This ultimate-tasting Pasta Aglio E Olio is one of the simplest yet most delicious pasta dishes hailing from the land of pasta, the beautiful country of Italy. It is best served warm with crusty garlic bread and wine.
This easy pasta recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you need a comforting homemade meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
Flavor Layering Trick: Add tomatoes after spices
Tomatoes pull moisture and balance spice heat. This builds a smoother, richer gravy base.
If you’ve never relished a simple yet appetizing pasta, then I recommend you try this authentic spaghetti aglio e olio, which is nothing fancy yet feels absolutely irresistible.
This is because spaghetti is cooked with plenty of olive oil, garlic, parsley, and pepper flakes. A spoonful of this garlicky pasta would take your taste buds on a journey to an Italian town.
About Pasta Aglio E Olio
Pasta Aglio E Olio, also known as Spaghetti Aglio E Olio, is Italian comfort food at its very best. This amazingly delicious and easy Italian pasta recipe is jam-packed with just the right amount of richness from olive oil and a garlicky flavor that is not too overwhelming.
The name of this pasta is in the Italian language, which translates to Aglio (= Garlic) E (= and) Olio (= Oil) in English.
There are some particular dishes that you don’t want to mess up, and pasta aglio e olio is certainly one of them because the beauty of this cheese-free Italian pasta lies in its simplicity. The aroma of olive oil and garlic is the star of this scrumptious pasta.
A couple of easily accessible pantry ingredients and 25 minutes of your time are all you need to make one of the most satisfying spaghetti aglio e olio recipes in the world.
In this dish, garlic and red pepper flakes are slowly warmed and then sautéed in olive oil. This way, the oil gets intense garlicky flavors without burning or crisping the garlic.
It is believed that this pasta dish was created by an Italian farmer who had nothing fancy but the most basic Italian ingredients on hand.
In just a few minutes, you can serve a satiating garlic olive oil pasta loaded with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, fresh parsley, lemon juice, and a hint of crushed red pepper. As it doesn’t require a ton of ingredients, it makes a delightful and easy weeknight dinner.
Let’s make it.
Why You Will Love the Recipe
This Pasta Aglio E Olio
✓ is simple and quick
✓ makes a perfect weeknight dinner
✓ is made with simple pantry ingredients
✓ is easy to make
✓ is delicious to eat
✓ is one of the simplest kinds of classic Italian pasta
Ingredients
Pasta aglio e olio is made using a couple of basic ingredients from the pantry. Just combine the ingredients below, and you will end up with the most gratifying and delicious garlic olive oil pasta ever.
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Dry Spaghetti: These long pasta strands hold the olive oil and garlic sauce beautifully.
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Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: This is the base of this authentic Italian pasta, so use good-quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
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Fresh Garlic: Thinly sliced garlic infuses the oil with deep, aromatic flavor.
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Chili Pepper: It is added for gentle heat and color contrast. Optional but highly recommended.
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Red Pepper Flakes: They enhance the spice and balance the richness of the oil.
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Parsley: Fresh parsley adds brightness and freshness.
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Salt and Black Pepper: Essential for seasoning and enhancing the overall flavor.
How to Make Pasta Aglio E Olio
Making the perfect restaurant-grade pasta aglio e olio at home is fairly simple. You don’t need many ingredients, and you don’t need extraordinary cooking skills. The secret to turning basic ingredients into a sensational spaghetti aglio e olio dish lies in how you handle them.
If you know how to boil and sauté, then you can easily recreate this exquisite Italian pasta recipe at home at any time. The following are the simple steps to make pasta aglio e olio:
Step 1: Slice the garlic and chop the parsley.
Step 2: Salt the water and bring it to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving the pasta water.
Step 3: Heat olive oil in a skillet over low heat. Add garlic and sauté for a few minutes. Add sliced chili pepper and crushed red pepper. Stir until garlic is softened and lightly browned on the edges.
Step 4: Add pasta water and cooked pasta. Toss well. Add freshly chopped parsley and toss to coat. Season with salt and black pepper. Remove from heat, drizzle with lemon juice, and toss again.
Step 5: Twist pasta using a carving fork and transfer to a serving plate. Sprinkle with some red pepper flakes. Serve warm.
Check out the detailed written recipe in the recipe box on this page.
Serving Suggestions
Pasta aglio e olio tastes out of this world, so you can serve it as it is. I personally like to serve it along with toasted garlic bread and red wine.
It also tastes good when served as a side with Cajun potatoes.
Meal Ideas to Serve with Pasta Aglio E Olio
Meal Idea 1: Pasta Aglio E Olio, Juicy Watermelon Pizza, Puff Pastry Cheese and Pesto Swirls
Meal Idea 2: Pasta Aglio E Olio, Pizza Dough Twists with Parsley, Greek Style Chickpea Salad
Meal Idea 3: Pasta Aglio E Olio, Cheesy Garlic Pizza Sticks with Figs Dip, Apple Cucumber Mozzarella Pearls Salad
Meal Idea 4: pasta aglio e olio, Caramelized Peach Pesto Tart, Black Gram Sprouts Salad with Oven Toasted Garlic Baguette
Love pasta? Then you would also like Ratatouille Pasta.
Storage Suggestions
Pasta aglio e olio is best enjoyed fresh and warm.
However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
To reheat, warm gently in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water or a drizzle of olive oil to loosen the pasta and restore its silky texture. Avoid overheating, as garlic can turn bitter.
Tips and Tricks to Make the Best Italian Pasta Aglio E Olio at home
- Adjust the Spice Level: I have added deseeded chili pepper to this recipe, but that is completely optional. It adds a nice spice and gives a beautiful color contrast to the pasta. If you don’t like chili pepper, you can skip it.
- About Adding Cheese: This is a cheeseless pasta, just the way they traditionally make it in Italy. This pasta is creamy without any cheese because you get the desired creamy texture from the combination of olive oil and pasta water. You won’t really miss the cheese here. However, if you are a die-hard cheese lover, you can add freshly grated Parmesan cheese. It tastes delicious.
- Start Garlic in Cold Oil: Always add garlic to cold olive oil. This way, the oil absorbs the garlicky aroma and tastes more delicious.
- Do Not Burn the Garlic: Sauté garlic only over low heat until the edges are slightly golden. Do not burn the garlic, or the pasta will taste bitter.
- Adjust the Olive Oil Quantity: The pasta is silky but not too oily because I have added about 1/4 cup of olive oil. You can increase the amount of olive oil if preferred. For this much pasta, you can use up to 1/2 cup of olive oil.
- Cook Pasta Until Al Dente: Always cook pasta until al dente, which means tender yet firm to bite. When you add the starchy pasta water to the oil mixture, it turns into a creamy and flavorful sauce. When the pasta cooks with the pasta water and oil mixture, it absorbs all the amazing flavors and develops a beautiful silky coating.
FAQs
What does Pasta Aglio e Olio mean?
Pasta Aglio e Olio simply means pasta with garlic and oil in Italian. It is a traditional Italian pasta recipe made with spaghetti, olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
Why is my aglio e olio dry?
This usually means you did not add enough reserved pasta water. The starchy water helps create the silky sauce when mixed with olive oil.
Can I make pasta aglio e olio without red pepper flakes?
Yes, you can skip the red pepper flakes if you prefer less heat or a non-spicy version.
Is pasta aglio e olio vegetarian?
Yes, this garlic olive oil pasta is naturally vegetarian.
Can I add protein to spaghetti aglio e olio?
Yes, you can add grilled chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, or chickpeas if you prefer a more filling version.
Pasta Aglio E Olio (Spaghetti with Oil and Garlic) (Step-by-step photo instructions)
Recipe Card
Pasta Aglio E Olio (Spaghetti with Oil and Garlic) [Recipe]
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with garlic and olive oil. Quick, easy Italian pasta recipe perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
★★★★★
(Rating: 5 from 24 reviews)
| Prep time 🕐 | Cook time 🕐 | Total time 🕐 |
|---|---|---|
| 25 mins | ||
| Category ☶ | Cuisine ♨ | Serves ☺ |
| Main | Italian | 5-6 |
| Nutrition Info ⊛ | Serving size ⊚ | |
| 379 calories | 1 serving |
INGREDIENTS
For Pasta E Olio //
- 14 ounces (400 grams) dry spaghetti or linguine
- 6 tablespoons olive oil (or more if you like)
- 5-6 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 1 chili pepper sliced (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (or as per taste)
- 1/2 cup parsley, rinsed and finely chopped
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS:
Make Pasta Aglio E Olio //
- Generously salt a large pot of water and bring it to boil over high heat.
- Add pasta and cook according to package directions, until al dente. At this point, pasta is tender but slightly undercooked which is firm to bite. This takes about 8-9 minutes.
- Drain the pasta, reserving 3/4 cup or less of the cooking water.
- Add olive oil to a large sauté pan over low heat.
- Add sliced garlic to the cold oil and sauté on low heat for 4 minutes. Keep stirring occasionally.
- Add sliced chili pepper and sauté for a minute.
- Next, add red pepper flakes and sauté until garlic is tender and turn lightly golden on the edges. (Do not burn it.)
- Turn the heat to medium and add 3/4 cup of pasta water and stir well.
- Next, add drained pasta and toss well.
- Add chopped parsley and mix well to combine.
- Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper and salt. Gently toss to coat again.
- Turn off the heat and drizzle with lemon juice.
- Using a carving fork, twist pasta into a sumptuous spiral and transfer into large serving bowls. Serve along with garlic toasted bread.
Watch Full Recipe Video:
NOTES:
- I have added deseeded chili pepper to this recipe, but that is completely optional. It adds a nice spice and gives a beautiful color contrast to the pasta. So if you dont like chili pepper then you can surely skip it.
- This is a cheeseless pasta, so I do not add any cheese here. Just the way they make it in Italy. This pasta is creamy without any cheese because you get the desired creamy texture from the concoction of olive oil and pasta water. So you wont really miss any cheese here. However, if you are a die-hard cheese lover, then you can surely go overboard and add some freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the pasta. It tastes delicious.
