Lemon Garlic Greek Yogurt Pasta - Suggestions Forever

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz dried pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or penne)

→ Sauce

02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

03 - 4 garlic cloves, finely minced

04 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (full-fat or low-fat)

05 - 1 large lemon, zested and juiced

06 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

07 - 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more for pasta water

08 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

09 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Garnish

10 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped

11 - Lemon slices or extra zest (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente following package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.

02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant without browning.

03 - Reduce heat and stir in Greek yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, sea salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Mix gently and avoid boiling.

04 - Add drained pasta into skillet and toss to coat evenly with sauce. Gradually add reserved pasta water to achieve a creamy, silky texture.

05 - Remove from heat and serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley, extra Parmesan, and lemon slices or zest as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

It tastes like restaurant-quality pasta but comes together faster than ordering delivery.
The protein from Greek yogurt keeps you satisfied without that heavy, sluggish feeling afterward.
One skillet, minimal cleanup, and somehow every component feels intentional instead of thrown together.

02 -

The Greek yogurt will break into lumpy, cottage-cheese-like curds if the heat gets too high, so keep that flame gentle and never let the sauce bubble—learned this the hard way, and it was disappointing.
Fresh lemon juice and zest are doing the heavy lifting here; without that brightness, the sauce can taste one-note and flat, so don't skip them or substitute with bottled lemon juice.

03 -