Gluten-Free Lemon Garlic Pasta is a savory blend of fresh garlic and lemon juice, paired with gluten-free spaghetti, sea salt, and olive oil. Top with parsley or chopped cashews for extra flavor! This whole meal is ready to go in about 20 minutes! {GF + VG}
Garlic + pasta = DATE NIGHT IN AT HOME! Please allow me to gush over how delicious Gluten-Free Lemon Garlic Pasta is. Because lemon and garlic go hand in hand, like almond butter and chocolate or Moira and her wigs. Friends, if you haven’t ventured beyond pairing spaghetti with tomato sauce, may I please suggest this recipe as a starting point to try something new?
It is a simple ingredient list with all the tasty trappings of what would seem a much more complicated recipe. You’re tastebuds will honestly think they’re dining at a fancy restaurant, but your wallet will know you’re staying in. And your budget will thank you for your prudent choice.
So let’s whirl up a batch of this gluten-free goodness and enjoy a fancy dinner that takes only minutes to make!
GLUTEN-FREE LEMON GARLIC PASTA INGREDIENTS:
Here are the ingredients to make your own Gluten-Free Lemon Garlic Pasta!
- Gluten-free spaghetti. The pasta doesn’t need to be fancy. In fact, my favorite brand is the generic version at our local grocery store.
- Olive oil and sea salt. You’ll use these ingredients with the spaghetti AND with the garlic.
- Garlic. Fresh cloves, thinly sliced. And the more the better!
- Juice of half a lemon. Add more or less as desired to the final dish. Fresh is always great but lemon juice from a bottle will also work!
- Dried parsley flakes. Optional but highly suggested. Not only are they an eye-catching addition to the dish, but they also add an earthy flavor that pairs well with the garlic and lemon!
HOW TO MAKE GLUTEN-FREE LEMON GARLIC PASTA:
Here are the steps you’ll need to follow to make your own Gluten-Free Lemon Garlic Pasta. The recipe itself isn’t complicated, but gluten-free spaghetti can be finicky at times. Helpful tips are included in the next section to achieve ideal results.
- In a small skillet, combine 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/8 teaspoon sea salt, and sliced garlic cloves. Cook on a LOW to MEDIUM heat until the garlic has turned an amber color but is not burned. Remove from heat.
- In a large pot or rondeau pan, cook gluten-free pasta according to package instructions. I like to add 1/8 teaspoon and 1-2 tablespoons olive oil for extra flavor. While the pasta cooks, use a fork to separate individual pieces that stick together. While the pasta cooks, the water will turn starchy and thicken. As it does, reserve up to one cup of starchy water for the pasta and set it aside.
- When the pasta is cooked, drain the water and rinse the pasta in warm or hot water. Return pasta to the pan or a serving bowl. Add the garlic and olive oil mixture and stir until the pasta is evenly coated. Then add the starchy water, 1-2 tablespoons at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Squeeze the juice of 1/2 a lemon over the top and sprinkle with parsley flakes and chopped cashews, if desired.
- Refrigerate leftovers and consume within 24 hours.
TIPS FOR COOKING GLUTEN-FREE SPAGHETTI:
Below are a few tips to make cooking with gluten-free pasta easy!
- Bring the water to a boil before adding the pasta. This helps the pasta cook more evenly and prevents it from becoming mushy.
- Separate the pasta with a fork while it cooks. You may need to do this continually throughout the cooking process.
- Keep a close eye on the spaghetti. Gluten-free pasta often goes from al dente to mush in what feels like a matter of seconds.

MORE GARLIC ACTION!
Here are a few of my fave gluten-free garlic dinner recipes!

Take care, Spiriteds. I hope this recipe finds you well. I’m glad you’re here! ❤️
PrintGluten-Free Lemon Garlic Pasta

Gluten-Free Lemon Garlic Pasta is a savory blend of fresh garlic and lemon juice, paired with gluten-free spaghetti, sea salt, and olive oil. Top with parsley or chopped cashew for extra flavor! This whole recipe is ready to go in about 20 minutes! {GF + VG}
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dishes
- Method: Stovetop
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 box gluten-free spaghetti
- 1/2 plus 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, divided
- 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon (or about 1 tablespoon lemon juice)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes, optional
- Handful of chopped cashews, optional
Instructions
- In a small skillet, combine 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/8 teaspoon sea salt, and sliced garlic cloves. Cook on a LOW to MEDIUM heat until the garlic has turned an amber color but is not burned. Remove from heat.
- In a large pot or rondeau pan, cook gluten-free pasta according to package instructions. I like to add 1/8 teaspoon and 1-2 tablespoons olive oil for extra flavor. While the pasta cooks, use a fork to separate individual pieces that stick together. While the pasta cooks, the water will turn starchy and thicken. As it does, reserve up to one cup of starchy water for the pasta and set it aside.
- When the pasta is cooked, drain the water and rinse the pasta in warm or hot water. Return pasta to the pan or a serving bowl. Add the garlic and olive oil mixture and stir until the pasta is evenly coated. Then add the starchy water, 1-2 tablespoons at a time until the desired consistency is reached. Squeeze the juice of 1/2 a lemon over the top and sprinkle with parsley flakes and chopped cashews, if desired.
- Refrigerate leftovers and consume within 24 hours.
Notes
- Bring water to a boil before adding the pasta.
- If the spaghetti sticks together while cooking, separate with a fork.
- Keep a close eye on the pasta while it cooks. It will go from al dente to mush in what feels like a matter of seconds. 🙂
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