Creamy Lemon Basil Pasta – She Likes Meals

July 2, 2026

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Created On: June 30, 2026 &nbsp| Up to date: June 30, 2026 | Go away a remark

In search of one thing apart from pesto to make with all of your backyard basil this summer time? If that’s the case, you’ve obtained to attempt my fast and straightforward Creamy Lemon Basil Pasta. It’s filled with seasonal flavors and comes collectively in nearly half-hour. Add further veggies, or protein of selection for a hearty vegetarian dinner to get pleasure from all summer time lengthy. Serve with salad and bread for a balanced meal.

It’s been sizzling right here the previous few days so I’ve been making an attempt to remain out of the kitchen as a lot as doable. On Monday I shared my no-cook white bean salad that I nonetheless can’t cease consuming, and at present I’m sharing a fast and straightforward Creamy Lemon Basil Pasta recipe. It’s filled with recent flavors and made creamy utilizing protein-packed cottage cheese. Add further veggies for a hearty summer time meal that feels mild and refreshing.

Why You’ll Love This Flavorful Pasta Recipe

Good for summer time – This straightforward pasta recipe is bursting with recent summer time flavors. The basil and lemon go nicely collectively and assist create a sauce that’s each creamy and refreshing.
Just like pesto – In case you’re a fan of conventional pesto sauce, you might be actually going to like this creamy pesto impressed sauce. It tastes very related and has a number of of the identical elements. I like to think about it as a creamy pesto sauce that has a pleasant kick to it.
Straightforward to make – There are just a few steps to this creamy pesto-like pasta recipe. Mix all dressing elements till clean after which pour over the new pasta. It’s fast, straightforward and excellent for having fun with open air with a facet of salad and bread.

Creamy Basil Pasta Recipe Ideas

Add further protein – The cottage cheese does add protein to this pasta recipe, however you’ll be able to simply add even further protein should you like. Serve with a facet of white beans, cooked tofu, or different meat substitute of selection, stir in further cottage cheese or prime with crumbled parmesan or feta cheese.
Add veggies – I went with simply pasta for this recipe, however you’ll be able to simply add any veggies you want. Both cook dinner them with the pasta within the boiling water, sauté in a skillet or roast within the oven. Broccoli, peas or bell peppers would work nice.
Make further for leftovers – Leftover pasta is one in every of my favourite issues to have readily available. When saved in a single day within the fridge, the sauce actually soaks into the noodles and heightens the flavors. Leftover lemon basil pasta may be loved chilled, at room temperature or heated up.

Creamy Lemon Basil Pasta Recipe Components

Pasta – I used rotini for this recipe, however any dimension or form of pasta can be utilized, together with spaghetti. Use gluten free pasta if wanted.
Cottage Cheese – The cottage cheese is what makes this sauce creamy. If wanted, you’ll be able to substitute with greek yogurt, non-dairy yogurt and even cashew cream.
Olive Oil – Olive oil provides a pleasant richness to the sauce, however may be substituted with water should you favor.
Basil – This recipe calls for 2 cups of calmly packed recent basil leaves. Dried basil can’t be substituted. In case you want a substitute, I’d advocate utilizing one other leafy inexperienced herb, equivalent to parsley or cilantro.
Lemon – I like to make use of recent lemon juice, however you should utilize bottled if wanted. Recent lime juice can be used.
Garlic – I added a few recent cloves of garlic, however you’ll be able to add as a lot, or as little, as you want. Garlic powder can be used, if wanted.
Salt

How To Make Lemon Basil Pasta

Warmth a big pot of water till boiling. Add within the dry pasta, together with a giant pinch of salt, and cook dinner in line with bundle instructions. Be certain that to order a few cup of the pasta cooking liquid for the sauce. As soon as completed cooking, drain pasta and add it again to the pot.
Make the creamy lemon basil sauce whereas the pasta is cooking. To a small blender, or meals processor, add the entire sauce elements, aside from the cottage cheese. Activate and mix till sauce is totally clean, 1-2 minutes. Add within the cottage cheese and mix once more till creamy, 30-60 seconds. Give the sauce a style and alter any seasonings wanted.
Pour the sauce over the cooked pasta and stir it in utterly. You possibly can add reserved pasta water if it is advisable skinny out the sauce, use as a lot as wanted. Season pasta with salt and purple pepper flakes, to style.

Recipe Incessantly Requested Questions

Make this recipe gluten free through the use of your favourite gluten free pasta.
Make this recipe vegan by substituting the cottage cheese with non-dairy yogurt, cashew cream or silken tofu.
Ought to this pasta be served sizzling or chilled? I often get pleasure from mine sizzling, however it may be eaten chilled or at room temperature should you like.
How lengthy do leftovers final? If saved in an air-tight container, within the fridge, leftovers ought to final about 4-5 days. Re-heat within the microwave or on the stovetop.
What kind of pasta is greatest to make use of? I like to make use of a smaller chunk sized pasta like rotini, however spaghetti noodles would work nice as nicely.

Have a query I didn’t reply? Ask me within the remark part beneath and I’ll get again to you ASAP!

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