Name: Pasta Aglio e Olio {Pasta with Garlic and Oil}
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces spaghetti or linguine; 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 5 cloves garlic (thinly sliced); 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes ((or more! how hot do you like it?)); 1/2 cup chopped parsley; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese; salt and freshly ground black pepper

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Pasta Aglio e Olio is easy to make, delicious to eat and the sexiest pasta recipe I know. In about 20 minutes you’ll be serving glistening pasta loaded with olive oil, toasty garlic, fresh parsley, zesty lemon juice and a kick of crushed red pepper.

Pasta Aglio e Olio served on white plates with linen napkins

Has a movie ever inspired you to buy a cooking utensil? The movie Chef made me buy a carving fork, but not for the traditional use. I watched Jon Favreau use one to twist Pasta Aglio e Olio into a gorgeous spiral, and I had to have it.

You’ve seen the movie, right? Granted, the language is a little rough. But the food! To say that this movie is seductive doesn’t really cover it. Really, how do you make a grilled cheese looks that sexy. And the Cubano, oh, the Cubano – that my friend, Nagi did a lovely job of recreating.

The first time I made Pasta Aglio e Olio, this may sound like sacrilege but, I thought: ‘This is better than mac and cheese!’ I was tempted to decrease the amount of olive oil – 1/3 cup for two people borders on obscene, doesn’t it? But it’s the perfect amount for this pasta dish. The pasta is silky, not greasy. And the play of fresh parsley and lemon zing, with the subtle heat of crushed red pepper and copious amounts of garlic and olive oil, well…you’re just going to have to try it.

Serve With

Serve this with a simple vegetable like Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower or Zucchini Salad. And for a lighter riff on this dish, try Lemon Garlic Pasta. And Chocolate Panna Cotta or Affogato for dessert.

And for a few other super simple, mouthwatering Italian pastas, try my Bucatini Cacio e Pepe or Bucatini Carbonara (no-fail methods!), Gemelli Pasta with Lemon and Garlic or Tuna Pasta (with a no-cook sauce)!

How to Make Pasta Aglio e Olio

Step 1: Cook pasta according to package ingredients until al dente. Drain, reserving a cup or more of the cooking water.

Step 2: Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. When hot, add sliced garlic cloves and stir just until toasted. Add crushed red pepper flakes and pasta; remove from heat and toss to coat.

Adding Crushed Red Pepper to oil and garlic

Adding Pasta to olive oil garlic and crushed red pepper

Step 3: Add fresh parsley and lemon juice and toss again. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve!