Authentic Italian Aglio e Olio Pasta
A simple yet flavorful pasta dish with garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and crispy garlic, finished with fresh parsley. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs spaghetti, garlic, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 4 cloves (minced) garlic
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Step 2: In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add 1 tsp red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute.
- Step 3: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. Stir in 1/4 cup reserved pasta water until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and stir in parsley, remaining 1 tbsp olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
