One-Pot Lemon Garlic Spaghetti with Parmesan and Black Pepper
Sauté sliced garlic in olive oil in a deep skillet or pot over a medium camp stove flame, add water and broken spaghetti, and simmer 10 to 12 minutes, stirring often, until the pasta is tender and the water has cooked down to a starchy sauce. Off the heat, stir in butter, lemon, Parmesan, pepper and parsley. Total time is about 30 minutes with one pot and no draining.
This is the pasta you make when you're tired, hungry and don't want to wash three pots. Everything cooks in one pan. The pasta water cooks down into the sauce, so there's nothing to drain.
Garlic, lemon, Parmesan and black pepper are all it takes. The ingredients are cheap, they pack small, and they hold up fine in a camp box. Make it the first night of a trip or the last night when the cooler is nearly empty.
One-Pot Lemon Garlic Spaghetti with Parmesan and Black Pepper
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Serves
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Heat
- Medium flame, or a grate over medium coals
- Pack weight
- 2 lb
- Campfire
- Camp stove
- Backpacking
- Cooler optional
- One burner
- Some water
- One-pan cleanup
- Prep ahead
Ingredients
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Gear you'll need
- Deep 12-inch cast-iron or steel skillet, or 5-quart pot
- Camp stove or campfire grate
- Tongs
- Knife and cutting board
- Fine grater or zester
- Heat-proof gloves if cooking over a fire
Steps
-
Prep the basics
Slice the garlic, zest and juice the lemon, and chop the parsley. Snap the spaghetti in half so it fits flat in the pan.
-
Warm the garlic
Heat the oil in a deep 12-inch skillet or 5-quart pot over medium-low. Add the garlic and pepper flakes and stir for about 1 minute, just until fragrant. Pull it off the heat if it starts to brown.
-
Add water and pasta
Pour in 5 cups water and the salt, then bring to a boil over medium-high. Add the spaghetti and push it under the water as it softens.
-
Simmer and stir
Cook at a steady bubble for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring often with tongs so the pasta doesn't stick. The water will cook down to a thick, starchy liquid. If the pan looks dry before the pasta is tender, add a splash of the hot water.
-
Taste for doneness
Pull out a strand and bite it. It should be tender with a slight chew. Leave about 1/2 cup of loose, starchy liquid in the pan.
-
Build the sauce
Take the pan off the heat. Add the butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan and black pepper, and toss hard for 1 minute until the liquid turns glossy and clings to the pasta.
-
Finish and serve
Stir in the parsley and add a splash of hot water if it seems tight. Taste, add salt if needed, and serve right away with extra Parmesan on top.
Trail Notes
Grate the Parmesan at home and carry it in a zip bag. Pack the garlic, lemon and parsley in a small container. Hard cheese and whole lemons last several days, and a cooler is helpful but optional for this meal.
Stir in a drained can (15 oz) of white beans or a drained can of tuna with the lemon for more protein. Baby spinach also wilts in during the final toss.
Skip the butter and use 2 more tablespoons of olive oil. Use shelf-stable grated Parmesan or a small wedge of hard Parmesan kept in a cool, shaded spot, and use it within a couple of days.
There's no pasta water to drain, so cleanup is easy. Scrape food scraps into your trash bag, then strain wash water and scatter it broadcast at least 200 feet from streams, lakes and campsites.
Round out your camp day
Picked to work with the same kit as this recipe.
BreakfastCampfire Bell Pepper Ring Eggs with Black Beans
LunchCampfire Honey-Lime Chicken and Rice Foil Packets
Snack or treatCampfire Foil Packet Baked Brie with Honey and Grilled BaguetteMore one-burner camping meals →Planning a trip? Get the free 3-day meal plan →
Campers ask
Can you cook spaghetti in a skillet at camp?
Yes. Use a deep 12-inch skillet, snap the spaghetti in half and cover it with about 5 cups of water. Stir often and it cooks in 10 to 12 minutes.
How do you keep one-pot pasta from sticking?
Stir every minute or two and keep the heat at a steady simmer, not a hard boil. If the water runs low, add a splash of hot water.
Can I make this on a campfire instead of a stove?
Yes. Set a grate over medium coals, not tall flames, and use a pot you don't mind blackening. Coals vary, so expect to move the pan around to keep the simmer steady.
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