Pasta with Garlic-Infused Olive Oil and Parmesan
Simple sautéed garlic in olive oil coats al dente spaghetti, topped with fresh Parmesan for a quick, comforting Italian classic. This Italian pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 17 minutes, pairs spaghetti pasta, salt, and extra virgin olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 480 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 "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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 pasta
- 1 tbsp for pasta water plus 1/2 tsp for sauce salt
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, optional
- to taste black 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 water to a rolling boil and add 1 tbsp salt. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain the rest.
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 5 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until garlic is golden and fragrant but not burnt.
- Step 3: Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Toss well to coat the pasta in the garlic oil and to loosen the sauce.
- Step 4: Remove from heat and stir in 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy, adjusting consistency with more pasta water if needed.
- Step 5: Season with black pepper to taste and sprinkle 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving.









