Sautéed Garlic and Red Pepper Spaghetti with Parmesan
A simple Italian pasta dish featuring al dente spaghetti tossed in fragrant garlic and red chili flakes, finished with grated Parmesan cheese. This Italian-inspired no-cook recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 20 minutes, pairs spaghetti, olive oil, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 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.
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water (1 tsp salt) to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, sautéing for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 3: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet along with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously for 1 minute to combine and allow the sauce to thicken and coat the pasta.
- Step 4: Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese and 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately.








