Baked Butter Lemon Pasta Without Cheese
This Baked Butter Lemon Pasta Without Cheese is a quick and easy cozy dinner that’s also very light. Enjoy as a side or main meal any night.
And if you're looking for more organic pasta recipes, try out my Mushroom Zucchini Baked Pasta, Healthy Ranch Pasta Salad With Olive Oil, or Butter Parmesan Pasta with Italian Sausage.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- Recipe Name: Baked Butter Lemon Pasta Without Cheese
- Ready In: 35 minutes
- Makes: 8 servings
- Main Ingredients: Penne pasta, butter, nutritional yeast, broccoli
- Flavor Profile: zesty lemon-infused, butter pasta with herbs
- Dietary Info: eggless, no seed oils, vegan and gluten free swaps available
- Difficulty: Easy!
- Why You’ll Love It: buttery, lemon, veggie-loaded pasta that balances freshness with indulgence
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- 5 Minute Prep: This butter lemon pasta only takes about 5 minutes to prep.
- Minimal Ingredients: Requiring minimal ingredients and effort, this butter lemon pasta delivers a gourmet taste. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you want a quick, nutritious, and flavorful dinner.
- Bursting with Flavor: The combination of creamy herb butter with nutritional yeast, roasted broccoli, and zesty lemon creates a vibrant, tangy, and savory flavor profile that is both satisfying and delicious!
- Healthy Pasta: This organic pasta is healthier than options made with heavy cream or red meat.
- Flexible: You can add in any kind of meat you like for added protein. Chicken, Homeamde Organic Italian Sausage, ground beef, or ground pork would all be delicious!
Ingredients
- Pasta: I use organic Penne noodles. This organic pasta works great for this kind of dish, another similar noodle like a spiral would also work too.
- Nutritional Yeast: I'm using organic nutritional yeast, which is what is going to give this dish a cheesy flavor, but without cheese. If you want to use parmesan in its place, you can also do that.
- Spices: I use organic parsley, thyme, and onion powder for a light herb flavor that pairs so well with fresh lemons.
- Lemons: Make sure to get fresh lemons because you'll need the zest and the juice. If you don't have whole lemons, you can use some lemon juice from a bottle, but you'll miss out on the bolder flavor the lemon zest brings. If using lemon juice from a bottle, you'll need 2 to 3 tablespoons as this is the amount of lemon juice in an average lemon.
- Butter: I use organic salted butter. But, if you want to make this vegan pasta or dairy free, you can use vegan butter or extra virgin olive oil instead.
*For a full list of ingredients and measurements, visit the recipe card below.
Easy Substitutions
- Use any other kind of similar pasta noodle that you have on hand!
- You can use kale in place of spinach.
- Add in leftover chicken for more protein.
- Make my Homemade Organic Italian Sausage if you want to make this into a pork based meal.
- Feel free to add in cooked ground beef or turkey.
- If you don't have nutritional yeast, you can use parmesan in its place.
- If you want to add cheese, you can add grated mozzarella into the pasta and also add some on top before baking for a cheesy golden top.
- Gluten Free — Use gluten free noodles.
- Vegan — You can use vegan butter or extra virgin olive oil if you want to make this vegan.
How to Make Baked Butter Lemon Pasta Without Cheese
- Cook the noodles per the instructions on the package. Strain the water and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Melt the butter, minced garlic, onion powder, thyme, and parsley in a small pot over the stovetop.
- In a 9×13-inch baking dish, add the broccoli, spinach, and noodles.
- Pour the melted herb butter over the top.
- Add the nutritional yeast and zest and juice of the lemons. You can use 1 to 2 lemons, depending on size or how zesty you want it. Mix it all up together.
- Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the broccoli is cooked to your liking. Add salt and pepper before serving.
Serving Ideas
- Serve Simple Green Salad with Homemade Dressing as a side.
- Lemon Rosemary Sourdough Bread or Sourdough Discard Bread With Bone Broth is a great pairing.
- Sourdough Crescent Rolls make a wonderful appetizer.
- Everyone loves Organic French Baguettes With Instant Yeast.
- Enjoy this as a side dish to Rosemary Meatball Bites.
- This makes a wonderful side to Savory Mustard Herb Ham.
- I love this with Air Fryer Loaded Garlic Bread.
- We love this as a side to Garlic Herb Beef Tenderloin Steak.
Baked Butter Lemon Pasta Without Cheese FAQ's
This is a great meal to make ahead of time as it reheats very well. So, if you have to make it in advance, you can store it covered in the fridge and just warm it up for easy leftovers anytime!
Of course, you can swap out the broccoli or spinach for other veggies. You can use kale, zucchini, squash or other seasonal vegetables you have on hand.
Yes, you can add cheese if you want! You can replace the nutritional yeast with parmesan if you prefer. You can also add grated mozzarella into the pasta before baking. And you can also add grated mozzarella on top (before baking) if you want a golden, cheesy top.
If you want to add more protein to this meal you could add in cooked chicken breasts, pre-cooked sausages, or my Homemade Organic Italian Sausage. Cook the meat separately and add it in after the pasta bakes.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
More Cozy Dinner Recipes
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Baked Butter Lemon Pasta Without Cheese
Equipment
- 6-Quart Pot
- Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne noodles
- ½ cup salted butter
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 cups broccoli
- 2 cups spinach
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 to 2 lemons
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook the noodles per the instructions on the package. Strain the water and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Melt the butter, minced garlic, onion powder, thyme, and parsley in a small pot over the stovetop.
- In a 9×13-inch baking dish, add the broccoli, spinach, and noodles.
- Pour the melted herb butter over the top.
- Add the nutritional yeast and zest and juice of the lemons. You can use 1 to 2 lemons, depending on size or how zesty you want it. Mix it all up together.
- Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the broccoli is cooked to your liking.
- Add salt and pepper before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Video
Notes
- Use any other kind of similar pasta noodle that you have on hand!
- You can use kale in place of spinach if you prefer.
- Add in leftover chicken for more protein.
- If you don't have nutritional yeast, you can use parmesan in its place.
- Make my Homemade Organic Italian Sausage if you want to make this into a pork based meal.
- Feel free to add in cooked ground beef or turkey too.
- Gluten Free — Use gluten free noodles.
- Vegan — You can use vegan butter or extra virgin olive oil if you want to make this vegan.
- High Altitude — Follow the recipe as noted.
Nutrition
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Love this light and zesty pasta!