This 15-Minute Spaghetti Aglio e Olio uses only a handful of healthy, natural ingredients. It comes together quickly and tastes freshly delicious. Pairs well with any protein or veggies.
This week has started out in playing catch-up because we live in a winter wonderland that’s just blessed us with several new inches of March snow. 🤨
Heavy snow was expected to blanket the grounds early yesterday morning, but nothing eventful happened all day. We ended up getting a very belated snow storm for the evening commute instead.
However, the schools all around closed down for the fakeout snow day yesterday, which means all the boys stayed home with their rowdy selves, which means mama scrambled around all day and barely got anything tangible done.
Which also means I considered it a huge win to manage serving spaghetti for dinner last night. After all, I couldn’t even find time to squeeze in a shower til late at night.
So yeah, on crazy days like these, sitting down to a big plate of homemade Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is a momentous accomplishment…
Measurements for pasta aglio e olio generally can be done by eye. Aglio e Olio is a quintessential Italian pasta that’s basic and simple and thoroughly delicious. It’s no wonder that even toddlers in Italy are familiar with this dish.
Though amounts can vary a bit, depending on taste, the typical team members include plenty of sauteéd garlic, good quality olive oil, and fresh herbs like parsley for garnish. Happy bonus: lots and lots of freshly grated parmesan cheese. Because The Littles can gobble up huge portions of parm, we take every opportunity to load up our spaghetti with it.
Feel free to kick up your Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with dried red pepper flakes for a bit of spunky heat. Otherwise, you can leave it out and just do the freshly cracked black pepper thing. The best thing about this healthy pot of carbs is its versatility – add your fave protein, serve alongside easy roasted veggies, or play with fresh herbs.
We went rogue and drizzled fresh lemon juice over the finished pasta, resulting in a audaciously refreshing taste experience.
P.S. It’s surprisingly fun to keep pronouncing aglio e olio while swirling noodles around your fork.
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This 15-Minute Spaghetti Aglio e Olio uses only a handful of healthy, natural ingredients. It comes together quickly and tastes freshly delicious. Pairs well with any protein or veggies.
Ingredients
- 13 oz dry spaghetti (I use whole grain)
- 4 TB extra virgin olive oil
- 10 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 small onion, chopped (I use red onion for color)
- 1/2 cup regular strength chicken or veggie broth
- 1 cup freshly chopped parsley
- 1 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Kosher salt + freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Optional garnishes: Dried red pepper flakes, 1 lemon sliced into wedges, extra parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions for al dente. Drain pasta in colander. Transfer pasta back into the empty pot and toss with 3 TB olive oil; cover and set aside.
- While spaghetti is cooking, heat 1 TB olive oil in large skillet until oil is hot. Add garlic and onion, stirring until aromatic and browned, 2-3 minutes. Add garlic mixture to the pot of cooked spaghetti and stir to combine well. Add broth to loosen pasta as needed. Add parsley and parmesan cheese, tossing until well coated. Add kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- If using, sprinkle with desired amount of red pepper flakes and serve with fresh lemon wedges and extra parmesan cheese.
Notes
I use chicken or veggie broth for extra flavor, but you can use the traditional pasta water instead (reserve some of the pasta water before draining the pasta, and use that for the liquid.)
This dish is fantastic with Lemon Dijon Grilled Chicken or 10-minute Garlic Shrimp.
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We too, enjoyed the fake snow storm yesterday with all the littles causing mass chaos in our house. I’m seriously impressed you got so much accomplished! This dish looks amazing and versatile, I can’t wait to try it!
Yummy recipe! Pasta is such a great go to dish that is relatively easy to make, always filling and fun to eat! I have to mention it is always which to make as well. Funny, my mom always drizzles lemon on her pasta! I thought she was the only one who did this!
That looks so delicious and quick and easy to make. I’ll have to make this for my family soon.
This looks so delicious. I love that it takes only 15 minutes to make. Perfect for weekday meals!
I can hardly believe you can make something as delish as this in 15 minutes! Can’t wait to try it. Yum!
this looks super delicious and 15 minutes is perfect time to throw something super fast, very handy recipe.
I generally don’t like pasta but this may be an exception. Aglio e Olio is best when you’re having a bad day and don’t know what else to cook. It’s easy to prepare and yummy, too.
ohh this pasta recipe looks so delicious! The flavor combination sounds so divine.
This is one of my favorite pasta dishes. Very easy to cook and prepare, and needs only a few ingredients. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your recipe. Even though I prefer red sauce or tomato sauce spaghetti, the photo of your food still looks appetizing. I think I must try it!
That looks so yummy… I love cooking with Red onions they are so tasty! I am going to add this to my to cook list for sure!
This is such a great pasta recipe for those crazy busy days, I love the added red onion for color, I could feast on days for days!
This looks so delicious. I love the fact that it will take 15 minutes to make. I am always on the go so this would be perfect.Thanks for sharing.
We are big pasta fans in this house, but not so much with the red sauce recipes – so this is going to be a favorite around here for sure! Thanks for the new recipe!
I love the simplicity of this dish. It’s a favorite comfort food. I think I’ll try this – but will definitely kick in some red pepper.
This sounds like the perfect busy night dinner. My hubby and I both love pasta so this might have to go on our list of go-to dinners!
This looks so yummy! We love to cook simple, quick meals. We will definitely try it soon!
OH M GIEE!! This Spaghetti Aglio-e-olio looks really delicious and tempting. My hubby would love this for sure.
Is there anything better than those go-to quick cook meals like this?! It looks lovely.
You had me at 15 minutes. I don’t believe you need to spend the whole day in the kitchen to get a good meal
Wow, 15 minutes? Now I have to try this. I love making quick meals on busy days. And I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be one of them. I’ll bookmark this recipe for tomorrow.
Wow, you guys seemed to be really surrounded with snow. Anyway, the spaghetti looks really luscious and I would love to get some and try it. I’m sure that you guys really have enjoyed the food while the snow is pouring heavily.
This is an amazing recipe idea and a fun twist on spaghetti. I’m going to add this to our menu. I think my family of picky eaters will love this.
I love a good spaghetti! And I agree that adding red pepper flakes to add zest is always a good idea. 🙂
This easy and quick spaghetti recipe looks delicious and really tempting. I will give this recipe a try and put some twist. Love it.
Oh wow, that’s a super simple dish! I’ve been looking for ways to add variety into my dinners!! Thanks for the idea!
Aglio e Olio is our family’s favorite. We love to put fresh prawns and chili on it. You are making me so hungry!
Oh, we’re huge spaghetti fans here. I would totally make this (but for my portion, I would have to leave the parmesan out – I’m lactose sensitive).
I love any and every kind of spaghetti! This looks delicious, and yes, please I’ll eat it just as it is.
Ha! That’s an easy one and a veggie one. And I have some pasta lying in my kitchen for quite some time now. Gonna do this tomorrow.
I remember my Italian Mom telling me to roll the Ls when pronouncing Aglio e Olio (like “al-ya ol-ya”) …what fun to say! Such a simple pasta dish that is so darn good. Can’t go wrong with this one.
Aglio Olio are the go-to spaghetti for both me and my boyfriend! I love eating them, but I’ve never tried the red pepper flakes (haven’t seen them before). I usually like them really peppery!
I love spaghetti! easy to prepare, yummy to eat.. simply irresistable!
Oh, this is by far my favorite way to eat pasta! Simple, fresh ingredients and it is absolutely delicious! I have made this multiple times and last time I was out of parsley – still delicious! Thank you for another winning recipe!!
It’s one of our simple favorites for dinner, too, Jennifer 🙂 Happy continued cooking!