This Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic is full of flavor, with just a hint of heat. You'll love the way the garlic and herbs come together in this delicious pasta dish.
This is one of my favorite pasta recipes. Simple and yummy, Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic is easy to make, and you'll never get tired of it. Thinly sliced garlic cloves give the pasta a rich, pungent flavor that's infused through the oil. Add in herbs and Parmesan cheese, this spaghetti dish is savory and satisfying.
This recipe is quick to make because you can prepare the sauce while the pasta cooks. It's also a great choice because it's easy to alter for any dietary restrictions. Already vegetarian, you can easily make this a vegan recipe, dairy free, or gluten free. It's also easy to add shrimp or chicken, if you want it to be a meat dish. This Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic is versatile, but perfectly delicious just as it is. Let's take a look at the ingredients.
Main Ingredients
- Pasta. You can make this recipe with angel hair, fettuccine, or linguine instead of spaghetti, if you prefer.
- Olive oil. Good quality extra virgin olive oil is a must here.
- Garlic. Very thinly sliced fresh cloves.
- Red pepper flakes. For a touch of heat.
- Herbs. Parsley and basil. You can use either one, or both, if preferred.
- Parmesan. You can skip this ingredient if you are avoiding dairy or following a vegan diet.
How to make Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic
1. Cook the spaghetti. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Then add salt and put in the pasta. Stir well.
2. Sauté the garlic. In the meantime, combine the garlic and olive oil in a cold skillet and bring them to a gentle simmer. Cook them for about 6-7 minutes, until the garlic has softened and just started to brown.
3. Add Pasta Water. At this point, add about 1/2 cup of pasta water to stop the garlic from cooking further.
4. Toss the pasta in the sauce. Drain your spaghetti and add it to the skillet. Add the parsley, basil, and Parmesan. Then stir everything together nicely. If the sauce looks a bit too dry, add in another 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta water.
5. Serve. Serve this pasta garnished with freshly grated black pepper, chili flakes, fresh herbs, and/or Parmesan on top.
Pro Tips
- Make sure all your ingredients are ready before you start. Because you'll be making the garlic oil while the pasta is cooking, it's important to have all your ingredients out and ready. Lay out what you need, slice the garlic cloves, and have everything set before you start boiling the spaghetti.
- Do not let the garlic burn. Burnt garlic doesn't smell or taste good, so keep an eye as the cloves are cooking. They should be turning a light golden brown, but if that happens before the pasta is ready, add in the pasta water and then take the pan off the heat until the pasta is done.
- Don’t forget the salt in the pasta water! The only way to really season pasta is through the water it absorbs, so make sure you don't forget to add salt to the water. It should be a generous amount, making your pasta water taste like the ocean. This will give the spaghetti great flavor.
How to Store and Reheat
To store any leftover pasta, place the spaghetti in an airtight container, and keep it in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. When you want to reheat it, place the pasta either in the microwave to warm for a few minutes or in a saute pan on the stovetop. If the pasta seems a little dry from being stored, you can add a little bit of water. Stir occasionally as it warms.
This Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic is an amazing and simple dish that you just have to try. It's so tasty and versatile, you'll love how easy it is to make and alter to fit your needs. The aromatic garlic oil and fresh herbs make this the perfect dinner any night of the week. I hope you love it as much as I do!
More tasty pasta recipes to try:
- One-Pot Pasta with Spinach
- Creamy Roasted Pepper Pasta
- Easy Broccoli Pasta
- Angel Hair Pasta
- Pasta with Spinach Sauce
Video Tutorial
Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic
Ingredients
- 1 lb. spaghetti
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 6 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced very thinly
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped optional
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Then add salt and put in the pasta. Stir well.
- In the meantime, combine the garlic and olive oil in a cold skillet and bring them to a gentle simmer. Cook them for about 6-7 minutes, until the garlic has softened and just started to brown.
- At this point, add about 1/2 cup of pasta water to stop the garlic from cooking further.
- Drain your spaghetti and add it to the skillet. Add the parsley, basil, and Parmesan. Then stir everything together nicely. If the sauce looks a bit too dry, add in another 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta water.
- Serve this pasta garnished with freshly grated black pepper, chili flakes, fresh herbs, and/or Parmesan on top.
Notes
PRO TIPS
- Make sure all your ingredients are ready before you start. Because you'll be making the garlic oil while the pasta is cooking, it's important to have all your ingredients out and ready. Lay out what you need, slice the garlic cloves, and have everything set before you start boiling the spaghetti.
- Do not let the garlic burn. Burnt garlic doesn't smell or taste good, so keep an eye as the cloves are cooking. They should be turning a light golden brown, but if that happens before the pasta is ready, add in the pasta water and then take the pan off the heat until the pasta is done.
- Don’t forget the salt in the pasta water! The only way to really season pasta is through the water it absorbs, so make sure you don't forget to add salt to the water. It should be a generous amount, making your pasta water taste like the ocean. This will give the spaghetti great flavor.
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