The Thirsty Feast

Penne Aglio e Olio

This penne aglio e olio is an easy twist on a classic pasta dish. Serve it as a simple side dish for chicken or as dinner for meatless Monday!

close up photo of penne agilo e olio

Like most of the world, I am on a quest to eat healthier (at least in January haha). I’m also on a quest to spend less time cooking dinner at night.

Wouldn’t it be nice to just relax after work.

So on my quick recipe journey, I went to pasta. It’s always my go-to quick meal ingredient. A few ingredients later, I had unknowingly made pasta aglio e olio but with penne instead of spaghetti. 

And boom, my new go-to quick and semi-healthy weeknight dinner.

penne aglio e olio on a marble table

What is “Aglio e Olio”?

Aglio e Olio means “garlic and oil.” Traditionally, pasta aglio e olio is served with spaghetti noodles – spaghetti Aglio e olio is a traditional Italian pasta dish from Naples. I, however, do not care for spaghetti.

How to Make Penne Aglio e Olio

It all goes back to my early teen years and my time with braces and orthodontia. My particular dental gear was not suited for long noodles and after a bad experience, I still steer clear from spaghetti or linguine.

I decided to substitute spaghetti for one of my favorite noodles, penne. Prepare the penne per the box instructions (al dente) and the rest of the meal is made in a jiffy.

The hardest, and most time consuming, part of preparing this dish is chopping up the garlic and parsley.

penne agio e olio and a blue napkin

Can I use pasta other than penne?

Yep! These are great substitutions:

  • rigatoni
  • spaghetti
  • rotini
  • linguine

What can I add to this easy pasta recipe?

The world is your oyster. You can add anything.

Vegetables are a great addition. Mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, and pepperoncini are my go-to’s.

Shrimp and chicken are great protein examples. Serving this under fish would be great too.

pasta aglio e olio on a marble table with a blue napkin

Can I make this aglio e olio recipe spicy?

You can make this recipe spicy with an addition or too. You can add more crushed red pepper flakes slowly until you get to the spiciness level you’re looking for. A 1/4 cup of finely diced jalapeño would easily give this dish a kick. 

Looking for other pasta recipes? Try these:

Penne Aglio e Olio

Penne Aglio e Olio

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

This penne aglio e olio is an easy twist on a classic pasta dish. Serve it as a simple side dish for chicken or as dinner for meatless Monday!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound uncooked penne
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic (approximately 6 cloves)
  • 1/2 tablespoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup diced fresh parsley
  • lemon zest

Instructions

  1. Prepare the penne noodles per the box instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.
  2. While the noodles are cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 2 minutes. Stir frequently and when the garlic's edges begin to brown, add the crushed red pepper. Sauté for an additional 30 seconds. Add the reserved pasta water and bring to a boil.
  3. Simmer for 5 minutes, then add the cooked pasta to the pot. Toss carefully, then stir in the salt and parsley. Allow to rest for an additional 5 minutes off the heat before serving.
  4. When serving, top with fresh lemon zest.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 286 Total Fat: 19g Saturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 15g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 357mg Carbohydrates: 25g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 1g Protein: 5g
© Jenny Bullistron
Cuisine: Italian / Category: Dinner | Lunch
penne aglio e olio pinterest image

 

penne aglio e olio pin

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. I Love this with asparagus and sun-dried tomatoes. I had it once in a restaurant years ago and have been making it ever since.

    Reply

  3. I omitted garlic. Added onion, red pepper, steamed broccoli, squeezed in 1/4 of a lemon’s juice right at the end. Finished with grated parm cheese. Delicious!

    Reply

  4. Jenny, Just letting you know this yummy recipe is being featured at Share Your Style! Congratulations!

    Reply

  11. Hello fabulous! Just stopping by to let you know that your penne aglio will be featured at our party that starts tonight at 7 pm and goes until Friday @7 pm . Happy dance time! Pinned and tweeted. Thank you for bringing such an amazing dish to our party , I hope to see you tonight! Lou Lou Girls

    Reply

  17. Everyone needs to know how to make a basic great tasting pasta dish for those times when surprise guests show up around meal time! Thanks for sharing on craft schooling sunday!

    Reply

  19. Simple dishes like this are always my favorite. With garlic, noodles, and olive oil you just can’t go wrong! Can’t wait to try this one, Jenny!

    Reply

  23. What a beautiful pasta dish! My entire family would love this. I’d pair it with a salad and call it good. Perfect! Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

  24. Aglio e olio is what we grew up on. Love the simple and delicious combination with any pasta type!

    Reply

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