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
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
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Sandra
Such a delicious meal!! Everyone at my house really loved it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sandra! I am so glad to hear that!
Catalina
This pasta is so flavorful. It is a new favorite in our house! Thanks for sharing!
Erin
What a great pasta recipe. We really enjoyed it and it was easy to make!
Yeah Lifestyle
This is really tasty. My daughetr loves spaghetto, we would usually have a tamoto sauce but gave this a try and it it was so good with the garlic and herbs
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! So happy that you and your daughter liked the pasta!
Tammy
A simple yet delicious pasta dish. I LOVE all that garlic…this was so good and comforting!
Brianne
Your recipe is such a great reminder that an elegant and flavorful dinner doesn’t have to be complex or time-consuming. I cannot wait to make this!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Brianne! So true and enjoy!
Eileen M Loya
A simple pasta recipe that we can make any day. Love garlic on pasta (or any dish} so you can be sure I am trying this recipe the soonest.
Samantha Donnelly
The title says it all, two of my favorite foods will definitely be trrying this recipe with my family
Beth Pierce
Thanks Samantha! Enjoy!
Lavanda
This ;looks absolutely delicious. I’m excited to add this flavorful dish to my regular rotation of meals!
Ned
This is the one recipe of pasta I will never get tired of! Garlic and me are best of friends and so, is pasta. Thank you for sharing the recipe with us.
JM
Your recipe was easy to follow, and your tips on using fresh ingredients and properly cooking the garlic were on point. Looking forward to making it again! Thanks for sharing!
Kat
Your recipe was easy to follow and your emphasis on using fresh ingredients and properly cooking the garlic was spot on. I’m excited to try it out in my own kitchen!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Kat! Enjoy!
Sonia
Wow, this recipe for Garlic Pasta sounds absolutely delicious! I love the combination of pan-roasted garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese, and adding fresh herbs like parsley and thyme sounds like the perfect way to elevate the flavors even further. I imagine this pasta pairing perfectly with various proteins, from roasted or grilled chicken to juicy pork tenderloin, steak, or succulent shrimp. And you can adjust the amount of garlic to your liking is just the icing on the cake. I can’t wait to try this recipe out and surprise all the garlic lovers in my life!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sonia! I sure hope you enjoy the pasta!
Knycx Journeying
Garlic is one of my favorite ingredients and the fragrance is just wonderful. This pasta recipe is amazing and it brings out the best that garlic has to offer with great taste and aroma!
Olga
Great pasta recipe and so easy to make. We are garlic fans and this was a huge hit with the family.
Bryan Carey
It was so yummy with all the seasonings! I’m usually a tomato sauce kinds guy with my pasta, but this was just as delicious.
Vasu Devan
This Garlic Pasta recipe looks like a delicious combination of pan-roasted garlic, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs. Perfect for garlic lovers! I am a vegetarian and I can already think of options without meat!