Meyer lemon recipes are always on my mind as the weather cools off. This Meyer Lemon Pasta with Thyme is one of my favorites — it’s light, delicious and perfect as an entrée or a side dish. It’s so quick and easy to make a lovely Meyer lemon pasta sauce, you might just make this your go-to-recipe. 
It’s in the winter that you’ll be seeing more and more Meyer lemon recipes being cooked in restaurants, and placed as specials on their menus. I will be ordering them! Will you?
Inspiration for Meyer Lemon Pasta with Thyme
The little Meyer lemon tree that could.
When we moved into our house almost eight years ago we transplanted a little Meyer lemon tree, which had not yet produced any lemons.
The next year we got two lemons, and every year since we’ve gotten about four.
I don’t think we did anything differently this year, but our little, sweet tree has at least two dozen lemons hanging from it! It looks so happy!
Yep, I said it. A tree can look happy. 😉 And I’m so happy I can start cooking more Meyer lemon recipes — right from my own backyard.
Eight years ago, I never would have imagined I’d have enough lemons to flavor a whole meal with. I’ve been craving a light pasta lately, so I decided to make a Meyer lemon sauce for spaghetti with a touch of aromatic thyme.
With just a few ingredients and about twenty minutes, you can make a divine Meyer lemon pasta sauce. It was so perfect for this dish, and would also be super tasty over chicken, fish or mixed into rice.
What’s different about Meyer Lemons?
Meyer lemons are my favorite lemon variety because of their thinner skin, deeper yellow, sometimes orange color, and slightly sweeter flavor.
Here’s the deal with this spaghetti . . .
Every single strand is covered with the luscious buttery Meyer lemon pasta sauce. You’ll be left wanting more and you might just be caught licking your plate. 
Ideas for what to Serve With Meyer Lemon Spaghetti
- I love this on its own, and it would be fantastic served with chicken and a salad.
- I recommend Smoky Paprika Lemon-Herb Chicken Under a Brick and Grapefruit-Avocado Salad.
- The flavors in my Blackberry-Thyme Roasted Chicken would be fantastic along side the spaghetti.
Oh, and here are more Meyer lemon recipes for your eating (& viewing) pleasure.
This pasta dish is light, delicious and perfect as an entrée or a side dish. It's so quick and easy to make a lovely Meyer lemon pasta sauce, you might just make it your go-to-recipe.
- 8 ounces dry spaghetti
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Meyer lemon zest (from about 1 to 2 lemons)
- 2 tablespoons Meyer lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
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Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water until it's al dente. (Al dente means "to the tooth." The pasta should be tender, but with a bite to it.)
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As soon as you put the pasta in the water, add the butter, oil, lemon zest, lemon juice and thyme to a large sauce, or sauté pan. Over low-medium heat, let the butter melt. Then mix and let it gently simmer until the pasta is done.
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Drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the sauce.
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Season generously to taste with salt and pepper. (Here's How to Season to Taste.)
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Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.
Deb|EastofEdenCooking says
Lemon anything is a personal favorite. I would love to dig into that plate of lush spaghetti!
A fantastic way to begin the New Year.
valentina says
Thanks, Deb. I dug deep.;-) Happy New Year!
Tara | Deliciously Declassified says
Yum! This sounds so fresh and delicious! I wish i had a green thumb – I’d love to have a lemon tree in my backyard but I don’t think I could make that happen!
valentina says
My thumb is brown, at best. 😉 You can do it for sure! Thanks for the comment. 🙂
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says
I’m so jealous that you have a meyer lemon tree. That is so cool. This dish looks super simple and full of flavor. I love the lemon thyme combo and often marinate my chicken in that.
valentina says
Simple and full of flavor, indeed. And I’m loving your idea of marinating chicken in the “sauce.” Brilliant! Thank you.
Platter Talk says
This sounds especially delicious! Love the zesty addition of the lemon.
valentina says
Thanks so much! Yes, the zest is lovely!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
As soon as my Meyers ripen, I will make this!
valentina says
Yay! I’ve been loving it. 🙂
Gin says
Your lemons look beautiful! You’ve convinced me I really need to try Meyer lemons this year. I love their deeper color inside!
valentina says
Oh you must — especially if you’ve never tried them. They’re just lovely. And thank you.
Ali says
I love Meyer lemons! I really want to try to grow one – I’ve heard rumors that they can overwinter here in parts of Oregon if they are sufficiently sheltered. This pasta looks lovely – will definitely be making it soon!
valentina says
Thanks so much, Ali. If I have 2 dozen lemons on my tiny tree, I”m convinced anyone can do it. I bet they’d love the Oregon rain. 🙂
David says
Yes, please! Actually, Meyer lemon season has passed for us in Tucson, but I just saw some at Trader Joe’s so would love to give this a try. What could be better?
valentina says
Thanks, David! Looks like you’ve had some fantastic traveling lately — can’t wait to see what you’re cooking as a result. 🙂
Peg says
Like David, I just saw some Meyer’s at the store and picked them up. I googled recipes for them and this one spoke volumes to me! I will be making it this week! Thanks!!
valentina says
Thanks so much! So happy your search led you to this spaghetti recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do. 🙂
Jan Schleier says
I Love this recipe! We have been adding cooked shrimp to it in order to add some protein and it is really yummy! When I was out of fresh thyme I used oregano and that tastes great, too. Also great on spaghetti squash!
valentina says
Thanks so much for sharing this, Jan! You made my day. Shrimp is the perfect protein addition, as it is so delicious with lemon. And the oregano sounds lovely, too. I will have to try it with spaghetti squash. Great idea. 🙂
Liv says
Love this recipe! I like to throw in some rosemary with the thyme 🙂 Thanks for sharing this great recipe!
valentina says
Thank you so much, Liv! How lovely to add rosemary, too. Happy Holidays to you and thanks for cooking my recipes. 🙂 ~Valentina
Paula says
I added more lemon juice and zest cause we love it! I also picked up some Dungeness crab at my local fish market, and combined some finely chopped mint and parsley to the thyme mix. Delicious!
valentina says
Hi Paula, thanks so much for writing in. I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe. The addition of the crab and herbs is brilliant. What a perfect protein to go with the lemon flavor. 🙂 ~Valentina