Name: Lemon Asparagus Pasta
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta; 1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces; 1 large lemon, zested and juiced; 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 0.5 cup olive oil; salt to taste; freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

This recipe yields 8 servings.

1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 large lemon, zested and juiced
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
cup olive oil
Salt to taste
Freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Directions

Step 1: Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring it to a boil.

Step 2: Stir in the penne pasta and return to a boil. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes. The penne should still be slightly firm.

Step 3: Add the asparagus to the pot with the boiling penne. Stir to combine and bring back to a boil. Cook until the pasta is al dente and the asparagus is tender-crisp but still bright green, about 3 more minutes.

Step 4: Drain the pasta and asparagus in a colander.

Step 5: Transfer the drained penne and asparagus into a large bowl. Gently stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt, and black pepper until everything is thoroughly combined.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories: 378
Fat: 18g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Protein: 13g
Vitamin C: 14mg (16% DV)
Calcium: 145mg (11% DV)
Iron: 3mg (17% DV)
Potassium: 254mg (5% DV)

Nutrition Breakdown (per serving)

Nutrient	Amount	% Daily Value
Total Fat	18g	23%
Saturated Fat	4g	20%
Cholesterol	9mg	3%
Sodium	158mg	7%
Total Carbohydrate	45g	16%
Dietary Fiber	4g	14%
Total Sugars	3g	-
Protein	13g	25%

Note: Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. Nutrient information is based on available data for the ingredients listed.

Comments

binnermurray

10/06/2025 01:52:54 PM

Made the recipe just as it stated, and it was not only Delicious, but a huge hit with family members. Made it ahead, then put it in the fridge, then pulled it out to serve (room temp) as a side dish to a Smoked Turkey. Excellent dish to serve over the Summer, or to take to a Potluck.

Jeanne

03/18/2014 08:39:26 PM

Very popular dish at our house!! Delicious!! Did not boil the asparagus but sauteed it and added red onion, garlic, and sliced zucchini along with the asparagus. Served warm and added the parmesan cheese when served.

France Cevallos

01/17/2013 05:59:49 PM

03/06/24: I made this again, after all these years, and I still love it! I used freshly grated Parmesan this time instead of the shaker kind, and oh so good! So simple, but it would be a perfect dish for spring/summer! 01/17/12: YUM YUM and more YUM! Simple and delicious! The cooking times are spot on. I liked that the asparagus were still a bit crisp. The lemon really makes the recipe, so don't skimp! I made the recipe as written. I used whole wheat pasta and served it warm. I tossed everything back into the pot, so no need to dirty a bowl. Next time I will grate my own parmesan cheese or buy the bagged, shredded variety. I only had the parmesan that comes in a shaker and it tends to turn slightly clumpy and pasty. I'll definitely make this again!

887af

04/08/2013 09:28:41 PM

I added a huge bunch of kale, 1/4 of an onion, 2 cloves of garlic to the asparagus. I sauteed them in a bin pan in coconut oil added them to the lemon juice but did not add zest (BF doesn't like things too lemony). Added the cheese then the pasta and transferred everything back to a sauce pan (BF wasn't home yet/ don't want things getting cold!!) added the pepper and salt. OMG turned out amazing!!

BoldSole5145

04/01/2024 11:13:58 PM

For those who might have found this "rather bland" (as in comments) try adding: 10-12 cherry or grape tomatoes halved 10 sliced button mushrooms 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds I have a recipe that calls for all three of these additional ingredients. Probably don't add more olive oil as the tomatoes will add some juice. Also, I use light tasting olive oil when making a recipe that calls for this much olive oil. 🙂

Beth Stacy

04/01/2020 12:02:27 PM

We loved it. Nice and lemony. Sauteed seasoned shrimp, until just pink and added them over the pasta. Had plenty of leftovers, but needed more veggies, so added green beans and mixed sauteing greens.

Nancy Ouimet

05/01/2024 01:04:21 AM

Great basic recipe.I infused the olive oil with garlic, added pancetta, leftover smidge of pesto, and fresh basil! With changes it is 5 stars!

LeeAnne Pantuso Clark

09/25/2025 01:27:58 AM

Definitely needs more flavor. I ended up adding some chopped preserved lemon, a bit of crushed red pepper, and some toasted pine nuts. With those tweaks it was delicious!

ArtsyRum8685

05/08/2024 01:07:07 AM

I made a half recipe but added the full amount of lemon zest and lemon juice. If you like lemon flavor, this is great. I cut the amount of olive oil in half, because it seemed too oily the first time I made it. Now, it is one of my go-to recipes. Love it!

Cyndy Beer

03/31/2020 03:52:33 AM

This dish is delicious! As another reviewer said, I also sauteed the asparagus with some onion and a few mushrooms! It was a hit! I'll definitely be making this dish again and again

Diane

08/02/2024 09:41:58 PM

I had feta in the fridge so I used that instead of Parmigiano. I also added some fresh spinach at the end of the boiling. It was delicious!

Tree

06/26/2025 07:56:12 PM

We really liked this recipe. Easy and quick to make. Next time I might consider adding some red pepper flakes to give it some zing! Not a necessary ingredient...but add for a different flavor profile the next day.

Linda Van Wickler

05/27/2025 11:16:39 PM

This is really good. I will use more asparagus next time just because I like it so much. I made this as a main dish so added cooked sliced Italian chicken sausage so my husband would be happy! I can see this being a good room temperature salad/side as another reviewer suggested. Will make again.