Gluten-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 cashews for extra flavor! This whole meal is ready to go in about 25 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?

It is a simple ingredient list with all the tasty trappings of what would seem to be 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. If you are new to cooking with gluten-free pasta, then check out How to Cook Gluten-Free Pasta!
• 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.

1. In a large pot or rondeau pan, cook gluten-free pasta according to package instructions. I like to add 1/8 teaspoon sea salt and 1-2 tablespoons olive oil for extra flavor. While the pasta cooks, use a fork to separate individual pieces that stick together. The water may turn especially starchy and thick. This appears to depend on the brand.
2. In a small skillet, combine 1/4 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.
3. When the pasta is cooked, drain the water, reserving one cup, and rinse the pasta in warm or hot water if the pasta water became especially thick during the boiling process. 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.
4. Refrigerate leftovers and consume within 24 hours.

Tips for how to make gluten-free pasta

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. 
• If the water becomes really thick, almost like a starchy film, you may need to rinse the spaghetti in warm water once it’s done cooking. Using a large pot and adding a lot of water seems to help prevent the spaghetti from becoming slimy.

More garlic action!

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

• Lemon Garlic Broccoli Pasta
• Lemon Avocado Dip
• Garlic Cashew Pasta
• Lemon Baked Chicken

Take care, Spiriteds. I hope this recipe finds you well. I’m glad you’re here! ❤️

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