This Easy Lemon Artichoke Pasta makes for a quick dinner and is a fun way to introduce artichoke hearts to your kids.

This month we have been exploring and learning about all things artichoke with our kiddos. To end off the month I am sharing one of my families new favorite easy weeknight meals. This Easy Lemon Artichoke Pasta! Below I am sharing some easy ways you can get your kids involved in making this dish and how to serve it up to meet your families food preferences. So everyone can enjoy the same nutritious meal together.

Ingredients You Need

To make this Easy Lemon Artichoke Pasta you will need..

• pasta (regular or whole wheat)
• canned or frozen artichoke hearts
• 1 lemon
• grated parmesan cheese
• butter or olive oil

Tips:

• Mix in or serve with a preferred green vegetable like spinach, asparagus, broccoli or peas
• For more protein serve/mix in: shredded chicken, diced chicken, or chicken sausage. For a meatless option, use chickpea or lentil pasta instead of regular pasta.

How to Prepare Recipe with Kids

• Have kids help you fill pot with water.
• Once water comes to a boil have kids pour in pasta.
• While pasta is cooking have kids measure butter, parmesan cheese; zest and juice lemon; drain artichoke hearts.
• Once pasta is cooked. Kids can help pour drained pasta back into pot along with butter, parmesan cheese, reserved pasta water, lemon juice, lemon zest, artichoke hearts. Mix to combine.

Cooking Skills Used in this Recipe

• pouring
• measuring
• zesting
• juicing
• mixing
• boiling

Tips for Success with a Picky or Selective Eater

1. Choose a preferred pasta.
2. Serve pasta on it’s own or serve pasta with only parmesan cheese and butter.
3. Serve lemon slices, artichokes on the side.
4. Serve dish along side a preferred vegetable, fruit or protein.
5. Let your kids decide what to add to their pasta or let them enjoy everything separately.

 Who else has a child who doesn’t like their food to touch or won’t go near a mixed dish?! I do!! So sometimes you have to be a bit creative and serve things a bit different (if possible). This dish is one you can make a simple change to and serve it mixed or separately. I decided to serve this dish both mixed and separately and let the kids decide what they wanted. After adding in the butter and cheese I removed half the pasta and then mixed in half of the mix ins and served the remaining mix ins on the side (see above). 

Both my kids took a little bit of everything(except the mixed option, of course 😉 ). But they had fun squeezing lemon on their pasta and enjoyed the artichokes and chicken sausage on the side.

My husband and I really liked it all mixed together. The citrus from the lemon paired really well with the artichokes and parmesan cheese! Definitely a new family favorite.

I would love the hear, what are some ways you enjoy canned or frozen artichoke hearts in your home?!

Print Recipe

Easy Lemon Artichoke Pasta

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: dinner

Cuisine: American, Italian Inspired

Keyword: Artichoke Pasta

Author: Lauren Sharifi, MPH RD LDN

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried pasta regular or whole wheat
• 1 14.5 ounce can artichokes drained and quartered
• 1/2 lemon juiced and zested
• 1 cup pasta water
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup optional: cooked chicken sausage or shredded chicken, spinach or other preferred green vegetable

Instructions

• Prepare pasta per directions on box.
• When pasta is done remove 1 cup pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.
• To the same pot on medium heat add butter, pasta water, parmesan cheese and cooked pasta. Mix to combine.
• Then add in artichokes, lemon juice, lemon zest and other optional add ins.

  Note: If serving to kids this is where you could remove half of the pasta to serve plain. Then mix half of the add ins in and serve the other half of the add ins on the side. (See above picture)