Sausage and Zucchini Spaghetti with Lemon Garlic Butter

If you love pasta as much as we do, this dish is for you. Crispy pork sausage, tender bites of zucchini, jammy tomato and a lemon-spiked garlic herb sauce come together with spaghetti for a meal that’s hearty, satisfying and full of flavor.

A sprinkle of Parmesan and chili flakes takes it to new heights. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner that feels special without a lot of fuss.

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Ingredients

0.25 cup Parmesan CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit ZucchiniView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LemonView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon Garlic Herb ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

6 ounce SpaghettiView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

9 ounce Italian Pork SausageView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Chili PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
2. While pasta cooks, remove sausage from casings if needed. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
3. Trim zucchini and cut into half-moons. Dice tomato. Thinly slice chili pepper (remove seeds for less heat). Zest and juice the lemon.
4. In the same skillet, add garlic herb butter and melt over medium heat. Add zucchini and cook until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in tomato and chili pepper; cook 1 minute.
5. Return sausage to skillet. Add cooked spaghetti, lemon zest and lemon juice. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed to loosen the sauce. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
6. Serve topped with grated Parmesan cheese and extra chili flakes if desired.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of pasta?

Yes, any long pasta like linguine or fettuccine works well. You can also use short pasta like penne or rigatoni.

Can I make this dish dairy-free?

Yes, use a dairy-free butter substitute and omit the Parmesan or use a dairy-free alternative.

How do I store leftovers?

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet with a splash of water or broth.