Lemon Basil White Bean Pasta is a light pasta dish mixing your favorite pasta, white beans, lemon juice, fresh basil and Parmesan cheese. This pasta dish uses minimal ingredients making it a very easy weeknight dish. To make this a healthier dish try whole wheat pasta, lentil or chickpea pasta.

With citrus in season and delicious this time of year you need to try this light and delicious Lemon Basil White Bean Pasta.

This pasta is perfect for a quick weeknight meal and makes great leftovers too.

The cannellini beans add protein to this dish. You can sub them for other beans like kidney beans or chickpeas. This recipe mixes pasta, extra virgin olive oil, white beans, fresh basil, garlic, dried oregano, crushed red pepper {optional}, fresh lemon juice and lemon zest.

You will love the light, citrusy flavor that the lemon brings into the dish mixed with the extra virgin olive oil and garlic. It is such an easy recipe and one your family is going to love.

In the warmer months I like to make this into a pasta salad and serve it cold for a bbq or summer get together. You could also make this as a meal-prep option and use it as a salad for lunches during the week.

The nice thing about this recipe is that these ingredients are often already in our kitchens or gardens. For a healthier dish try a whole wheat, chickpea or lentil pasta. If you don’t have basil on hand you can use parsley or dill in its place or you can use dried basil.

Fresh herbs are always the best option but when you are in a pinch you can always sub for dried.

You know my love for lemon and I use it in so many recipes. Some of my favorites are this Lemon Hummus, Lemon Lentil Soup Recipe, Lemon Whipped Feta, Lemon Marinade for Chicken, Lemon Pasta and this Greek Lemon Chicken.

Recipe Ingredients You’ll Need:

PASTA
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
GARLIC
OREGANO
CRUSHED RED PEPPER
FRESH BASIL
LEMON, JUICED AND ZESTED
CANNELINI BEANS
PARMESAN CHEESE

How do you Make Lemon Basil Pasta

This pasta dish couldn’t be easier to make! If you need a quick, weeknight meal this one is for you.

Step 1: Cook Pasta: Start by boiling the pasta according to the package. Once the pasta is done cooking save 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain the pasta and set aside.

Step 2: Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet heat 2 tbsp. olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 2 minutes.

Step 3: Add Spices: Add the dried oregano, crushed red pepper and sauté for another minute.

Step 4: Add Remaining Ingredients: Add the pasta, white beans, remaining olive oil, lemon juice and lemon zest and mix well. Add the reserved pasta water in small amounts until you reach the desired consistency for the lemon sauce mixing continuously.

Garnish the pasta with Parmesan cheese {optional}, fresh parsley and basil.

Ways to Modify this Lemon Basil Pasta Dish

Beans: I used white beans in this pasta dish but feel free to sub in chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans or pinto beans.
Cheese: There are a variety of cheese options that would be nice in this dish if you want to use cheese. Try feta, goat cheese or mozzarella.
Vegetables: If you want to add vegetables you can sauté them with the garlic. You could use bell pepper, carrot, celery, zucchini, broccoli, green beans or eggplant.
Spices: Spices are a great way to take this pasta to the next level. Some that are nice in this dish are Italian seasoning, paprika, cayenne red pepper or za’atar.
Herbs: Fresh herbs are always nice in this dish like fresh dill, parsley or mint.