Garlic Pasta

This quick and easy Garlic Pasta combines pan-roasted garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese tossed with spaghetti and seasoned with fresh herbs like parsley and thyme. Enjoy this tasty pasta with roasted or grilled chicken or pork tenderloin, steak, or shrimp. Or for a vegetarian meal, a simple garden salad. Adjust the amount of garlic to your liking and surprise all the garlic lovers in your life.

How to make Garlic Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil over medium heat. Add the noodles to the water and cook al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta well and place it in a large bowl.

Meanwhile, add the oil and sliced garlic to a small skillet over low heat. Cook until lightly brown and tender. This can take 10-15 minutes. Add the red pepper and stir to coat with oil. Drizzle the pasta with the olive oil mixture. Sprinkle with parsley, thyme, and Parmesan Cheese and toss to coat. For best results, serve promptly.

Helpful Recipe Tips

• Cook the pasta al dente according to the package directions. This is the best and most authentic way to cook pasta for all your dishes.
• Do not rinse the pasta, as that removes the starch. The starch helps the oil with the garlic and fresh herbs to cling to the pasta. The only time you want to rinse pasta is for a cold pasta dish, and then you only rinse it with cold water long enough to cool it down.
• Use fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, rosemary, and basil. Oregano and marjoram are best used dried as they are bitter fresh.
• If the pasta becomes too dry, add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil, reserved pasta water, or chicken broth, and toss to coat.
• Use 6 -12 large cloves of peeled and sliced garlic. Some people love it so much that they can’t get enough, while others want a more moderate amount.
• Substitute linguine, fettuccine, vermicelli, or angel hair pasta. 
• You can use freshly grated or shaved Parmesan cheese. They both are delicious and add flavor to this dish.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power until warm. Once warm, toss again to coat.

Can you Freeze Garlic Pasta?

To freeze garlic pasta, first cool completely. Then add it to a sturdy freeze container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop over low heat.

More Pasta Recipes

Garlic Pasta

Enjoy this tasty Garlic Pasta with spaghetti, roasted sliced garlic, and Parmesan Cheese, all tossed with olive oil, parsley, and thyme.

4.91 from 11 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 462kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

• 16 ounces dried spaghetti
• 6 cloves garlic sliced thin
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated or shaved
• Kosher salt to taste
• Fresh ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil over medium-high heat. Add the pasta to the water and cook al dente according to package directions.
• Drain the pasta well and place it in a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, add the oil and sliced garlic to a small skillet over low heat. Cook until lightly brown and tender, approximately 10-12 minutes. Add the red pepper and stir to coat with oil.
• Drizzle the pasta with the olive oil mixture. Sprinkle with parsley, thyme, and Parmesan Cheese and toss to coat. For best results, serve promptly.

Notes

• Cook the pasta al dente according to the package directions. This is the best and most authentic way to cook pasta for all your dishes.
• Do not rinse the pasta, as that removes the starch. The starch helps the oil with the garlic and fresh herbs to cling to the pasta. The only time you want to rinse pasta is for a cold pasta dish, and then you only rinse it with cold water long enough to cool it down.
• Use fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, rosemary, and basil. Oregano and marjoram are best used dried as they are bitter fresh.
• If the pasta becomes too dry, add another tablespoon of olive oil and toss to coat.
• Use 6 -12 large cloves of peeled and sliced garlic. Some people love it so much that they can't get enough, while others want a more moderate amount.
• You can use freshly grated or shaved Parmesan cheese. They both are delicious and add flavor to this dish.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power until warm. Once warm, toss again to coat.

Nutrition

Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 196mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 157IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 1mg

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