Dinner

Easy Weeknight Garlic Pasta

Garlic, olive oil, and lemon make a 25-minute pasta that tastes like a restaurant dish.

By Maya Brooks · 2026-10-05 · 5 min read

• Prep: 10 min
• Cook: 15 min
• Total: 25 min
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 12 oz (340 g) spaghetti
• 1/3 cup (80 ml) olive oil
• 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 1/2 cup (50 g) grated Parmesan
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• Salt and black pepper

Instructions

1. Boil the spaghetti in well-salted water until al dente. Save 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
2. Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic and pepper flakes and cook 2 minutes until fragrant, not browned.
3. Add the pasta, 1/2 cup pasta water, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Toss over medium heat for 1 minute.
4. Stir in the Parmesan and parsley, adding more pasta water until glossy. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Tips

• Salt the pasta water until it tastes like mild seawater.
• Pull the garlic off the heat the moment it turns pale gold; browned garlic turns bitter.

Substitutions

Use linguine or penne for spaghetti. Swap Parmesan for Pecorino.

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