Description
A budget-friendly, 15-minute weeknight dinner made with pantry staples like spaghetti, garlic, and olive oil. This foolproof recipe creates a creamy sauce using pasta water and costs under $3 to feed a family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound spaghetti or linguine
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 8–10 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1–2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt (for pasta water)
- Black pepper (to taste)
- Optional: Frozen peas, canned white beans, fresh spinach, or kale
Instructions
- Slice the garlic cloves into thin half-moons and measure out the red pepper flakes and grated cheese.
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente.
- Before draining, scoop out about ½ cup of the starchy pasta water and set it aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add sliced garlic and red pepper flakes.
- Stir constantly until garlic turns light golden and fragrant (3-4 minutes), being careful not to burn it.
- Turn heat to low and add a splash of reserved pasta water to the oil, whisking to create an emulsion.
- Transfer the drained pasta directly into the skillet with the sauce.
- Add Parmesan cheese and black pepper. Toss vigorously with tongs, adding more pasta water as needed to create a glossy, creamy coating.
- Taste and adjust salt if needed, then serve immediately topped with extra cheese and crispy garlic bits.
Notes
Use sliced garlic rather than minced to prevent burning and achieve crispy chips. Do not skip reserving pasta water; the starch is essential for emulsifying the oil into a creamy sauce. Keep heat on medium-low when toasting garlic. This dish reheats best in a skillet with a splash of water; avoid freezing as the pasta texture suffers.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 420
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 65
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 14
Keywords: pasta aglio e olio, budget dinner, weeknight meals, easy pasta, garlic pasta, family meal prep, cheap dinner, vegetarian pasta