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This Creamy Lemon Butter Sauce is delicious and perfect over a nice dish of farfalle pasta, commonly known as bowtie pasta. If you want to combine the cheesy flavors of a great Italian sauce with a tad of lemon zing, this recipe is for you. It is an easy meal that tastes like it took a long time to prepare. 

A bowl of Creamy Lemon Pasta Sauce with Farfalle noodles and the rest of the skillet behind it. There is a napkin, lemon, and garlic on the table.
Bowtie pasta with a delicious lemon butter sauce!

This is a great spring and summer recipe, but really can be served any time of year. It tastes light but has a savory, zesty flavor that is very filling.

This would make for a great side to our Baked Walleye with White Wine Sauce, a light contrast to a delicious Detroit Coney Dog, or if you want to keep everything light and bright, serve it with this Strawberry Salad with Simple Vinaigrette. If you are looking for a heavier spaghetti-style recipe, check out my traditional Pasta Sauce recipe. No matter what you decide, make sure to treat yourself!

Table of Contents

🔥 Ingredients

While lemon and farfalle pasta are in the name, it does take a few other ingredients to pull this together.

  • Farfalle pasta
  • Garlic
  • Butter
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Heavy Whipping Cream
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Lemon
  • Parsley (optional)

See recipe card for quantities.

Choose Organic Lemons

Whenever I use lemon zest, I make sure to wash the lemon well first. I often choose organic lemons for zesting, but either organic or conventional lemons will work. Rinse the lemon thoroughly under running water before zesting.

No matter what, make sure to wash those lemons!

Farfalle Pasta

So, farfalle is the fancy name for what I grew up knowing as bow tie pasta. It is a simple pasta that works especially well here because the creamy lemon butter sauce coats the little bow ties nicely.

Selecting the Parmesan Cheese For This Recipe

I am not gonna lie, I have a thing of the grated green parmesan cheese around my house. I use it, but I am not going to use it for this. It doesn’t go on special recipes and this Creamy Lemon Butter Sauce is definitely special enough to splurge. I recommend getting to your store and buying a wedge of parmesan cheese and grating it yourself for this recipe. You are special enough to buy the wedge! Also, I like to use block cheese anyway. As we previously looked at with macaroni and cheese, pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking ingredients that can prevent it from melting as smoothly into a sauce.

🍲 Instructions

To make this delightful dish, start by melting butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat and adding minced garlic. While the garlic softens, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the farfalle pasta according to the package instructions. As the pasta cooks, add lemon zest, pepper, and a pinch of salt to the softened garlic in the saucepan, and let it cook gently for five minutes.

Next, pour in the heavy whipping cream and bring it to a simmer, stirring continuously to prevent scorching. After about five minutes, gradually add the grated parmesan cheese, stirring until it melts into the creamy mixture. Keep the sauce on low heat while the pasta finishes cooking.

Once the pasta is done, drain it well. Toss the pasta first with the fresh lemon juice, then with the luscious cream sauce. Serve immediately, garnished with extra parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy this creamy, zesty delight with family and friends!

Lemon zest, lemon juice, and cheese in containers.
Not much really goes into this recipe. When the butter and garlic have cooked, add lemon zest, pepper, and salt to the saucepan.
Butter, garlic, lemon zest, and pepper simmering in a metal pan.
This is the butter, garlic, lemon zest, and freshly cracked pepper simmering in a saucepan before I add the heavy whipping cream to the mix.
Cream being added to lemon butter sauce.
When pouring the cream into the butter mixture, gently mix with a spoon. Continue mixing. Over medium-low heat, there is a risk of scorching the cream, which is undesirable. Once at a simmer, you are ready to add and slowly mix in the cheese.

🤷 Substitutions and variations

For a twist on this recipe, try using different pasta shapes like penne or fusilli. If you prefer a lighter option, you can substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream, but the sauce will be thinner and may be more prone to curdling, so keep the heat gentle.

For a burst of extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a handful of baby spinach to the sauce. You can also swap out parmesan for Pecorino Romano for a sharper taste.

Want to make it more protein-packed? Add grilled chicken or shrimp. Enjoy experimenting and making this dish your own!

📦 Storage

To store leftovers, place the pasta in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days. When reheating, add a splash of cream or milk to restore the creamy texture. Gently warm in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Enjoy your delicious pasta again!

🎓 History tidbit

Rather than tracing this exact sauce to one traditional dish, it is best described as an Italian-inspired combination of butter, cream, Parmesan, and lemon. Citrus is often paired with pasta in Italian cuisine, and the lemon here helps balance the richness of the cream and cheese.

Farfalle pasta, also known as bow-tie pasta, dates back to the 16th century in Northern Italy, specifically in the regions of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. This delightful blend of culinary traditions creates a dish that’s both rich and refreshing.

❓ FAQ

Why did my lemon butter sauce turn blue?

A chemical reaction between the lemon and a reactive metal in your cookware can cause discoloration. Using non-reactive cookware like stainless steel or non-stick pans can prevent this.

How do you keep lemon cream sauce from curdling?

In this recipe, the lemon juice is tossed with the drained pasta first rather than added directly to the hot cream sauce. Keep the cream sauce at a gentle heat and avoid boiling it once the cream is added.

Can lemon and heavy cream be mixed in pasta?

Yes. In this recipe, the lemon juice is added to the pasta first rather than directly to the cream sauce, which helps reduce the chance of curdling. The cream sauce is then tossed with the lemon-coated pasta.

How can I add more flavor to my lemon butter sauce?

To enhance the flavor, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes for a bit of heat, or a handful of fresh herbs like basil or thyme. You can also add a splash of white wine before the cream; simmer and reduce the wine first, then add the cream for a deeper, more complex flavor.

📝 Tips and tricks

  • Make sure to add the lemon juice to the pasta after draining it, but before the cream is added and tossed.
  • Use organic lemons.
  • Use real parmesan cheese for the best results in this creamy lemon butter sauce recipe.
  • I use farfalle pasta (otherwise known as bow-tie pasta), but any pasta that is appropriate for a skillet dish would be good.
Overhead shot of the Creamy Lemon Butter Sauce and Farfalle pasta in the skillet.

🛠 Products used in this recipe

😋 Did you make this recipe?

That is awesome, and thank you so much for giving this Creamy Lemon Butter Sauce Over Farfalle Pasta recipe a try. If you could leave a rating in the comment area below, it would be greatly appreciated. This lets me know how I am doing and also helps others decide if they want to make this recipe. Most of all, thanks for visiting Ramshackle Pantry.

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Creamy Lemon Pasta over Farfalle in a light blue bowl and the entire dish right behind it.

Creamy Lemon Butter Sauce Over Farfalle Pasta

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Ben Myhre
  • Prep Time: 10 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 Minutes
  • Total Time: 35 Minutes
  • Yield: 4 Servings 1x
  • Category: Pasta
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian
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Description

A creamy lemon pasta recipe that is comforting, flavorful, and surprisingly simple to make. This Creamy Lemon Butter Sauce over Farfalle pasta feels special without being difficult.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 pound farfalle pasta
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 4 Tablespoons butter
  • Pinch of salt
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
  • Zest from one lemon
  • Juice from one lemon
  • Parsley (optional)

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat and add the garlic.
  2. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions.
  3. While the pasta cooks, continue making the sauce. Once the garlic is soft, add the lemon zest, pepper, and salt to the saucepan.
  4. Cook gently for 5 minutes.
  5. Add the cream and bring it to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
  6. Slowly add the Parmesan cheese to the cream mixture, stirring until melted.
  7. Reduce the heat to low and stir occasionally until the pasta is done.
  8. Drain the pasta.
  9. Toss the drained pasta with the lemon juice, then add the cream sauce and toss to coat.
  10. Serve immediately and garnish with extra grated Parmesan cheese and parsley, if desired.

Notes

  • Make sure to add the lemon juice to the pasta after draining it, but before the cream is added and tossed.
  • Use organic lemons.
  • Use real parmesan cheese for the best results in this creamy lemon butter sauce recipe.
  • I use farfalle pasta (otherwise known as bow-tie pasta), but any pasta that is appropriate for a skillet dish would be good.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 dish
  • Calories: 826 Calories
  • Sugar: 6 g
  • Sodium: 767 mg
  • Fat: 43 g
  • Saturated Fat: 25 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
  • Carbohydrates: 94 g
  • Fiber: 5 g
  • Protein: 23 g
  • Cholesterol: 134 mg

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9 Comments

  2. The kids said they were gonna eat at the friends house, they stopped by to grab something & tried the pasta. Needless to say, they finished off every piece.
    Very good recipe.
    I used grated Parmesan cus it’s what I had. I also added more Parm, salt and pepper than it called for.
    So delicious, good job!

    Reply

    1. Thanks for giving it a try and glad you liked it! Nothing wrong with more cheese! Or salt & pepper. :_

    1. Awesome! So glad you tried it and like it. Thanks so much for visiting and giving it a try.

  5. Very good! Almost the whole family loved it!- the exception being my 6 year old who said she liked the noodles with just the lemon juice more than with the cream sauce added. But otherwise great and very easy to follow!

    Reply