Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Spaghetti aglio e olio is the perfect meal when you are short on time and money. Made with spaghetti, olive oil, garlic, and seasoning, it’s a quick, simple dinner that’s incredibly satisfying.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword pasta with garlic oil, spaghetti recipes

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 408kcal

Author Elizabeth Rodriguez

Ingredients

16 ounces Spaghetti cooked to package directions for al dente
2 tablespoons Kosher Salt for the pasta water plus extra for the finished dish (about 1 teaspoon)
6 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
5-6 Large Garlic Cloves minced
1 tablespoon Fresh Parsley chopped for garnish
Grated Parmesan Cheese for serving, optional

Instructions

Start the pasta water before making the aglio e olio

Start a large pot of water over high heat. Bring the water to a full boil. It will take about 10-15 minutes for the water to come to a full boil.
Add 2 tablespoons of salt to the water after it comes to a boil.
Drop the pasta in the boiling water and cook it to package directions for al-dente.
Before draining the pasta reserve at least one cup of the cooking water.
Drain the pasta and add it back to the pot.

Make the garlic oil

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
When the olive oil is hot, but nowhere near smoking, add the garlic to the skillet.
Cook the garlic gently for about 1 minute, stirring constantly. You’ll know it’s done because the garlic will become very fragrant.
Take the skillet off the burner or the residual heat will continue to cook the garlic.

Finish the spaghetti aglio e olio

Add the garlic oil over the cooked spaghetti and toss well.
Then add a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water and continue tossing until the noodles are slippery and really easy to toss.
Season the pasta aglio e olio with salt, to taste. As a reference we added 1 teaspoon of salt to ours.
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve it with parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

It only takes a few minutes to heat the olive oil and cook the garlic, so start the pasta before getting started on the oil.

Nutrition