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    Home » Dinner

    Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic

    Oct 12, 2021 by Tania Sheff · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    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.

    Video Tutorial

    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 ½ 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 ¼ 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

    Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic

    Tania Sheff
    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.
    4.82 from 16 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 688 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 lb. spaghetti
    • ⅓ cup olive oil
    • 6 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced very thinly
    • ½ tsp. red pepper flakes
    • ⅓ cup fresh parsley, chopped
    • ¼ 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 ½ 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 ¼ 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.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 688kcalCarbohydrates: 88gProtein: 24gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 421mgPotassium: 334mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 878IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 338mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below, I can't wait to hear from you!

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    Filed Under: All Recipes, Dinner, Pasta, Quick Dinners, Vegetarian

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Barbara says

      December 18, 2022 at 9:45 am

      Could I pre make the garlic, oil, herbs a few days earlier and store in jar than add to cooked pasta and if needed pasta water?

      Reply
      • Tania Sheff says

        December 19, 2022 at 12:22 pm

        Hi Barbara! Although I haven't tested it this way, it could work. Let me know if you try it!

        Reply
    2. Allan Heinrich says

      October 02, 2022 at 3:58 pm

      I really like this recipe I've been making this for years. To change it up a bit I sometimes add a protein such as , shrimp, scallops or shredded rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Mmmmmmm.

      Reply
      • Tania Sheff says

        October 03, 2022 at 10:39 pm

        Thank you so much, Allan!

        Reply
    3. Heather says

      February 22, 2022 at 6:42 pm

      What does it mean when my Parmesan cheeses all climbed together and didn’t blend well? What did I do wrong?

      Reply
      • Tania Sheff says

        February 28, 2022 at 7:26 pm

        Hi Heather! Try sprinkling the cheese evenly over top before stirring. I have never had this problem before.

        Reply
      • Vicki says

        October 03, 2022 at 11:05 am

        Where did it climb to?

        Reply
    4. Sunny says

      January 11, 2022 at 4:46 pm

      Can you use chicken broth instead of water for more flavor?

      Reply
      • Tania Sheff says

        January 11, 2022 at 11:20 pm

        Sure, you are the chef in your kitchen, Sunny!

        Reply
    5. Sheila Sumpter says

      December 24, 2020 at 5:26 pm

      5 stars
      Yum Yum. So easy, and divinely delicious. Thank You

      Reply
      • Tania Sheff says

        December 25, 2020 at 10:28 pm

        Thank you so much, Sheila!

        Reply

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