This savory, garlicky pasta might be the perfect dish! I could probably eat this every day. It’s simple and very fast to make – cooking the pasta takes longer than this olive oil pasta sauce does. Pasta with olive oil makes a fabulous side dish for your Italian style entrees or simple grilled meats or fish. I love making this pasta with pan-seared shrimp and steamed veggies. If you love pasta, you will also like my Creamy Chicken Orzo, Creamy Lemon Pasta, Lemon Ricotta Pasta, and Buttered Noodles recipes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients In Olive Oil Pasta
Make this recipe really simple, or add in your favorite flavorful extras. It’s delicious either way! Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Pasta: I like spaghetti with this simple oil and garlic sauce, but you can use other types of pasta too. Try linguini!Olive Oil: This is the main ingredient for the pasta sauce, so use a good quality extra virgin olive oil please. Garlic: 8 whole cloves of garlic will make your aglio e olio so flavorful! Slice them very thinly so that they will cook quickly. Optional Add Ins: You can make olive oil pasta with just spaghetti, oil, and garlic, but it’s extra delicious if you add some crushed red pepper to the oil, or add freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley at the end.
How To Make Olive Oil Pasta
Recipe Tips
Cook Perfect Pasta: Follow the instructions on the box of spaghetti to cook the pasta to al dente (with some bite) or to your preferred texture. Be sure to add salt to the cooking water too. Remember to Save Some Pasta Water! You’ll need to add some pasta water to the spaghetti to make the sauce loose and perfect. Carefully scoop a cup out of the pot just before you drain the pasta. Use More Water if Needed: If you feel like the pasta needs it, feel free to add an additional ¼ -½ cup of pasta water.Make it Gluten Free: Simply substitute with your favorite gluten-free pasta.
Storing Tips
This simple pasta dish is best enjoyed right away, but if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave, and add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil if needed, since the pasta will have absorbed the sauce in storage.
What To Serve With Olive Oil Pasta
This basic pasta recipe is perfect with saucy dishes. I especially enjoy it with Creamy Tomato Chicken and Marry Me Chicken, which are both 30-minute, one-skillet dinners that I make all the time.
Other similarly simple skillet dinners that go well with olive oil pasta include Creamy Boursin Chicken, Tuscan Salmon, and Creamy Garlic Shrimp.
A simple green salad and a basket of garlic bread will complete your perfect meal.
Aglio e olio is the perfect pasta side dish! Save this recipe for the next time you need a quick dish to go with dinner. Pin it for more people to enjoy too.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
