Home ยป Recipes ยป Summer ยป Pasta With White Wine Lemon Sauce

Pasta With White Wine Lemon Sauce

When life gives you lemons, make magic. This lemon white wine pasta sauce recipe is the ultimate game-changer. Pasta sauce has never been so easy to make!

When life gives you lemons, what do you do? You concoct a divine lemon sauce with white wine to go with fettuccine pasta. 

This lemon white wine pasta sauce recipe is the ultimate game changer. While I do love myself a rich carbonara and a light aglio olio, this white wine sauce is the perfect in-between. 

What I love about this pasta is that it is light and simple to make. Great on its own or as a side with Easy Creamy Lemon Chicken or Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter. This is one of my go-to weeknight pastas during the Summer months. Coated with a lemon-infused garlic cream sauce, and the white wine compliments the lemony flavour in the pasta so nicely!

This lemon garlic pasta is super versatile and not overpowering, meaning the amount of each ingredient can be suited to your liking. My guideline recipe creates a white wine sauce that highlights the citrus and gives off subtle hints of garlic and parmesan. 

Recipe Ingredients 

The specific amounts of each ingredient are listed in the recipe card below, but you are free to play around with the flavors as you like. If you find that youโ€™ve got a sauce thatโ€™s too lemony or too creamy for your liking, adjust the amounts as you go along. 

  • Gluten-free fettuccine โ€“ My favorite brand is Barilla. Regular fettuccine or spaghetti also works, of course. If using gluten-free pasta, handle with care as it tends to be more brittle once theyโ€™re cooked. 
  • Your favorite white wine โ€“ Any white wine will work, and it doesnโ€™t have to be an exquisite and expensive variety. I am using Sauvignon Blanc.
  • Lemon โ€“ Grate the zest and squeeze the life out of this lemon. It is lemon pasta after all. Keep some zest for garnishing later on.ย 
  • Butter and olive oil โ€“ For sauteing the garlic. 
  • Minced garlic โ€“ I use 4 medium-sized cloves in this recipe and I find that it is just right for me since I want the lemon and wine to stand out. 
  • Parmesan cheese โ€“ Grate some parmesan cheese to melt in the sauce.  
  • Whipping cream โ€“ This buttery milk (also known as heavy cream or Chantilly cream) gives the sauce its creamy consistency. 
  • Salt and pepper โ€“ Adjust to taste.  
  • Fresh basil leaves โ€“ For garnishing. Feel free to use other herbs and spices (like oregano, rosemary, red pepper flakes, or Italian seasoning). 
  • Cherry tomatoes and arugula โ€“ I like to top the white wine pasta with a handful of juicy cherry tomatoes and arugula. Tastes so fresh! 
Pasta With White Wine Lemon Sauceย recipeย | cookingwithcassandra.com

Step-by-Step Instructions

To make this lemon garlic pasta, simply cook the pasta, mix the sauce, and combine both. All done! All it takes is three simple steps (four, if you count the sipping of chilled Sauvignon Blanc while cooking). 

Step One: Cook the fettuccine in a large pot of salted boiling water. Once the pasta has finished cooking, scoop out 1 cup of the pasta water and set it aside. Drain the pasta and drizzle olive oil on the pasta. This prevents it from sticking together. 

Step Two: Cook garlic in a deep skillet until it starts to turn golden. Pour in the wine and lemon juice, simmering for 3 to 5 minutes. Mix the 1 cup of reserved pasta water into the skillet and stir to combine.

Then, sprinkle the parmesan cheese, stirring until melted. Pour in the whipping cream and lemon zest and let it simmer for about 1 minute.

Step Three: Combine the sauce and the pasta. See Tips & Tricks section. 

Garnish with lemon zest and fresh basil leaves (or herb of choice). Serve warm with fresh cherry tomatoes, arugula, and a glass of chilled white wine. Bon Appetit! 

Tips & Tricks

Remember to adjust flavors:

This is your pasta, so ultimately, make something that tastes best to you. Tweak the flavors as needed. For example, if your sauce has become too lemony, you can mellow down the tartness by using more heavy cream. If you are a fan of citrus, then double down on the lemon juice.

How to coat pasta with sauce: 

One helpful trick Iโ€™ve learned is to scoop the pasta into the sauce skillet instead of pouring sauce on top of the fettuccine. Placing the fettuccine into a pot of sauce allows it to soak it all up while itโ€™s still hot from cooking. This results in the most flavorful pasta ever! 

Adjust the consistency of the lemon sauce:

If your lemon white wine pasta sauce turns out to be very thick and creamy, mix in some more pasta water until youโ€™re happy with the consistency. 

Pasta With White Wine Lemon Sauceย | cookingwithcassandra.com

Variations

Complete your lemon white wine pasta with optional proteins:

  • Grilled and shredded cajun chicken breasts
  • Grilled tempeh (fermented soybeans from Indonesia)
  • Cajun shrimps 
  • Garlic and white wine clams 
  • Roasted zucchini, corns, and portobello mushrooms

Accommodations for dietary restrictions: 

  • Lactose intolerant โ€“ Good news: heavy cream and parmesan have almost zero lactose, so it is safe to keep using them in this recipe. To err on the side of caution, exclude cream and cheese from this recipe, and you will be rewarded with a light, zingy sauce!
  • Plant-based โ€“ Swap the whipping cream for full-fat coconut cream, the butter for olive oil, and the parmesan cheese for any vegan cheese. 

More Pasta Recipes To Try

Lemon Pasta topped with Cherry Tomatoes and fresh Basilย | cookingwithcassandra.com

White Wine Lemon Pasta Sauce Recipe

When life gives you lemons, make magic. This lemon white wine pasta sauce recipe is the ultimate game-changer. Pasta sauce has never been so easy to make!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 1 box fettuccine pasta (our favorite brand is Barilla)
  • 3/4 cup reserved pasta water
  • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 6 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/2 cup of your favorite white wine
  • 1 large lemon zested + juiced
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated + additional for serving
  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • salt + pepper

Toppings

  • cherry tomatoes
  • arugala
  • fresh basil

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then generously salt the water. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, following the package instructions.
  • Once the pasta is finished cooking, scoop out about 3/4 cup of the pasta water and set aside before draining.
  • After draining the pasta, add olive oil to the pasta and set aside until the sauce is finished.
  • Add garlic and butter to the skillet and cook until the garlic starts to turn golden.
  • Add in the wine and lemon juice and simmer for 3 minutes.
  • Add the 3/4 cup of reserved pasta water, stir, and then add in the parmesan cheese whisking until melted.
  • Add the whipping cream and lemon zest, then simmer gently for 5 minutes.
  • Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss until fully coated in the sauce.
  • Serve warm with fresh basil, rainbow tomatoes, arugula and a glass of chilled white wine.
Cassandra | Cooking With Cassandra

Hi, I’m Cassandra!

ย Iโ€™m so happy youโ€™re here! Iโ€™m here to spill the beans (and maybe some wine) on the best, tested-till-perfect recipes for every occasion. Whether youโ€™re a beginner or a seasoned pro, all of my recipes come with clear, easy-to-follow step-by-step directions, plus helpful tips and tricks to make cooking delicious meals easy for everyone. Letโ€™s get cooking and make every meal a success!

More about me

Featured On

Never miss a recipe!

Sign up for free recipes straight to your inbox:

Unsubscribe at any time.

pink flower

Hello, Spring!

Best Banana Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

Moist banana cake slice topped with cream cheese frosting being lifted from the pan, showing fluffy texture and creamy topping

If youโ€™re looking for a cake thatโ€™s perfectly moist, full of banana flavor, and topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting, this Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is exactly what you need! With its soft texture and sweet, subtle notes of maple syrup, this cake is the perfect balance of comfort and indulgence. Whether you're baking for friends, family, or just yourself, this one will have everyone asking for your recipe! Itโ€™s always a hit at my gatherings. This easy banana cake is made in a 9ร—9-inch pan, keeping things much simpler than a traditional layer cake, making it a go-to...

Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles

Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundlesย | cookingwithcassandra.com

So, here is my recipe for fresh asparagus with puff pastry, a lovely side dish for any dinner party.  Iโ€™ll be honest: it doesnโ€™t look like much at first, and itโ€™s definitely not as tantalizing as a colorful berry salad. But donโ€™t be fooled, one bite into this asparagus with puff pastry and youโ€™ll be amazed: glazed with honey, oozing with the best cheese mixture, and simply robust asparagus, this is definitely going to be one of the most memorable dishes youโ€™ll ever have.  It is very similar to cheesy asparagus tarts, except this one has already been apportioned and is shaped...

Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

Fully glazed brown sugar ham sliced and served with orange slices and rosemary on a white platter.

Looking for the perfect holiday ham thatโ€™s packed with flavor, easy to make, and guaranteed to impress your guests? This Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Ham recipe is everything you need and more. Itโ€™s sweet, savory, juicy, and has the yummiest sticky glaze with hints of garlic, orange, and warm spices. Whether itโ€™s Christmas, Easter, or a cozy Sunday dinner, this ham will be the star of the table. And yesโ€”it's so much better than the store-bought glaze packets. Once you try this homemade brown sugar glaze, youโ€™ll never go back! And if you're feeling a little intimidated by cooking a whole...

Easter Sugar Cookies

A colorful assortment of decorated Easter sugar cookies in egg, bunny, and carrot shapes, arranged on a white surface with pastel icing and sprinkles.

Introducing the best Easter sugar cookies recipe! These soft, buttery cookies are perfect for spring baking and couldnโ€™t be easier to make. My simple cut-out cookies come together quickly and are ideal for decorating with pastel icing and sprinkles. One of the best parts? No chill time is needed! This dough rolls out smoothly, holds its shape in the oven, and has that melt-in-your-mouth texture everyone loves. Paired with my easy icing, theyโ€™re perfect for stacking, gifting, or setting out at your Easter brunch. Donโ€™t be intimidated by the decoratingโ€”this icing is not royal icing and is...

Free E-Cookbook!

Cooking dinner doesnโ€™t have to take all night. Subscribe & receive my favourite 10 Quick & Easy Dinner Recipes in an easy e-cookbook format!

You Might Also Like

The Best Pasta alla Vodka

Thereโ€™s something about a big bowl of creamy Pasta alla Vodka that just speaks to my soulโ€”especially when the sauce is rich, garlicky, and clings...

The Best Pasta alla Vodka

Easy Creamy Lemon Chicken

If youโ€™re craving a quick and easy one-pan meal thatโ€™s bursting with flavor, this creamy lemon chicken is just what you need! In just 25...

Easy Creamy Lemon Chicken

Easy Steak Marinade

How do you like your steak done? Cooking steak to a certain degree of doneness is hands-down one of the hardest things for me to...

Easy Steak Marinade

๎‚š

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @cookingwithcassandra on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingwithcassandra

6 Comments

  1. Danielle

    Let me tell you this is the FORTH receipe of yours and you never disappoint! This was so easy and delicious. Keep them coming doll you are the MASTER THANK YOU!

    Reply
    • Cassandra Morris

      Danielle, you donโ€™t know how much it means to me that youโ€™re making these recipes! ๐Ÿ˜Š Iโ€™m so happy you enjoyed this one too. I put a lot of time and love into creating them, and comments like yours truly make my day! Iโ€™ve got plenty more coming your wayโ€”stay tuned!

      Reply
  2. Amanda

    This was absolutely fabulous! My very picky teenager even said it was amazing! I made it last night and they want me to make it again tonight! Simple and quick to make thank you!

    Reply
    • Cassandra Morris

      Amanda, Iโ€™m so happy to hear that! ๐Ÿ˜Š I love that it was such a hit, and the fact that itโ€™s already a repeat request makes my day. Thank you for taking the time to share this! I hope you get to try more recipes from the site. Cheers!

      Reply
  3. Brenda Hamilton

    5 stars
    Who doesn’t like cooking with wine!!
    It was so yummy, even better having it the next day. How easy this recipe was to make. One of my favorites.

    Reply
  4. Brenda Hamilton

    5 stars
    Who doesn’t like cooking with wine!!
    This recipe gives a wonderful amount to have for leftovers which is amazing the next day.

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Cassandra | Cooking With Cassandra

Hi, I'm Cassandra!

ย Iโ€™m so happy youโ€™re here! Iโ€™m here to spill the beans (and maybe some wine) on the best, tested-till-perfect recipes for every occasion. Whether youโ€™re a beginner or a seasoned pro, all of my recipes come with clear, easy-to-follow step-by-step directions, plus helpful tips and tricks to make cooking delicious meals easy for everyone. Letโ€™s get cooking and make every meal a success!

More about me

Never miss a recipe!

Sign up for free recipes straight to your inbox:

Unsubscribe at any time.

Free E-Cookbook!

Cooking dinner doesnโ€™t have to take all night. Subscribe & receive my favourite 10 Quick & Easy Dinner Recipes in an easy e-cookbook format!

Jujeh kabab - Eating | cookingwithcassandra.com

Get the Inside

Scoop

Be the first to receive free e-books, recipes, inspiration, and exclusive extras you wonโ€™t want to miss!

We wonโ€™t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.