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Lemon Veggie Pasta with Parmesan, Lemon Pasta, Lemon Parmesan, Pesto Pasta, Healthy Dinner Recipes, Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

Lemon Veggie Pasta with Parmesan Cheese

This is an awesome dish full of veggies! The sauce adds lots of flavor. It's sure to be a dish your whole family will love. 

Course Dinner, Pasta
Cuisine American, Healthy, Vegetarian
Keyword easy pasta dinner, healthy lemon pasta, lemon parmesan, lemon pasta, pasta recipes, veggie recipes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 1 lb gemelli pasta
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 zucchini's
  • 1 red pepper
  • 1 head broccoli
  • 1 cup spinach (packed)
  • lemon zest from one lemon
  • 3/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper

Sauce

  • 1/2 stick butter
  • 2 tbsp minced garlic
  • 3/4 cup pesto
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • lemon juice squeezed from one lemon

Instructions

  1. Prepare veggies. Chop the red pepper and broccoli. Cut the zucchini into larger chunks (so they don't get mushy when you cook them). Rip up the spinach into slightly smaller pieces if yours have large leaves. 

  2. Boil pasta for 10 minutes. Then, add in the broccoli, cover, and continue boiling for 3 more minutes. (You may need to turn the heat down here just a bit to avoid bubbling over.) Once done, drain. Then, transfer back to the pot. Add spinach and toss. Leave alone for a few minutes to let spinach wilt.

  3. While the pasta is cooking, put about a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet and saute the red peppers and zucchini over medium heat until they are slightly soft (about five minutes). Add some salt and pepper for flavoring. Once done, transfer them to the pot of pasta. 

  4. In the same skillet, add the stick of butter and cook over medium/low heat, Once it starts to melt, add the pesto, minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Saute for a few minutes, until everything is mixed together well. Remove from heat and add the lemon juice. Stir and then pour the sauce over the pasta and veggies. 

  5. Add the parmesan cheese and toss everything together. Serve immediately and garnish with a little more parmesan, salt and/or pepper if desired.