• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Get our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide
freezer meal quick start guide

Get Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide

About
Free Resources
Contact

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

YouTube

TikTok

Thriving Home

Food & Lifestyle

  • Recipe Index
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch & Dinner
      • Sides & Salads
      • Soups & Chilis
      • Appetizers
      • Snacks
      • Desserts
      • Baked Goods
      • Beverages
      • Condiments
    • Method
      • Freezer Meals
      • Stovetop
      • Oven
      • Slow Cooker
      • Instant Pot
      • Grill or Smoker
      • 6 Ingredients or Less
    • Diet
      • Gluten-Free
      • Dairy-Free
      • Vegetarian
    • Ingredients
      • Chicken & Turkey
      • Beef
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Pasta & Pizza
    • Holiday
      • Birthday
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
      • Valentine's Day
    • All Recipes
  • Freezer Cooking
    • Start Here
    • Freezer Meal Recipes
    • 1 Hour Freezer Prep
    • Cookbooks
  • Menu Plans
  • Shop
    • Cookbooks
    • 1 Hour Freezer Prep
    • Shop Our Favorites
    • Gift Guides
Search...
Home Recipe Index Pasta and Pizza

Creamy Lemon Pasta Sauce

★★★★★ 5 /5 Updated: 4/20/22
Jump to Recipe Rate Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This Creamy Lemon Pasta Sauce (formally titled Citrus Pasta) comes together in minutes. Bright flavors like lemon and orange zest and fresh basil lighten up the decadent cream sauce. Mmmm, sooo good.

Creamy lemon pasta sauce over spaghetti

I have been making this pasta sauce for years and years. It comes together quickly and is a total crowd pleaser. It’s fresh, zesty, and full of flavor.

Ingredients in Creamy Lemon Pasta Sauce

With just a few heavy-hitter ingredients, you’ll have restaurant quality pasta on your plate in no time.

  • Heavy cream – I’ve tried it with half & half and it just doesn’t work. Heavy cream is a must.
  • Sherry cooking wine – This acid brightens up the dish and heightens the flavors. The alcohol cooks off when it simmers.
  • Lemon & orange zest – Use a microplane zester for this. You taste the lemon the most between the two of these.
  • Fresh basil – Fresh is far better than dried!
ingredients for lemon pasta sauce on a cutting board

How to Make Lemon Pasta Sauce

The great thing about this sauce is that it comes together fast! In fact, I almost always make it right alongside the pasta.

While the pasta boils, gently simmer the cream, sherry, zests, and salt for 7-10 minutes until it starts to thicken up. Then remove it from the heat.

After the pasta is cooked and drained, add the sauce and parmesan cheese and toss it with tongs until well combined.

Parmesan cheese over he top of cooked pasta

What Goes Well with Lemon Pasta Sauce?

Here are a few ideas on how to make the most of this recipe:

  • Serve it with shrimp! I’ve added cooked shrimp to my pasta when I use this sauce and it’s DIVINE.
  • It pairs well with Oven Roasted Asparagus. Asparagus cooks up fast in the oven so it could be roasting while you make the pasta.
  • Add in some grilled, chopped Lemon Garlic Chicken. An easy way to add some protein.
Creamy lemon pasta sauce in a white bowl

Pasta Pro Tips

Here are some general tips in order to make pasta like a pro!

  1. Salt the water. After your water comes to a boil, add in salt (here’s how much). This allows the pasta to absorb the salt from the inside out.
  2. Don’t overcook it! I almost always err on the shorter cooking side when given a range.
  3. Use a big pot and plenty of water. Fill your pot with at least 2 quarts for each ½ pound of pasta. This will help prevent your pasta from sticking together during cooking.
  4. Stir right away and every couple of minutes. Pasta will want to start clumping together if you don’t give it a stir.
  5. Don’t rinse your pasta after it’s been drained. While it may seem logical, don’t run cold water over your hot pasta. You’ll risk losing the flavorful starches that will help sauces cling to it later.
A for with a bite of pasta on it

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews

Creamy Lemon Pasta Sauce

While this pasta dish is warm and creamy, the lemon and orange zests brighten it up and bring a big flavor!

Yield: 4 servings 1x
Prep: 15 minutesCook: 10 minutesTotal: 25 minutes
Print Recipe Rate Pin for Later
  • Email
Units:
Scale:

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. spaghetti or linguine
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons cognac or 2 tablespoons dry sherry (sherry cooking wine will work)
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • zest of 1 navel orange
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more for the pasta water
  • 12 leaves fresh basil, chopped or torn
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • optional: add 1 lb of cooked shrimp to the pasta. I love it this way!

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to directions until al dente, making sure to salt the water once it comes to a boil. Drain.
  2. While pasta is cooking, warm the cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
  3. Add in the dry sherry, lemon and orange zest, and salt. Simmer for 7-10 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in the basil.
  5. Toss the hot, drained pasta with the sauce and grated cheese.

Equipment

Zester

Buy Now →
© Author: Polly Conner
Cuisine: Italian Method: Stove top

Did you make this?

Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

Rate Recipe

Tag Us on Instagram

31 shares
  • Share
  • Email
Polly Conner

Polly Conner

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Polly’s passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. With a house full of kids, dogs, and (usually) a DIY project in the works, she knows firsthand how every minute (and every dollar) counts. As a business owner, she enjoys wearing multiple hats and serves best as a project manager for Thriving Home.

Read more...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

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

  1. AvatarBarb says

    Posted on 5/26/22 at 5:10 pm

    This was a great change from our regular creamy pasta dishes. The citrus flavors came through nicely. I added the shrimp as suggested and my family loved it. We will be adding this recipe to our regular meals!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 5/27/22 at 9:50 am

      Wonderful to hear that, Barb! Thanks for taking the time to leave a rating!

      Reply
  2. Avatartracy says

    Posted on 9/28/18 at 7:38 pm

    what about the shrimp? I see shrimp in the pictured dish, don’t I?

    Reply
    • PollyPolly says

      Posted on 10/1/18 at 9:15 am

      I love to toss in a pound of cooked shrimp. Just updated the recipe to include that suggestion. Sorry for the confusion!

      Reply
  3. Avatarheather says

    Posted on 8/11/15 at 12:59 pm

    Substitue the sherry or cognac with chicken broth?

    Reply
    • RachelRachel says

      Posted on 8/12/15 at 7:51 am

      Sure, that would work just fine!

      Reply

sidebar

polly and rachel

Welcome

We’re moms, cookbook authors, and freezer cooking evangelists. Our mission is to help your home thrive, one delicious meal at a time. Let’s make the most of your time in the kitchen! Read more.

Follow Us On Instagram!

freezer cooking

Order On:

Amazon • Target

Autographed Copy

Learn More

freezer to table

Order On:

Amazon • Target

Autographed Copy

Learn More
freezer meal quick start guide

Get Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide!

We’ll send you the best of the best recipes, tutorials, and freezer meal expertise. A $9.99 value for free!

Reader Favorites

marinades for chicken breasts in freezer bags

7 BEST Chicken Marinades (+ Printable Recipe Cheat Sheet)

freezer meal

The 70+ Best Freezer Meals on the Planet

20+ Easy Crock Pot Recipes

smoothie packs

7 Frozen Smoothie Packs (+ Printable with Shopping List)

freezer meal update
New to freezer cooking?

Grab Our Freezer Meal Quick Start Guide!

5 days of recipes & tips from freezer meal experts.

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

YouTube

TikTok

About
About Us
Work With Us
Press
Recipes
All Recipes
Freezer Meals
Menu Plans
Shop
Cookbooks
1 Hour Prep Sessions
Gift Guides
Explore
Free Resources
Shop Our Favorites
Facebook Group
Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Disclaimers
Contact
© 2022 Thriving Home
Site Credits
Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
31 shares