North End Inspired Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Chili and Parsley

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A classic Italian pasta dish from Boston’s North End featuring spaghetti tossed with garlic, red chili flakes, and fresh parsley for a simple yet flavorful meal. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs spaghetti, extra virgin olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, 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.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 420 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and add 2 tsp salt. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta water and drain pasta.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 6 thinly sliced garlic cloves and sauté for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 1 tsp red chili flakes and 1/2 tsp salt, cooking for 30 seconds to release flavors.
  4. Step 4: Add drained spaghetti to the skillet along with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously to coat pasta evenly, cooking for 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens and clings to noodles.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper.
  6. Step 6: Serve immediately, sprinkled with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

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