Pasta with Garlic and Oil is one of the most simple yet satisfying pasta recipes you can make! Spaghetti is tossed with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and crushed red pepper flakes. This garlic pasta is ready in just 15 minutes!
Looking for more pasta dinner ideas? Try my 20 Minute Pasta Carbonara or my Zucchini “Pasta” With Tomato Sauce!
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pasta with garlic and oil
Who knew pasta could be so simple and full of flavor? This garlic and oil pasta (also known as spaghetti aglio e olio which means garlic and oil in Italian) is so easy to make. This pasta in oil and garlic can be made with ingredients you probably already have them in your pantry! All you need is 7 ingredients to make this recipe!
The focus of this dish is the pasta. Everything else including the lemon, garlic, and oil are used to accentuate the flavor of the pasta – the star of the show!
I like to make this pasta with garlic and oil when I am in a pinch and need something to make fast! This recipe takes less than 20 minutes to make start to finish. It can be done all in one pot. Less cleanup = happier cook.
ingredients
The full ingredient list and measurements are listed in the printable recipe below.
- Pasta: I use whatever pasta I have on hand. Either whole wheat thin spaghetti or regular spaghetti will work.
- Olive oil: Good quality extra-virgin olive oil is essential to the flavor of this dish!
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced, for an absolutely mouthwatering taste!
- Lemon juice: Adds just the right amount of acidity to balance out the oil.
- Parmesan: This cheese adds a tangy, nuttiness and saltiness to the pasta.
- Spinach: I threw in the spinach as an added bonus. Throwing leftover spinach in pasta is a great way to sneak in extra nutrients.
How to make garlic and oil pasta
- Firstly, boil the pasta per package instructions. (My pasta took about 8 minutes for al dente.) Drain pasta and set aside.
- Secondly, in the pot the pasta was cooked in, add 1 tablespoon olive oil. When the oil is hot, add in the garlic and sauté for one minute.
- Then, add in red pepper flakes and spinach and cook for an additional minute. Return the pasta back to the pan and stir in the rest of the oil and lemon juice.
- Finally, take the pot off of the heat and sprinkle in the parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
Tips for making the best garlic pasta
- Make sure to use a good quality extra virgin olive oil in this recipe. It’s so important for the flavor!
- It is important to cook your pasta to al dente. Overcooked pasta is not good especially in this recipe where the pasta is the star of the show. Using thinner pasta, it will cook quicker!
- Always make sure to salt your water. This flavors the whole dish.
- Rinse your noodles in cold water after they are done cooking to make sure they don’t stick together.
What kind of pasta should I use for garlic AND OIL pasta?
In this pasta recipe, I prefer to use spaghetti as it cooks quickly, however, any pasta will work! The most important thing is to cook it al dente, and to not overcook it! Here are some other pasta suggestions:
- Angel hair
- Thin spaghetti
- Fettuccine
- Linguine
- Vermicelli
- Tagliatelle
- Pappardelle
- Capellini
- Penne
- Fusilli
Can I make a gluten-free version?
Of course! Just use gluten-free spaghetti and follow the directions on the package, as you would with regular pasta.
Can I add in any extra veggies?
Yes! Pasta with broccoli, garlic, and oil is a favorite in this house! Here are some other veggies to toss in:
- Broccoli
- Bell Peppers
- Tomatoes (I like cherry)
- Zucchini
- Kale
- Mushrooms (I recommend sautéeing with the garlic)
- Scallions
- Artichoke
- Capers
- Olives – kalamata, black or green
what to serve with pasta with garlic and oil
- 30 minutes
- 15 minutes
- 30 minutes
- 20 minutes
Here are some more Italian dishes to try:
- Skinny Fettuccine Alfredo
- Crock Pot Chicken Alfredo
- Penne Alla Vodka with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- Slow Cooker Italian Meatballs
- Italian Gnocchi Soup with Kale and Sausage
- Chicken Parmesan
products used
Pasta with garlic and oil
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 5-6 cloves garlic, minced, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 6 cups spinach
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Boil pasta per package instructions. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil into the pot the pasta was cooked in. Add in garlic and saute for one minute.
- Add in red pepper flakes and spinach and cook for an additional minute. Add pasta back to the pan and stir in the rest of the oil and lemon juice.
- Take off of the heat and sprinkle in the parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
Nutrition Information
Did you make this?
I’d love to hear your feedback! Leave a review and make sure to share your pictures on social media! Don’t forget to follow @thechefsavvy.
Kelly Powers
This looks so delicious, can’t wait to try it out. Thank you for sharing this easy pasta recipe, the garlic gives it a great flavour. Thank you for sharing this great recipe.
Sharon Mann
Making this recipe tonight! I can’t wait!
I’m going to take a chance and add browned sausage meat which will make it a main dish!
Hope it works! What can be bad???
Kelley Simmons
Hi Sharon,
I agree with you that adding sausage will be awesome! You may want to add a bit less oil because sausage can be a little bit oily sometimes. Although if you make sure to drain the sausage it should be fine.
Hope you enjoy!
Kelley
Supriya Kutty
This pasta turned out to be perfect and really very beautiful thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful recipe I made this for my kids and they really loved it a lot.The garlic really taste god in the pasta I never ever have tried this before really beautiful.
Kelley Simmons
So glad you enjoyed this pasta!!
Taryn
You need to add about one half cup pasta water to this, and never rinse your pasta. Never.
Toni
You lost me at rinsing your pasta. Hard no.
Jackie
This was absolutely delicious! Love the addition of spinach. To the two people who gave it a one star: Try actually making the recipe before you decide to bash it with your arrogant opinion. You have no right to rate it when you didn’t even try it!
Kelley Simmons
Thank you Jackie!! So glad you enjoyed this!!
Sheri
This was delish!!! Thank you. I put chopped up roasted turkey breast in it and it was great!! My husband always has to have meat. Also, I am dairy free, so I put a little nutritional yeast on top at the end. Nutritional yeast tastes like cheese.
Kelley Simmons
So glad you enjoyed this pasta Sheri! I love the idea of adding nutritional yeast to this!
Debbie B.
Oh my word, this is delicious, and if you’d like a little protein, adding one package of the frozen shrimp that has been peeled and prevailed is scrumptious in this. I put it in at the very beginning with the oil and garlic. Very quick and easy AND tasty. We like veggie egg rolls with it. Yummm…😉
Kelley Simmons
So glad you enjoyed this Debbie! Thanks so much for sharing!
Desmond Riordan
How is this recipe vegan if it has cheese in it?
If you’re using Parmesan, the dish isn’t even vegetarian as animal rennet is used in the making of Parmesan.
Kelley Simmons
Hi Desmond,
You can simply omit the cheese to make it vegetarian or vegan.
Thanks!
Kelley
Victoria l Swarthout
Too dry, not very flavorful, not nearly enough spinach