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!
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.
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.
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. Like with my chicken tagliatelle recipe, 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.
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:
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! As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Penne Aglio e Olio
Ingredients
Instructions
Recommended Products
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 286Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 357mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 5g
Andrea
Monday 26th of August 2019
Making tonight! Thanks for the share!
Mary Jo
Monday 1st of April 2019
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.
Shannon
Wednesday 24th of January 2018
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!
Carol, The Red Painted Cottage
Wednesday 16th of August 2017
Jenny, Just letting you know this yummy recipe is being featured at Share Your Style! Congratulations!
Jenny
Thursday 17th of August 2017
Thank you Carol!!
Petra
Wednesday 16th of August 2017
Love the flavors and great with a meat free recipe! Thanks for bringing this to Fiesta Friday :)