lemon & Garlic Spaghetti with Crispy Breadcrumbs

Yield: 3

Author: Suzanne Smith

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 30 Min

The flavors in this pasta are indescribably delicious!

Ingredients

• 5 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
• 3 generous tablespoons olive oil plus more to finish
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1 generous cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1-1/2 cup pasta water from cooked pasta
• Lots of freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound spaghetti or pasta of choice
• Sea salt to taste
• Juice and zest from 1 lemon
• Crunchy Crispy Breadcrumbs (recipe below)

Crunchy Bread Crumbs

• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon Honey Aleppo Pepper (optional but very delish)
• Heat butter in a small skillet, add breadcrumbs and thyme. Cook, stirring frequently until golden brown and crunchy

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions in salted water.
2. Heat a large skillet and add olive oil, garlic, crushed red pepper and thyme leaves. Stir over low heat for a minute or two. Add black pepper and btter to the pan.
3. Add 1/2 cup of the pasta water, Parmesan, lemon juice and zest and stir. Add the additional pasta water and stir to combine over medium heat.
4. To the same skillet, add cooked pasta. Add more pasta water if necessary, salt to taste and more parmesan.
5. Serve with additional b lack pepper, lemon zest and Parmesan and top with crunchy breadcrumbs.

Created using The Recipes Generator

This pasta recipe was partly inspired by a handmade bowl I was gifted a few days ago from a local company called Haand! Haand manufactures the most beautiful pieces and they sell to hotels and restaurants all over the world! We are so fortunate to have their retail space right here in Burlington! You can also shop for these amazing pieces on their website! The bowl pictured here is the perfect size for a pound of pasta and so pretty!

I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday! My daughter Rebecca is coming home for a few days to help me celebrate my birthday and I couldn’t be more excited to start the festivities!

I’m sure you’ll love this recipe as much as I do and please let me know if you make it! As always…I LOVE your comments! I don’t always have time to answer them right away but I promise I’ll get to them and really appreciate each and every one! Thanks so much for reading Crazy Blonde Life!