• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hungry Healthy Happy
  • 4th July recipes
  • About
  • Recipes
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • 4th July recipes
  • About
  • Recipes
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • 4th July recipes
    • About
    • Recipes
    • FREE eBook
    • Contact
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Pasta

    Creamy Lemon Pasta

    Published: Oct 2, 2019 · Modified: Oct 7, 2021 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 19 Comments

    857 shares
    • 216
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Creamy Lemon Pasta with a text title overlay.

    Just 15 minutes is all it takes to get this light and creamy pasta dish on the table. Bursting with zesty flavour, this Creamy Lemon Pasta packs a green veggie punch too with some spinach thrown in for good measure. It's lemony, slightly cheesy, full of basil and it will hit the spot when you want some lighter comfort food.

    A blue rimmed dish containing a vegetable pasta dish.

    Pasta is a total comfort food, but that doesn't mean that it can't be light and fresh too. We used lemon and basil to lift this pasta dish and make it wonderfully light, but still a filling meal. Great as a main dish or a smaller portion as a side.

    Bored of the same heavy tomato based sauces with your pasta? Well, it's time to try something new and this lemon pasta sauce is just the thing you need.

    Looking for some other ways to cook with lemon? Why not try our Lemon Herb Chicken, Roasted Lemon Asparagus, Lemon Rosemary Chicken or Lemon Basil Chicken.

    Jump to:
    • Why should you try it?
    • What you will need
    • Step by step
    • Variations
    • What to serve with lemon pasta
    • FAQ
    • Extra tips
    • More pasta recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why should you try it?

    • Quick - This pasta dish is ready in just 15 minutes. It's as simple as cooking the pasta and spinach and then mixing everything together.
    • Low calories - Whilst pasta cake be high in calories, this is only 350 calories per portion because we used Greek yoghurt for the creamy sauce. We have given options below on how to adapt this though.
    • Easy to adapt - This pasta dish is really easy to adapt with different vegetables. More on that below!
    • A delicious BBQ side - This doesn't just have to be a main meal, it's perfect with a burger or grilled chicken as a burger side.

    What you will need

    • Wholewheat fusilli pasta - We like wholewheat because it has a little more fibre and we like the almost nutty flavour. You could swap the fusilli for another pasta shape like penne, however the creamy sauce clings well to the fusilli.
    • Cherry tomatoes - You could swap these for sun-dried tomatoes for some extra flavour.
    • Spinach - A great way to give a green veggie boost to this creamy lemon pasta dish. You could swap it for kale or rocket (arugula).
    • Garlic
    • 0% Greek yogurt - This is a great way to make a creamy sauce, but keeping it lower in fat and calories. It does make it a little tart, but the lemon juice helps with this. If you don't want to use Greek yoghurt, then you could use creme fraiche or mayo instead.
    • A lemon - Just the juice and zest is needed for this recipe.
    • Fresh basil
    • Parmesan, grated - A delicious way to make it creamy. You could swap it for feta or a crumbled goats cheese.
    All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.

    Step by step

    One: Put the pasta in to a pan of boiling water and simmer for 12 minutes.

    A saucepan containing cooked fusilli pasta in water.

    Two: Add the spinach 2 minutes before the pasta is done.

    A saucepan containing spinach and water.

    Three: Drain the pasta and spinach

    A colander containing drained cooked pasta and spinach.

    Four: Put it back in the pan with the rest of the ingredients and season with salt and pepper.

    A saucepan containing cooked pasta, chopped spinach, chopped tomatoes, yogurt, cheese and seasoning.

    Five: Mix well and serve in bowls with a sprinkle of fresh basil on top.

    Pasta, spinach, tomatoes and lemon zest mixed together.

    Variations

    We used spirals of nutty wholewheat pasta, but you could use any pasta shape that you already have. Try to use something that the sauce will cling really well too. We like to use linguine sometimes too.

    If you wanted to make a lower carb version of this, then swap some of the pasta for courgette (zucchini) noodles.

    Now, let's talk about this sauce - it couldn't be easier. There is no cooking involved when it comes to the sauce, as you just stir all the ingredients in to the cooked pasta and it gently heats it through before serving.

    Just a few spoonfuls of Greek yogurt, lemon juice and zest, some herbs, garlic and a little parmesan and you have yourself a creamy and comforting pasta sauce with no cooking and minimal effort. I call that a win!

    You could swap the Greek yogurt for creme fraiche or mayonnaise, and use an oat creme fraiche to keep this pasta dish vegan.

    What to serve with lemon pasta

    This is a healthy and nutritious meal on its own. However, you could serve it with a big green salad like our Little Gem Salad, some Roasted Cherry Tomatoes or some roasted broccoli and asparagus. Garlic bread always goes well with a pasta dish too.

    Sometimes we serve this pasta dish as a side at a BBQ, as it goes really well with BBQ Honey and Lime Chicken or Hidden Vegetable Beef Burgers.

    Fusilli pasta and spinach in a white bowl.

    FAQ

    How to store lemon pasta

    If you have leftovers, then you can keep them in the fridge for 2 days. I wouldn't recommend reheating the pasta dish, but eating it cold instead. It's great as an easy to to work lunch.

    My lemon pasta is too lemony

    We love a strong lemon flavour, however if it's a bit too over powering for you then you could add a very very small pinch of baking soda. It's a really effective way of counteracting a lemon flavour, but go easy with it.

    Can I add chicken to lemon pasta?

    We have kept this Lemon Pasta meat free (you would need to use a Parmesan alternative for it to be vegetarian), but you could add some sliced grilled chicken breast to it to bulk it out a bit, or even some cooked king prawns. It's also delicious with some grilled salmon.

    Can I add extra vegetables to lemon pasta?

    We love any dish that has an opportunity to add lots of vegetables, and this is definitely one of them. There is already spinach in it, that can be swapped for kale or rocket. However you could also cook some peas and sweetcorn with the pasta or even add some roasted vegetables for something a little more filling. Asparagus is also a really good addition.

    Is lemon pasta gluten free?

    If you use your favourite gluten free pasta and make sure that there is no cross contamination, then this is a delicious gluten free meal.

    Extra tips

    • For an extra protein boost, add some grilled chicken breast before serving.
    • If you want to keep this vegetarian, use a vegetarian parmesan alternative.
    • Want to make this lemon pasta vegan? Swap the Greek yogurt or something like Oatly creme fraiche and use a vegan parmesan alternative.
    • Feel free to change the herbs and use what you have that needs using. We find that finely chopped rosemary works well too.
    • We added spinach, but other greens like kale or cabbage would work well too.
    • Save a little bit of the pasta water to add to the dish - this loosens the sauce a little and adds some creaminess.

    More pasta recipes

    • Cherry Tomato Pasta
    • Instant Pot Chicken Pasta
    • Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta
    • Roasted Ratatouille Pasta

    Do you want to be kept up to date on more delicious posts like this? Please subscribe to the blog mailing list (it takes 30 seconds).
    Click here to sign up.

    If you’ve tried this Creamy Lemon Pasta recipe, or any other recipe on the blog, then let us know how you got on in the comments below, we love hearing from you!
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - we love sharing photos when people make our recipes. You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    DON’T FORGET TO RATE THE RECIPE ↓

    Recipe

    Creamy Lemon Pasta in a round white bowl.

    Creamy Lemon Pasta

    Just 15 minutes is all it takes to get this light and creamy Lemon Pasta dish on the table. Bursting with zesty spring flavour, it packs a veggie punch too.
    the words low fat in a white circle.
    Low Fat
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    4.96 from 21 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print
    Course: Lunch
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 3 minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Allergen:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    An illustration of two ears of wheat.
    Gluten
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 353kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 140 g wholewheat pasta
    • 10 cherry tomatoes quartered
    • 180 g spinach
    • 1 garlic clove crushed
    • 1 lemon juice and zest only
    • 6 tablespoon 0% Greek yogurt
    • 20 g fresh basil finely chopped
    • 20 parmesan grated

    Instructions

    • Put the pasta in to a pan of boiling water and simmer for 12 minutes.
    • Add the spinach 2 minutes before the pasta is done.
    • Drain the pasta and spinach
    • Put it back in the pan with the rest of the ingredients and season with salt and pepper.
    • Mix well and serve in bowls with a sprinkle of fresh basil on top.

    Notes

    • For an extra protein boost, add some grilled chicken breast before serving.
    • If you want to keep this vegetarian, use a vegetarian parmesan alternative.
    • Want to make this lemon pasta vegan? Swap the Greek yogurt or something like Oatly creme fraiche and use a vegan parmesan alternative.
    • Feel free to change the herbs and use what you have that needs using. We find that finely chopped rosemary works well too.
    • We added spinach, but other greens like kale or cabbage would work well too.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 266mg | Potassium: 942mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 9485IU | Vitamin C: 75.6mg | Calcium: 329mg | Iron: 6.2mg
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @hungryhealthyhappy on Instagram and tag #hungryhealthyhappy!
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
    « The Ultimate Hummus Sandwich
    Salsa Picante »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sara

      October 02, 2019 at 10:09 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so good! I am going to make this for my meal prep this week. I bet it would go great with some grilled tofu or salmon.

      Reply
    2. Romina

      October 02, 2019 at 9:59 pm

      5 stars
      This looks absolutely delicious!

      Reply
    3. SHANIKA

      October 02, 2019 at 9:15 pm

      5 stars
      This Pasta really does look so creamy and delicious! I love that you've used Greek Yogurt as the base and the awesome tips within the post for adding additional nutrition. Just perfect!

      Reply
    4. Emese

      October 02, 2019 at 9:11 pm

      5 stars
      I love everything that is pasta and ready under 15 minutes. With two kids running around, I need quick and easy. Thanks for sharing it.

      Reply
    5. Kushigalu

      October 02, 2019 at 8:40 pm

      5 stars
      Pasta with full of flavors. Love the recipe!

      Reply
    6. Emily

      October 02, 2019 at 8:15 pm

      5 stars
      I love this idea for lemon pasta and I totally add chicken to boost protein. Yum!

      Reply
    7. Alison

      October 02, 2019 at 5:57 pm

      5 stars
      This is a quick and easy dish to make on busy weeknights and it's so full of flavor! I love the lemon. I used a dairy free yogurt and it turned out great!

      Reply
    8. Ellen

      October 02, 2019 at 5:36 pm

      My lemon tree is finally producing and I'm looking for yummy recipes! This will be perfect to try.

      Reply
    9. Sapana

      October 02, 2019 at 5:32 pm

      5 stars
      Pretty sure I'll be making this pasta all season long - so so delicious!

      Reply
    10. Rebecca

      October 02, 2019 at 5:18 pm

      5 stars
      great idea to add Greek yogurt to this dish! it looks so creamy & delicious

      Reply
    11. Tawnie Kroll

      October 02, 2019 at 5:07 pm

      5 stars
      Made this last night and it was such a hit - thank you so much!

      Reply
    12. Sylvie

      October 02, 2019 at 12:44 pm

      5 stars
      Pasta is my all-time favourite easy mid-week dinner and I simply love anything lemon... this is seriously a perfect recipe for me - cant wait to try it!

      Reply
    13. Kushigalu

      October 02, 2019 at 12:42 pm

      5 stars
      Love evrything in this pasta recipe. I will try this for dinner tonight. I have all the ingredients.

      Reply
    14. Michelle

      October 02, 2019 at 12:40 pm

      I love quick and easy pasta dishes like this. It sounds so zesty and creamy, and healthy too! All the things I love in a pasta dish.

      Reply
    15. Whitney

      October 02, 2019 at 11:47 am

      5 stars
      Lemon pasta is my favorite!! I love that you subbed greek yogurt, I will have to try it!

      Reply
    16. Adrianne

      October 02, 2019 at 10:41 am

      5 stars
      Yum, this is a great looking pasta dish!! I love the idea of adding some chicken to it as well. Can't wait to try it. Cheers!

      Reply
    17. Tracy

      November 07, 2012 at 6:59 pm

      How much is 120 grams of dry pasta???

      Reply
    18. Becca

      September 05, 2012 at 11:20 am

      Yum! Love the recipes, thanks for sharing! I'm always trying to find new healthy meals to cook. Look forward to more posts :)

      Reply
      • HHHAdmin

        September 05, 2012 at 2:33 pm

        I'm glad you are enjoying them, Becca.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Dannii in hat and glasses stood on a beach.

    Welcome! My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist, along with travel, home and family life and general happiness.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food and lifestyle blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

    About us»

    4th July Recipes

    • Beetroot and Goat's Cheese Salad
    • Grilled Corn with Herb Butter
    • Greek Pasta Salad
    • Easy Asparagus Tart
    • Greek Chicken Skewers
    • Broccoli Salad

    Featured in

    Collage of media outlet logos.

    Popular Recipes

    • The Best Air Fryer Chips
    • 10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry
    • Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce
    • 10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Advertising
    • Blog

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • See our Web Stories page

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with us
    • FAQ

    Featured in

    A selection of publications that Hungry Healthy Happy has been featured in

    As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Hungry Healthy Happy • All Rights Reserved • Site Design by D Martin

    • 216
    857 shares