Quick and Easy Olive Oil Pasta - Little Sunny Kitchen (2024)

Your favorite pasta tossed with extra virgin olive oil and lots of garlic is the perfect easy side dish! Learn how to make classic Olive Oil Pasta (Aglio e olio) with these simple instructions.

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

1. 15 Minutes – This dish only takes as long as it takes to cook pasta on the stove! The olive oil and garlic sauce only takes a few minutes to create.
2. Versatile Recipe – Pasta with olive oil and garlic goes with everything!
3. Delicious Flavors – This is pasta like you might get in Italy, made with simple, fresh, amazing ingredients.

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

1. Cook Pasta: Cook spaghetti according to the package instructions. Before you drain the pasta, reserve ½to 1 cup of the cooking water.
2. Saute Garlic: While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a pan or dutch oven, then add the sliced garlic and the red pepper flakes if using them. Saute for 2-3 minutes, until the garlic is very lightly browned, then remove from the heat.
3. Finish and Serve: Add the pasta to the garlic oil along with half a cup of reserved pasta water, and toss to combine. If desired, add parmesan cheese and chopped parsley and toss again. Serve immediately.

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.

FAQs

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.