We Made Ina Garten’s Lemon Capellini—and It’s Her Absolute Best Weeknight Dinner
Updated: Apr. 19, 2023You only need 15 minutes (and three ingredients) to make Ina Garten's lemon capellini. The result is a bright, fresh and flavorful pasta dish.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
We love Ina Garten’s recipes because she uses simple and seasonal ingredients. Her lemon capellini is no different! In fact, this recipe might be the Barefoot Contessa’s best quick and easy dinner ever.
This dish comes together with ultra-thin pasta, butter and the zest and juice from a couple of lemons. Ina uses capellini, also known as angel hair. It pairs best with a light sauce, making it perfect for this 3-ingredient dish.
Ina Garten’s Lemon Capellini Recipe
This light pasta recipe cooks quickly, so pull everything out beforehand. This is called mise en place, or “everything in its place.” Ina has more cooking tips where that came from!
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried capellini
- 2 sticks unsalted butter
- Zest and juice from 2 large lemons
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Tools You’ll Need
- Microplane Zester: This Microplane is the perfect tool for zesting citrus and grating Parmesan cheese.
- Pasta Spoon: Transferring the cooked pasta to the sauce is a pivotal step in this recipe, rather than draining the starchy pasta water from the pot. A pasta spoon will be your friend.
- Nonstick Saute Pan: This high-sided pan comes in handy for tossing the pasta and sauce together.
Psst! Want to cook like the Barefoot Contessa? You need Ina Garten’s kitchen essentials!
Directions
Step 1: Zest and juice lemons
Start by zesting then juicing the lemons and setting each aside. I used a Microplane, but there’s more than one way to zest a lemon.
Step 2: Cook pasta
Cook the capellini or angel hair pasta for about 3-4 minutes, until just al dente. This pasta is super delicate and will fall apart or mush together if it gets overcooked. You’ll also be tossing it with the sauce, so it will continue to cook.
Step 3: Make lemon sauce
To make the butter lemon sauce, start by heating a saute pan over medium heat. Add sticks of butter and let melt. Once melted, add the lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Stir to combine, then turn heat to low.
Step 4: Transfer pasta to sauce
As soon as the pasta is done, lift out of the water with a pasta spoon and transfer to the skillet with the sauce. Toss together, adding reserved pasta water to keep the pasta moist.
Editor’s Tip: Don’t be afraid to add the pasta water! It’s a secret ingredient that adds a rich silkiness to the sauce and acts as a thickening agent.
Step 5: Serve
Portion the lemon capellini into six servings and serve warm. Garnish with additional lemon zest, salt, pepper or fresh herbs. I like garnishing with fresh parsley but basil would be delicious too!
If you love this recipe, here’s a classic Ina Garten’s weeknight bolognese that you should try.
How to Make This Recipe Your Own
While Ina’s lemon capellini recipe is fantastic as-is, there are a few ways to make it your own:
- Serve with a portion of grilled chicken to make it a hearty meal.
- Prefer seafood? Top with scallops, roasted salmon or sauteed shrimp.
- Saute garlic or shallots with the melted butter and lemon to add extra flavor.
- Toss in roasted vegetables or turn it into a seasonal angel hair primavera.
Hungry for more? Next, try these Ina Garten’s lasagna and shrimp scampi recipes.
Here’s What We Thought
This lemon capellini recipe is a total winner in my book! I’ll be serving this light meal all summer long.
The thin noodles tossed with lemony butter practically melt in your mouth. I love the versatility of adding in any kind of protein to beef up the dish, or leave it as-is for quick but elevated comfort food.
Lemon Dinner Recipes for Citrus Lovers
Lemon Chicken with OrzoHere's a dish that's light and fresh but still filling. My kids love all the veggies... for real! If you like a lot of lemon, stir in an extra splash of lemon juice just before serving. —Shannon Humphrey, Hampton, Virginia
Skillet-Roasted Lemon Chicken with PotatoesThis is a meal I have my students make in our nutrition unit. It has a delicious lemon-herb flavor and is simple to make. —Mindy Rottmund, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Tilapia with Lemon Caper SauceMy husband and I are always trying to increase the amount of fish in our diet. This recipe is fast, easy and enjoyable, even for non-fish lovers. —Catherine Jensen, Blytheville, Arkansas
Lemony Shrimp & Snow Pea PastaThis pretty pasta is a family favorite —the kids love the light lemony flavor and I love that they devour the fresh veggies. You can use other types of pasta for variety, like bow ties or corkscrews. —Jennifer Fisher, Austin, Texas
Slow-Cooked Lemon ChickenGarlic, oregano and lemon juice give spark to this memorable main dish. It's easy to fix—just brown the chicken in a skillet, then let the slow cooker do the work. I like to serve this dish to company. —Walter Powell, Wilmington, Delaware
Lemon Cream ChickenIf you want an entree that's quick, easy and elegant, you can't beat this one. The lemon cream sauce is what makes it irresistible. It goes so nicely with the chicken and mushrooms. —Mary Anne McWhirter, Pearland, Texas
Lemon Chicken and RiceOn our busy ranch, we often need meals we can put on the table in a hurry. This all-in-one chicken dish - with its delicate lemon flavor - fits the bill and it's inexpensive to boot. —Kat Thompson, Prineville, Oregon
Lemon-Roasted Chicken with Olive CouscousIf you can find preserved lemons, use them instead of the plain lemons for an even more authentic flavor in this North African-inspired recipe. —David Feder, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Lemony Turkey BreastLemon and a hint of garlic add a lovely touch to these moist slices of slow-cooked turkey breast. I usually serve the gravy over a combination of white and brown rice, along with broccoli for a healthy meal.
—Lynn Laux of Ballwin, Missouri
Salmon with Dill Sauce & Lemon RisottoI love the classic combination of lemon and fish, and this salmon risotto is delicious and easy to throw together at the end of a long day. —Amanda Reed, Nashville, Tennessee
Lemony Chicken & RiceI couldn’t say who loves this recipe best, because it gets raves every time I serve it! Occasionally I even get a phone call or email from a friend requesting the recipe, and it's certainly a favorite for my grown children and 15 grandchildren. —Maryalice Wood, Langley, British Columbia
Rosemary-Lemon Chicken ThighsA cooking show inspired me to create this lemony chicken. Ask your butcher to remove the bones from chicken thighs but leave the skin intact. —Jennifer Tidwell, Fair Oaks, California
Lemon-Butter Tilapia with AlmondsSometimes I want a nice meal without a ton of effort or wait time. Thankfully, I have this lemony, buttery fish that's super fast and totally tasty. —Ramona Parris, Canton, Georgia
Originally Published: March 24, 2022
