1-Getting lemon garlic pasta just right starts with simple steps that anyone can follow. Begin by cooking 12 ounces of dried spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, which takes about 8 minutes, then drain and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. This step ensures your pasta has the perfect texture to hold the sauce.

2-Next, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat until sizzling. Add 5 large minced garlic cloves and 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant, then remove from heat briefly. Once that’s done, return to heat and mix in the drained pasta with 1/4 cup of reserved pasta water, tossing to coat and adding more water if the sauce needs loosening.

3-Finally, take it off the heat and stir in the zest and juice of 1 large lemon along with 1/3 cup of chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, then serve right away with 2 ounces of freshly grated parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. This whole process takes just 20 minutes, making it a quick win for busy nights.