My aunt passed down this brilliant citrus spring dinner and it only takes 4 ingredients to throw together

This oven baked 4-ingredients lemon mascarpone pasta is the kind of simple, bright supper my aunt used to bring to church potlucks every spring. She swore by recipes that could be counted on one hand and still feel special, and this one fits the bill: tender fusilli baked in a sunny, creamy lemon sauce that feels fancy but comes together with almost no effort. It’s a lovely bridge between seasons—rich enough for cool evenings, but with enough citrus lift to remind you that the garden will be green again soon. If you can boil pasta and stir a bowl, you can make this.

Serve this lemon mascarpone pasta straight from the ceramic baking dish while it’s still bubbling and glossy on top. A simple green salad with a sharp vinaigrette balances the richness, and a side of steamed or roasted asparagus fits the spring mood nicely. Warm crusty bread or buttered dinner rolls are perfect for swiping up the extra sauce. If you enjoy wine, a crisp white like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with the bright citrus and creamy cheese.

Servings: 4

12 oz dry fusilli pasta

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly butter or oil a medium ceramic baking dish, about 8x11 inches or similar, so the pasta doesn’t stick.

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the fusilli and cook for 2–3 minutes less than the package directions for al dente; the pasta should still be quite firm in the center, as it will finish cooking in the oven. Drain well but do not rinse.

While the pasta cooks, zest both lemons into a medium mixing bowl, avoiding the bitter white pith. Cut the lemons in half and squeeze out 1/4 cup of juice, straining out any seeds. Add the lemon juice to the bowl with the zest.

Add the mascarpone cheese and whole milk to the bowl with the lemon zest and juice. Whisk or stir with a wooden spoon until the mixture is mostly smooth and creamy. A few small mascarpone flecks are fine; they will melt in the oven. Taste the sauce and add a pinch of salt if desired, keeping in mind the pasta was cooked in salted water.

Tip the drained fusilli into the prepared ceramic baking dish and spread it out evenly. Pour the lemon mascarpone mixture over the pasta, using a spoon to gently stir and tuck the sauce down into the twists of the fusilli so everything is lightly coated and there are no dry patches on top.

Tap the baking dish gently on the counter to settle the pasta and sauce. If the sauce doesn’t quite reach the top of the pasta, nudge the noodles down so they’re mostly submerged; this helps keep the top from drying out while baking.

Place the baking dish on the center rack of the preheated oven. Bake, uncovered, for 18–22 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling around the edges and the top looks just set and glossy. The pasta should be tender when pierced with a fork but not mushy.

Carefully remove the dish from the oven and let it rest for 5–10 minutes. The sauce will thicken slightly as it cools, clinging to the spirals of fusilli. Just before serving, grate a little extra lemon zest over the top, if you like, for a bright yellow finish and fresh citrus aroma.

Bring the ceramic dish right to the table and serve the pasta warm, spooning it out so everyone gets plenty of sauce and a bit of that fragrant lemon zest on top.

For a touch of extra richness, you can swap 1/2 cup of the milk for heavy cream, keeping the total liquid the same. If you prefer a milder lemon flavor, use the zest of just one lemon and taste the sauce before adding all the juice, stirring in a little at a time. To make the dish feel more substantial without adding more ingredients, serve it over a bed of lightly wilted spinach or alongside grilled chicken or fish. For those who like a bit of texture, you can broil the pasta for 1–2 minutes at the end of baking to get a lightly browned top—just watch closely so it doesn’t dry out. Leftovers reheat well: add a splash of milk, cover, and warm in a low oven or gently on the stovetop, stirring until the sauce loosens and turns creamy again.