A symphony of colors fills the plate. The bright yellow lemon wedges and soft green dill contrast beautifully with the silvery sheen of the sardines atop the creamy white pasta. Crushed red pepper flakes add a dash of bold red drama to the mix.

Slow Cooker Sardine and Lemon Pasta

Name: Slow Cooker Sardine and Lemon Pasta
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 220 min
Total time: 235 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 (4 oz) cans Canned sardines in oil drained; 2 Fresh lemon juiced and zest; a small bunch Fresh dill chopped; 3 Garlic cloves minced; 8 oz Spaghetti; 1 cup Heavy cream; 1 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes; 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated; to taste Salt; 2 tablespoons Olive oil

Creamy lemon-infused slow-cooker pasta with sardines.

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 220 minutes

Style American

Technique Slow Cooking

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily recipe · July 02, 2024

A little about this dish

Who says you can't turn the humble sardine into something exquisite and elegant? This recipe brilliantly showcases sardines in a new light. Enhanced by tangy lemon and aromatic dill, the richness of the sardines is perfectly balanced. This slow-cooker dish is a delightful spin on a classic American comfort meal with a hint of sophistication.

Ingredients (for 4)

Canned sardines in oil — 2 (4 oz) cans — drained
Fresh lemon — 2 — juiced and zest
Fresh dill — a small bunch — chopped
Garlic cloves — 3 — minced
Spaghetti — 8 oz
Heavy cream — 1 cup
Crushed red pepper flakes — 1 tsp
Parmesan cheese — 1/2 cup — grated
Salt — to taste
Olive oil — 2 tablespoons

Preparation

Step 1 — 🐟 🍋 🍲

Place sardines, garlic, juice and zest of one lemon, half of the dill, and crushed red pepper flakes into the slow cooker. Set it on low and stir ingredients gently.
Step 2 — 🍲 🍝 💦

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook spaghetti until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water after draining.
Step 3 — 🍝 🥛 🧀 🍋 🌿

Add the spaghetti, reserved pasta water, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, remaining lemon juice and dill into the slow cooker. Stir gently and season with salt if needed.
Step 4 — ⏰ 🍲 🔥

Let all ingredients simmer together in the slow cooker on low for an additional 20 minutes until heated thoroughly.
Step 5 — 🍝 🍋 🌿 🧀

Serve immediately while hot. Garnish with fresh dill, parmesan cheese and fresh lemon wedges for some extra flavor.

A final fox tip

Fun fact: Sardines are a fantastic source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for heart health. If you wish to spice things up, feel free to add in some summer vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini to the mix. Also, kids can help with washing the lemons and plucking dill leaves.