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5.0 from 60 votes

Gemelli Garlic Lemon Pasta Recipe (One Pot)

Ready in less than 30 minutes, this Gemelli Pasta recipe is so delicious! A garlic lemon pasta recipe that will keep your family at the table for seconds!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 413 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian , American

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces gemelli pasta (or use pasta of choice, note this is half a bag)
  • 2 cups chicken broth may sub with vegetable broth
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream may use half and half
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese fresh grated
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese fresh shaved (or increase above to ½ cup)
  • ⅛-¼ cup Italian flat leaf parsley chopped
  • 1/2 lemon zest zest whole lemon and use half to garnish
  • 1 ½ - 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh squeezed, about ½ a lemon
  • 1 crown broccoli chopped small (optional)
  • 15 ounce artichoke hearts brine or marinated, quartered (optional)
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • La Tourangelle White Truffle Oil drizzle if desired, for serving
  • ½-1 teaspoon kosther salt Optional, try the pasta before adding if you are watching your salt.

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Pour pasta into a deep pot or 4 quart dutch oven (larger if doubling). Add minced garlic and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and cook pasta according to package directions, al-dente. See notes for broccoli if adding.
  2. When pasta is cooked, you should only have a little broth left, if too much, ladle some out and reserve. Add lemon zest and lemon juice, give it a good stir.
  3. Add heavy cream and the spinach and artichoke hearts if using and stir to wilt, covering the top if needed.
  4. Finally stir in the Italian parsley, reserving a little for garnish, then grated parmesan cheese, mixing it in to melt. Taste and add salt if needed.
  5. Serve with a little chopped parsley, a lemon wedge, leftover lemon zest, a drizzle of truffle oil and shaved parmesan.

Notes

  • See post for loads of ad-in ideas!
  • Serve alone for a vegetarian meal or add your favorite protein. 
  • Tips for Cooking Broccoli with Pasta
  • Broccoli takes longer to cook than the rest of the creamy pasta dish. So, here are a few tips on making your broccoli come out just the way you like it. 
  • Recipe adapted from Food Dolls.
  • Crisp | Chop your broccoli into thin and smaller stalks without actually chopping it finely. Stir into pasta mixture before adding cream, cover, and allow to steam for 2-3 minutes. 
  • Crisp Tender | With broccoli chopped smaller as above, add to noodles during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Be sure to cover. 
  • Fork Tender | Again, chop broccoli smaller, add to noodles the entire time they cook, and be sure to keep the lid covered for the whole time. 
  • Steaming | If preferred, steam the broccoli separate to your desired doneness, then just stir into the pasta.

Nutrition Information

Serving 11 serving Calories 413kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 51g (17%) Protein 17g (34%) Fat 16g (25%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Cholesterol 42mg (14%) Sodium 654mg (27%) Potassium 383mg (11%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 2117IU (42%) Vitamin C 13mg (14%) Calcium 207mg (21%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 413

% Daily Value*

Serving 11 serving
Calories 413kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 51g 17%
Protein 17g 34%
Fat 16g 25%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 42mg 14%
Sodium 654mg 27%
Potassium 383mg 8%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 2117IU 42%
Vitamin C 13mg 14%
Calcium 207mg 21%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.