We talk a lot around here about building block recipes or “Little Black Dress” recipes. Things like Italian red sauce, garlic butter sauce for pasta, foolproof chicken…are from scratch pasta sauces and easy recipes that can be used as the LBD for a really great meal. This garlic and oil pasta (translated aglio e olio) is no different. The possibilities are endless with what you can pair it with!

Trust me, you’re going to want to make it once a week.

Just get some good mouthwash.

⇢ Other easy pasta ideas for dinner: easy garlic and butter pasta sauce, this simple butter and cream sauce for pasta, and this viral on TikTok baked goat cheese pasta recipe. Or give my one pan sausage pasta a try …you’ll ♥️ all of ’em!

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Why this recipe

First, let’s clear something up. You might hear this recipe referred to as pasta aglio e olio (garlic and oil) or also aglio olio (garlic oil). Both work!

Now here’s why this garlic and olive oil pasta sauce is so amazing:

1. Quick. It’s a 10 minute recipe. (And that almost includes cooking the pasta. Maybe not boiling the water but you get the idea.)
2. Pow. The flavor is so authentic that you’ll think you’re in Italy.
3. Versatile. You can add a little more lemon, a little more spice and, if you’re so inclined, a little white wine.

The few ingredients you’ll need

Your shopping list for this simple garlic spaghetti is a short one. This photo sums it all up:

• Good olive oil. One of my favorites is Olio Santo.
• Great pasta. I’m using the Barilla Thin Spaghetti.
• Fresh garlic. And lots of it!
• Seasonings. Crushed red pepper and salt/pepper.
• Fresh parsley
• Optional: white wine, lemon.

See recipe card below for quantities.

Ready to make some pasta noodles with garlic and olive oil?

Before you read this whole post (and don’t worry if you choose to jump down to the recipe!), you could almost be eating dinner!

• Cook up some pasta or use some you have leftover. I promise not to tell!

• While the pasta is cooking, heat some olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and proceed to the instructions below.

1. Slice/chop up all the cloves from one head of garlic. I know —it’s a lot! But it needs to be there. Now isn’t the time to be shy!
2. Add the sliced garlic to your heated olive oil and allow it to become all happy. Cook for about 3-5 minutes.
3. Add some crushed red pepper and let it become acquainted with the garlic. They will soon be fast friends!
4. Add a couple of squeezes of lemon or some white wine if you like and let it all cook for a couple of minutes.
5. Gently toss in your cooked pasta.
6. Sprinkle over some fresh minced parsley.

Variations

Add any or all of the following to make this spaghetti with garlic and olive oil sing:

• Sauteed mushrooms/peppers. Before adding the garlic to the oil, add some sliced mushrooms and peppers to add some more color and variety.
• Extra cheese. Crush up some feta cheese and you’ll transport this recipe to Greece. Or heap on some fresh ricotta or burrata for a creamier texture.
• Seafood. Serve with some sauteed shrimp or scallops for an easy seafood pasta dish recipe.

Equipment

I used a large All-Clad skillet for this garlic oil spaghetti recipe. You can use anything that has a wide base in it. Non-stick may take a little longer to brown the way you want.