Our lemon angel hair pasta tossed in a garlic butter scampi sauce is a simple yet delicious recipe you’ll want to make again and again! We love pairing it with our lemon pepper salmon for a twist on salmon scampi pasta. It’s also tasty when served alongside our baked blackened salmon!

This flavorful lemon angel hair pasta dish is perfect for any night of the week 🤤

The inspiration for this recipe actually came from Brio’s shrimp scampi, which was on their menu years ago (and I still miss it 😢). Since it’s no longer available, I set out to recreate it at home. I also took a page from the New York Times’ classic shrimp scampi recipe for the sauce, tweaking it after reading through the comments section where readers shared their own adjustments to make the sauce even better.

I wanted the perfect balance of butter, garlic, and lemon, with just the right amount of sauce to coat the pasta without overwhelming it. After a little experimenting, I nailed the consistency—this sauce is perfect!

Whenever I make make this recipe, I pair it with lemon pepper salmon. I’ve always loved the zesty kick of homemade lemon pepper seasoning; it’s a perfect match with the thin, buttery pasta.

This lemon butter pasta recipe is super quick to make, which makes it ideal for a weeknight dinner or a special weekend meal! It has quickly become a regular on our dinner table and a delicious way to bring a little bit of restaurant-style flavor into your home.

Let’s get cooking!

😍 What we love about this recipe

  • Perfect Scampi Sauce: Buttery, garlic-infused sauce with a burst of lemon for a zesty, savory flavor.
  • Quick and Easy: Made with just a few ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen!
  • Versatile Pairing: Goes perfectly with chicken or fish for a balanced, delicious meal full of flavor.

🗒️ Ingredients

A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Pasta

  • Angel hair pasta
  • Salted butter
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • Garlic
  • Chicken broth
  • Dry white wine for example Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Chardonnay
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Diamond Crystal kosher salt
  • Crushed red pepper flakes
  • Ground black pepper
  • Freshly squeezed juice of half a lemon

Salmon

For more details, check out our lemon pepper salmon recipe.

  • Salmon filets
  • Seasoning such as granulated garlic, lemon pepper, or other seafood seasoning blend.
  • Diamond Crystal kosher salt
  • Olive oil
  • Butter

Substitutions and modifications

  • Pasta: Use spaghetti or capellini, as a replacement (they both have a similar thin texture). For a slightly thicker option, fettuccine or linguine also work well.
  • Lemon Pepper Seasoning: Use a mix of lemon zest, cracked black pepper, and a pinch of garlic powder.
  • Kosher Salt: Use sea salt or Himalayan pink salt.
  • Olive Oil: Try avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or vegetable oil for a neutral flavor.

🍽️ Angel hair pasta with scampi butter sauce

Detailed instructions for lemon angel hair pasta can be found in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Cook angel hair pasta in salted water according to the package directions. Drain and save ½ cup of the pasta water for later. While the pasta cooks, heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Step 2: Add garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 3: Pour chicken broth and wine into the skillet. Add cherry tomatoes, kosher salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and black pepper.

Step 4: Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook for about 10 minutes, reducing the liquid by half. Then, add lemon juice.

Step 5: Carefully add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Stir in the reserved pasta water for a thicker sauce, if desired.

Step 6: Toss everything together so the pasta absorbs the lemon-garlic flavor. Serve immediately with chicken, fish, or enjoy it on its own!

🐟 How to cook salmon (pan fried)

For more detailed instructions, go to the best lemon pepper salmon recipe.

Step 1: Take the salmon filets out the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. Pat the filets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.

Step 2: Season with kosher salt and seasonings. We used lemon pepper, but you can use homemade seasoning or store-bought based on your preferences.

Step 3: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and butter, swirling the pan to coat the bottom. Once the butter starts to foam, place the salmon filets in the pan skin-side down.

Step 4: Flip the salmon filets, lower the heat to medium, and cook for another 3 minutes.

Step 5: For thicker filets (½ inch or more), cook the edges for about 2 minutes per side. Use tongs to hold the salmon upright to sear the sides.

lemon-pepper-salmon-23

Step 6: Flip the salmon back to skin-side down and baste the filets with the pan juices using a spoon. Squeeze lemon juice on top before serving.

🍴What pairs well with this dish?

Lemon angel hair pasta goes great with lemon pepper salmon, shrimp, or chicken, as well as roasted veggies like asparagus, zucchini, or bell peppers, some garlic bread or a crusty baguette, and a green salad with lemon vinaigrette.

ℹ️ Frequently asked questions

If you prefer not to use wine, simply replace the ½ cup of dry white wine with an equal amount of chicken broth. This maintains the liquid volume and adds a savory flavor to the sauce.

Yes, you can substitute angel hair pasta with other types like spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine. For a shorter pasta option, penne or farfalle also works well. Adjust the cooking time according to package instructions to ensure it’s cooked al dente.

If your sauce is too thin, let it simmer for a few extra minutes to reduce and thicken naturally. You can also add a splash of the reserved pasta water, which contains starch and helps bind the sauce to the pasta.

Summary

This lemon pepper salmon recipe is our foolproof method for cooking salmon fillets perfectly every time. Whether you stick to lemon pepper or switch it up with Cajun or blackened seasoning, this recipe will quickly become a family favorite. Pair it with your favorite sides and enjoy a restaurant-quality meal at home.

Lemon Angel Hair Pasta with Salmon (Salmon Scampi Pasta)

Krysten & Marrekus Wilkes
Our lemon angel hair pasta tossed in a garlic butter scampi sauce is a simple yet delicious recipe you’ll want to make again and again! We love pairing it with our lemon pepper salmon for a twist on salmon scampi pasta.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces uncooked angel hair pasta
  • ½ cup 8 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved lengthwise
  • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or to taste (if using any other type of salt, reduce the amount by half)
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste
  • 8 ounces uncooked angel hair pasta
  • Freshly squeezed juice of half a lemon
  • ½ cup reserved pasta water if needed

Salmon

  • 4 salmon filets
  • 2-4 teaspoons homemade lemon pepper seasoning or your favorite store-bought lemon pepper like Mrs. Dash Salt-Free Lemon Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt (if using any other type of salt, reduce the amount by half)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Instructions
 

Lemon Angel Hair Pasta

  • Cook angel hair pasta in salted water according to package instructions. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
  • While the pasta is cooking, melt butter with olive oil in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Pour in chicken broth and wine, then add cherry tomatoes, kosher salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and ground black pepper.
  • Bring to a simmer and let the liquid reduce by half, about 10 minutes.
  • Add lemon juice and freshly cooked angel hair in the lemon butter mixture. Then, pour in ½ cup cooked pasta water, if desired. This helps to thicken the mixture.
  • Toss to combine, allowing the pasta to soak up some of the lemon garlic flavor.
  • Enjoy immediately, paired with chicken or fish, or enjoy by itself.
Keyword easy dinner recipes, lemon angel hair pasta, salmon scampi pasta
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