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Creamy Lemon Basil Pasta Recipe

If your garden is overflowing with basil and you want something other than traditional pesto, try this quick and simple Creamy Lemon Basil Pasta. Bright lemon and fragrant basil create a light, summery sauce, and cottage cheese gives it a creamy, protein-rich texture. Ready in about 30 minutes, it makes a great vegetarian dinner—add extra vegetables or your favorite protein for a heartier meal. Serve with a green salad and crusty bread.

Close up of a plate of green creamy lemon basil pasta topped with red pepper flakes

With hot days keeping me out of a long cooking session, I wanted something fresh and fast. This Creamy Lemon Basil Pasta fits the bill: it captures seasonal flavors and comes together quickly. The sauce blends basil, lemon, garlic, olive oil and cottage cheese for a vibrant, smooth finish. It pairs well with simple additions like roasted vegetables, steamed peas, or a handful of white beans for extra protein.

Why You’ll Love This Pasta

  • Ideal for summer: Bright lemon and fresh basil make the sauce refreshing and light, perfect for warm-weather meals.
  • Pesto-like flavor with a twist: It echoes classic pesto ingredients but becomes creamier and more tangy thanks to lemon and cottage cheese.
  • Fast and easy: Blend the sauce while the pasta cooks, then toss. From start to finish in about 30 minutes.

Showing how to make the summery basil sauce

Tips for Success

  • Boost protein: The cottage cheese adds protein, but you can stir in extra cottage cheese, add white beans, grilled tofu, or top with crumbled feta or Parmesan.
  • Add vegetables: Toss in cooked broccoli, peas, roasted bell peppers, zucchini or cherry tomatoes to bulk up the dish and add color and texture.
  • Leftovers: The flavors deepen overnight. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4–5 days; enjoy chilled, at room temperature, or gently reheated.
  • Adjust texture: Use reserved pasta water to thin the sauce if needed—just a few tablespoons will loosen it while keeping the creaminess.

Creamy lemon basil sauce made using cottage cheese

Ingredients

  • Pasta: 1/2 lb of your favorite pasta (rotini shown). Any shape works; gluten-free pasta is fine.
  • Salt and red pepper flakes, to taste

Creamy Lemon Basil Sauce

  • 2 cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves
  • 1–2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
  • Salt, to taste (about 1/4 teaspoon or more, adjust)
  • 1/2 cup cottage cheese

adding the lemon basil sauce to the pasta and mixing it in

How to Make Creamy Lemon Basil Pasta

  1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and a large pinch of salt, and cook according to package directions. Reserve about 1 cup of the cooking water before draining.
  2. Blend the sauce: While the pasta cooks, combine basil, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and salt in a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth, 1–2 minutes. Add the cottage cheese and blend another 30–60 seconds until the sauce is silky. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  3. Toss and serve: Return drained pasta to the pot, pour the sauce over it, and stir to coat. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time to reach your desired consistency. Season with extra salt and red pepper flakes if you like heat. Serve immediately.

Close up of a pot of creamy pesto pasta

FAQ

  • Can I make this gluten-free? Yes—swap in your preferred gluten-free pasta.
  • Is there a vegan option? Replace cottage cheese with silken tofu, cashew cream, or a non-dairy yogurt to keep it plant-based.
  • Serve hot or cold? It’s best warm, but it also tastes great chilled or at room temperature for a pasta salad-style meal.
  • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4–5 days. Reheat gently to avoid breaking the sauce.
  • Best pasta shape: Smaller shapes like rotini or penne hold the sauce well, but long noodles such as spaghetti also work nicely.

Have a question not covered here? Leave a comment and I’ll respond as soon as I can.

Close up of a plate full of creamy lemon basil pasta

More Lemon-Loving Ideas

For other recipes that feature bright lemon flavor, try marinated lemon pepper chickpeas, roasted lemon parmesan tortellini with broccoli, a hearty lemony white bean soup, cucumber salad with lemon and feta, or a herby lemon jalapeño pasta.

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Creamy Lemon Basil Pasta

Total time: 30 minutes • Yield: 4 • Diet: Vegetarian

Recipe Details

  • Prep time: 15 mins
  • Cook time: 15 mins
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Boiling
  • Cuisine: American