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Home > Recipes > Main dishes

Pasta Aglio e Olio

Iosune with a glass of juice.
Updated: Jan 26, 2026 by Iosune Robles · This post may contain affiliate links
5 from 6 votes
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Pasta aglio e olio (also known as spaghetti aglio e olio) is the easiest pasta recipe you can make. It's super tasty and only requires 5 ingredients.

Pasta Aglio e Oliopasta aglio and olio

Pasta aglio e olio or spaghetti aglio e olio is probably the simplest, Italian, pasta recipe you can make, and it's extremely tasty!

Pasta aglio e olio means pasta with garlic and oil in Italian, so it's pretty obvious which ones are the basic ingredients of this recipe: pasta (usually spaghetti), garlic and extra virgin olive oil.

There are other ingredients you can add, like peperoncino flakes, fresh parsley, pine nuts or ground black pepper. I've only used 5 ingredients (and one of them is optional) because I like to keep things simple.

Some people add some grated Parmesan on top, but I think it's not necessary as this dish is actually full of flavor. However, if you want to make your pasta even more flavorful, try to add my vegan Parmesan cheese, it's out of this world and ready in less than 5 minutes!

I've never made this recipe without oil, but I guess you could sautée the garlic with some water or vegetable stock and then add some cooking water to the pasta, instead of the oil. To make it super creamy, try to mix some tahini or any nut butter with some water, and add it to the pasta, instead of the cooking water.

Looking for more vegan pasta recipes? Explore my tasty creations such as Vegan Spaghetti, Vegan Bolognese, and One Pot Pasta. These dishes are packed with flavor and are perfect for any occasion!

Pasta Aglio e Olio

pasta aglio e olio ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need to make this pasta aglio e olio recipe:

  • Spaghetti - I used gluten-free spaghetti, but any type of spaghetti will do, and even other kinds of pasta.
  • Garlic - Fresh garlic is ideal for this recipe, as garlic is one of the main (and few) ingredients.
  • Extra virgin olive oil - I'm Spanish, so I use extra virgin olive oil to cook most of my dishes. However, any type of oil is okay. I always use extra virgin oils when possible because they're healthier.
  • Red pepper flakes - The classic recipe calls for peperoncino flakes, but red pepper flakes are a good alternative. This ingredient is optional, so you can omit it if you're not into spicy food.
  • Parsley - I prefer to use fresh parsley for this recipe, but you could also add any other fresh or dried herb.

how to make pasta aglio e olio

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta according to package directions.
  2. Add the garlic and oil to a skillet and cook over medium heat until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Then add the red pepper flakes and cook for 1-2 minutes more.
  3. Drain the pasta and place it back to the pot, add the oil mixture and the fresh parsley. Stir until well combined and add more oil or some cooking water if needed.
  4. Serve immediately or keep leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
Pasta Aglio e Olio

looking for more pasta recipes?

  • Vegan Mac and Cheese
  • Vegan Cashew Alfredo Sauce
  • Pasta e Fagioli (Pasta and Beans)
  • Vegan Pasta Salad

did you make this pasta aglio e olio recipe?

Please leave a comment below, share it, rate it or tag a picture @simpleveganblog on Instagram and hashtag it #simpleveganblog. We'd love to see what you cook!

Pasta Aglio e Olio
Pasta Aglio e Olio
5 from 6 votes

Love it? Rate it!

Pasta Aglio e Olio

Pasta aglio e olio (also known as spaghetti aglio e olio) is the easiest pasta recipe you can make. It's super tasty and only requires 5 ingredients.
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 10 minutes mins
Total: 15 minutes mins
Servings: 4
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Ingredients 
 

  • 8 ounces spaghetti, gluten-free if needed
  • 4 cloves of garlic, sliced
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Dash of red pepper flakes, optional
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped

Instructions 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook the spaghetti according to package directions.
  • In the meanwhile, add the garlic and oil to a skillet and cook over medium heat until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Add the red pepper flakes and cook for 1-2 minutes more.
  • Drain the pasta and place it back to the pot, add the oil mixture and the parsley. Toss until the pasta is evenly coated. Add more oil or some cooking water if the pasta is too dry for you. 
  • Serve immediately or keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Notes

  • Nutritional info has been calculated by using regular spaghetti. I used gluten-free spaghetti, though.
  • The sodium amount is not accurate, as the salt in the cooking water is not included because the pasta doesn't absorb all the salt and there's no way to know how much sodium this dish contains.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 43.1g | Protein: 7.6g | Fat: 14.9g | Saturated Fat: 2.2g | Sodium: 4mg | Fiber: 1.9g | Sugar: 1.6g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below and let me know how it was!
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Iosune Robles

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Iosune with a glass of juice.

About Iosune

Hi, I’m Iosune! I’m a food lover, home cook, recipe creator, and co-founder of Simple Vegan Blog, which I started in 2014 to show how easy and delicious vegan cooking can be.

More about me

Comments

  1. Donald Tenn says

    August 03, 2021 at 3:13 am

    5 stars
    Pasta aglio e olio is one of my favorite pasta dishes. I have made it countless times and now, my mouth is watering.

    I have not used the tahini or, vegan parmesan, I did not even know there was a vegan parmesan but now that I do, I look forward to trying it.

    For such a simple dish to make, and I also only use 4-5 ingredients, it is quite flavorful. (mouth still watering)
    Thanks for the article, I look forward to more simple vegan delicacies!

    Reply
    • Iosune Robles says

      August 03, 2021 at 10:01 am

      Hi! Thanks for your kind comment 🙂

      Reply
  2. mabaker says

    August 22, 2020 at 3:32 am

    5 stars
    Wonderful vegan version of this comfort dish.

    Reply
    • Iosune Robles says

      August 24, 2020 at 10:24 am

      Thank you so much! Have a nice day 🙂

      Reply
  3. mabaker says

    August 22, 2020 at 3:25 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely amazing

    Reply
    • Iosune Robles says

      August 24, 2020 at 10:25 am

      Thanks! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂

      Reply
  4. Anita Baker says

    August 22, 2020 at 3:23 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely amazing! Used Vegan Parm... the kids and hubby loved it; no leftovers and I regret not taking a photo before we ate it! 5 star!! Thank you for giving me the tools and inspiration to try a vegan version of this superb dish!

    Reply
    • Iosune Robles says

      August 24, 2020 at 10:21 am

      Hi Anita! Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm so glad you liked our recipe 🙂

      Reply
  5. tashann multicuisinerestaurant says

    February 18, 2020 at 1:25 pm

    Thanks for the yummy recipes!!! I’m always on the lookout for new recipes. Thanks so much 🙂

    Reply
    • Iosune says

      March 09, 2020 at 3:08 pm

      Hi Tashann! Thank YOU so much 🙂

      Reply
  6. Alexandre says

    March 13, 2019 at 1:20 am

    Hi!. I'm a fan and subscriber. I love your recipes. In the case of the present dish, can I make a suggestion? The garlic should be fried on the oil on the lowest temperature possible, over several minutes, to increase the flavor of the oil. After I tried this method, I never looked back. Cheers!

    Reply
    • Iosune says

      March 13, 2019 at 3:16 am

      Hi Alexandre! Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂 Have a nice day!

      Reply
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We’re Iosune and Alberto, the couple behind Simple Vegan Blog. Since 2014, we’ve been sharing easy, flavorful vegan recipes anyone can make.

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