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Perfect Creamy Lemon Pancetta Tagliatelle Recipe for Two

creamy lemon pancetta tagliatelle - featured image
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A quick and easy creamy lemon pancetta tagliatelle recipe perfect for two, combining rich cream, tangy lemon, and crispy pancetta for a comforting yet fresh dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 oz (170 g) tagliatelle pasta, fresh or dried
  • 4 oz (115 g) pancetta, diced
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
  • 1 medium fresh lemon, zest and juice
  • ⅓ cup (35 g) Parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt to 4 quarts (4 liters) of water. Cook the tagliatelle according to package instructions until just al dente, about 7–9 minutes for dried pasta or 2–3 minutes for fresh.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add diced pancetta and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and crisp but not burnt. Remove pancetta with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving rendered fat in the pan.
  3. Lower heat to medium-low and add minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 30–45 seconds until fragrant but not browned, stirring constantly.
  4. Pour in ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream and add lemon zest. Stir gently and bring to a very gentle simmer (do not boil) for 2–3 minutes to thicken the sauce slightly.
  5. Drain pasta using a colander, reserving ¼ cup (60 ml) of pasta cooking water.
  6. Add drained tagliatelle to the skillet with the cream sauce. Toss or gently stir to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if sauce is too thick.
  7. Return pancetta to the pan with pasta. Squeeze in juice of half a lemon (about 1 tablespoon) and sprinkle ⅓ cup (35 g) grated Parmesan. Stir gently off the heat to keep cream smooth and cheese from clumping.
  8. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
  9. Serve immediately while hot.

Notes

Keep the cream at a gentle simmer to avoid curdling. Add lemon juice off the heat. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Crisp pancetta starting in a cold pan over medium heat for best texture. For dairy-free, substitute cream with coconut milk and Parmesan with nutritional yeast. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta or rice noodles.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon pancetta tagliatelle, creamy pasta, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, date night dinner, pancetta pasta, lemon pasta sauce

Find it online: https://sizzlesprout.com/perfect-creamy-lemon-pancetta-tagliatelle-recipe-for-two-easy-dinner-idea/