Spaghetti aglio e olio with chicken is a simple pasta dish that comes together with just a few ingredients! Pasta, garlic, Italian seasoning, and olive oil create this flavorful and impressive dish! You can also make spaghetti aglio e olio with salmon or shrimp!
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You Will Love This Spaghetti Aglio e Olio!
- One of the easiest pasta dishes for a quick weeknight meal!
- Versatile with spice - add more chili flakes for more heat!
- Use whatever protein you like, or make it vegetarian.
- An impressive yet easy dish to serve for holidays like Christmas, New Years, or Valentine's Day!
- Restaurant-quality pasta dish you can make at home - just like our creamy Cajun pasta!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
- Spaghetti or your favorite pasta such as penne pasta.
- Fresh garlic cloves and extra virgin olive oil combine along with pasta water create an amazing fresh sauce that is light and flavorful.
- Italian seasoning or use black pepper, sea salt, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
- Fresh parsley or your favorite fresh herb adds a delicious fresh flavor that sends this delicious pasta dish over the top!
- Parmesan cheese is the perfect topping for any pasta dish.
- Salmon or chicken - you can use either a pre-cooked version or use our easy thinly-sliced oven-baked chicken, sauteed shrimp, or air fryer salmon.
- Cherry tomatoes - cherry tomatoes are optional in this recipe but fresh tomatoes give this recipe a delicious fresh quality you will love - just like in our sauteed cherry tomato pasta!
How to Make This Aglio e Olio Pasta Recipe
Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.
- If using protein, cook thin-sliced boneless chicken breast seasoned with Italian seasoning, or air fryer salmon. Fill a large pot of water and heat over medium-high heat until boiling. Salt the water and then cook the spaghetti according to al dente package directions. Reserve at least 1 cup of pasta water.
- Heat a large cast iron pot over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add 1 cup of pasta water and tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes or until the liquid is reduced and the tomatoes are softened.
- Lower heat and then add cooked al dente spaghetti to the pot along with Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and additional pasta water if needed. Use a pair of tongs to stir and season with salt and black pepper if needed.
- Top the pasta with the cooked chicken or salmon, a drizzle of oil, extra parsley, and cheese.
Expert Tips
- This recipe is inspired by Ina Garten's original aglio e olio recipe posted on the Food Network.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- For a lemony flavor, add a squeeze of fresh lemon to the top of the pasta dish.
- If cooking chicken or salmon for this pasta dish, pat the meat dry with paper towels and season with one half of a teaspoon of salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning before cooking.
Recipe FAQs
Olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes are the basis of a traditional aglio olio sauce. This recipe is more family-friendly by using Italian seasoning instead of crushed red pepper flakes.
Spaghetti aglio olio is a fresh and easy pasta recipe that is simply made. It has strong flavors of garlic and olive oil and a spicy component if including red pepper flakes.
Other Easy Restaurant-Quality Recipe to Try!
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Easy Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Chicken or Salmon
Ingredients
Pasta Aglio e Olio
- 1 lb. spaghetti
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 4 large garlic cloves
- 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning divided
- ¼ cup parsley chopped
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese divided
- 1 cup pasta water reserved
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes optional
Chicken Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts or use salmon
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- If using protein, cook thin-sliced boneless chicken breast seasoned with Italian seasoning, or air fryer salmon. Fill a large pot of water and heat over medium-high heat until boiling. Salt the water and then cook the spaghetti according to al dente package directions. Reserve at least 1 cup of pasta water.1 lb. spaghetti, 2 large chicken breasts, 2 tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Heat olive oil in a large cast iron pot over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add 1 cup of pasta water and tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes or until the liquid is reduced and the tomatoes are softened.⅓ cup olive oil, 4 large garlic cloves, 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1 cup pasta water
- Lower heat and then add cooked al dente spaghetti to the pot along with Parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and additional pasta water if needed. Use a pair of tongs to stir and season with salt and black pepper if needed.¼ cup parsley, ¾ cup Parmesan cheese
- Top the pasta with the cooked chicken or salmon, a drizzle of oil, extra parsley, and cheese.
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