I have been living low carb for years, but once in a while I splurge, and when I do it has to be worth it! Trust me when I say this Browned Butter Linguine with Crispy Breadcrumbs is absolutely a dream.
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Let’s Talk about Browned Butter Linguine with Crispy Breadcrumbs

If tender al dente pasta and spinach tossed in rich browned butter and topped with crispy herbed Parmesan bread crumbs sounds like your thing, welcome, you are my people. If you are new to browned butter, let me tell you about how amazing it is. It adds a rich, almost nutty flavor to any dish, taking simple recipes to the next level. That said, browned butter isn’t the only star of the show…the bread crumbs are the topper, literally! These bread crumbs are made with sourdough bread, parmesan, olive oil, parsley, lemon zest, red pepper flakes and sea salt. When sprinkled on an already beautiful pasta dish, they put it over the top. This recipe takes about 25 minutes to make and feeds two as main course, four as a side dish.

BROWNING BUTTER:

Browned butter adds a rich, nutty, slightly sweet flavor to this pasta. To make, you simply place butter into a small pan on medium heat, the butter will melt, then begin to bubble up. You’ll want to stir occasionally and keep an eye on the butter so it doesn’t burn. After 4-5 minutes the center will erupt in a caramel color. The butter is now browned.

When it All Comes Together it’s Magic!

I hope you love this recipe as much as I do. You can serve this pasta as a vegetarian main course and if you wish, you can add rotisserie chicken. It’s also great as a side dish served with steak, roast chicken, or simple salmon steaks.

Love Browned Butter Pasta and Need More Recipes?

Try my Browned Butter Ravioli!

WANT TO ADD CHICKEN TO THIS RECIPE?

If you want to add protein to this pasta, you can shred up store bought rotisserie chicken or make these moist, tender chicken breasts on the cooktop in 15 minutes!

Two chicken breasts garnished with chives in a black cast iron skillet on a white counter with lemon wedges and a yellow dish towel in the background

The Recipe: Browned Butter Linguine with Crispy Breadcrumbs

Name: Browned Butter Linguine with Crispy Breadcrumbs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 21 min
Ingredients: 16 ounces linguine, cooked to package instructions; 1 slice sourdough bread, torn; 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan (separated); 1 tablespoon good quality olive oil (plus a little more if needed for pasta); 3 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped; zest of two lemons; 1/2 cup butter, browned; 1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (depending on how much heat you want); 3 cups baby spinach; sea salt and pepper to taste

What you need: a food processor, (I use this mini one, it’s affordable!) a microplane for grating parmesan and zesting citrus and a good quality pot.

Browned Butter Linguine with Crispy Breadcrumbs

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

11 mins

Total Time

21 mins

A simple pasta that tastes and looks gourmet! Feeds four as main course, eight as a side dish

Course: dinner, lunch

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: browned butter pasta, easy pasta recipe

Ingredients

16 ounces linguine, cooked to package instructions
1 slice sourdough bread, torn
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan (separated)
1 tablespoon good quality olive oil (plus a little more if needed for pasta)
3 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped
zest of two lemons
1/2 cup butter, browned
1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (depending on how much heat you want)
3 cups baby spinach
sea salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and place oven rack in center position. Place a medium sized pot of salted water to boil. While you wait for water prepare bread crumbs.
Place 1 slice of sourdough bread (torn), 3/4 cup parmesan, and olive oil into a food processor and mix until well combined. Place onto a baking sheet and bake for 6-7 minutes. While bread crumbs bake chop parsley and zest lemon. Set aside.
When water is boiling, cook pasta to package instructions.
Remove bread crumbs from oven, toss with parsley, lemon zest and red pepper flakes, set aside. Make brown butter:
Place a small pan on cooktop on medium heat. Add butter, bring to a simmer (you may need to lower the temp a little once it gets going) When butter is slowly simmering, stir here and there. After 3-4 minutes the butter will start to brown. Once it's brown turn off heat.
Place spinach in a large bowl. When pasta is ready, remove 1/4 cup pasta water, set aside. Strain pasta, do not rinse! Immediately add pasta to bowl on top of spinach. Allow to sit for 60 seconds, so spinach can wilt. Pour browned butter over pasta and toss, add pasta water and toss again. Sprinkle with generously sea salt and pepper. (If needed you can drizzle a little olive oil over pasta)Top with half of the bread crumbs, toss again. Sprinkle with remaining bread crumbs and remaining parmesan cheese. Serve and enjoy!

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