Smoked Paprika Garlic Butter Pasta with Breadcrumbs

Spaghetti tossed with smoked paprika garlic butter, lemon, herbs, and crisp toasted breadcrumbs for a quick stovetop pasta ready in about 25 minutes.

Prep: 10 min · Cook: 15 min · Yield: 2 · Method: Stovetop

Ingredients

• 8 oz spaghetti
• 4 tbsp butter
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
• 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
• 0.33 cup heavy cream
• 1 tbsp lemon
• 2 tbsp parsley
• 0.25 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp olive oil

Cooking instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente. (about 10 min)
2. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water. Mince the garlic and chop the parsley.
3. In a small skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and panko breadcrumbs. Toast until golden brown, about 3 minutes, then remove from the pan. (about 3 min)
4. In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. (about 1 min)
5. Whisk in the Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and heavy cream. Simmer for 2 minutes until slightly thickened. (about 2 min)
6. Add the cooked spaghetti to the sauce. Toss vigorously, adding the reserved pasta water as needed to create a glossy, emulsified coating. (about 2 min)
7. Stir in the lemon juice and half of the chopped parsley. Serve immediately, garnished with the remaining parsley and the toasted panko breadcrumbs.