Name: Spaghetti Aglio e Olio Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 lb spaghetti ($0.98); 1 tsp salt (divided, $0.05); 1 bulb garlic (about 20 cloves, peeled and sliced thin, $0.70); ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper ($0.05); ½ tsp cracked red pepper ($0.06); ½ cup olive oil ($1.55); ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese ($1.80); 1 Tbsp Italian parsley (minced, $0.08); 2 Tbsp lemon juice ($0.08); ¼ cup pasta water (reserved from cooking the spaghetti, $0.00)

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio Recipe

This Spaghetti Aglio e Olio recipe is garlicky, flavorful, and made using simple pantry staples. Perfect for busy weeknights with minimal effort!

20 min total 5 min prep 15 min cook 8 367 cal

Instructions

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1 Gather ingredients and set a large pot of water to boil, adding ½ tsp salt to the water.
2 Once pasta has been cooked until al dente, about 10 minutes, strain the pasta, reserving ¼ cup of pasta water.
3 In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, sauté sliced garlic with black pepper, ½ tsp salt, and red pepper flakes in olive oil. Sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
4 Pour strained cooked pasta into the large saucepan with the sautéed garlic and oil.
5 Toss thoroughly so every piece of spaghetti is coated in garlicky oil. Then, add grated parmesan cheese, parsley, lemon juice, and 2 Tbsp of pasta water. Toss to combine so the cheese melts into the sauce and covers all of the pasta. Add a little more starchy pasta water, only if needed to achieve a looser texture if desired.