Description
Creamy Roast Garlic and Lemon Pasta Sauce is a bold and silky pasta sauce featuring roasted garlic, fresh lemon zest and juice, and rich cream. Perfect for spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne, this comforting yet zesty sauce is ideal for weeknight dinners or elegant meals. Try it with grilled chicken or veggies for a full-flavor dish. A must-try pasta sauce recipe for garlic lovers.
Ingredients
1 head garlic
1 large lemon (zest and juice)
1 cup heavy cream
0.5 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
Salt and black pepper to taste
12 ounces pasta of choice
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice the top off the garlic head, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast for 30–35 minutes until golden and soft.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
3. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Squeeze roasted garlic from skins into the pan and mash. Add lemon zest and juice. Stir in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
4. Stir in parmesan until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Add reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency.
5. Toss drained pasta into sauce. Let sit 1–2 minutes to absorb flavors. Serve hot with extra cheese or lemon zest if desired.
Notes
Roast the garlic ahead of time and refrigerate—it keeps for up to 4 days.
You can substitute plant-based cream and cheese to make this recipe vegan.
This sauce makes a great base for grilled proteins or veggies.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Pasta Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 90mg