15 Minute Easy Olive Oil Pasta

This is one of those dinners I make when I want something good but don’t want to think too hard about it. It comes together in about 15 minutes with a handful of pantry ingredients and plenty of good olive oil. Simple, cozy, and one of those meals my family never gets tired of.

The kind of dinner you’ll make on repeat.

This recipe is incredibly simple, but the flavors are OUTRAGEOUS! Sometimes simple meals really are the best, and this recipe really highlights that. The ingredient list is short and sweet, but each component adds another layer of flavor, and they all work so well together!

If you loved this olive oil pasta recipe, you’ll go nuts for my 20-minute creamy lemon pasta, easy homemade pasta sauce, and homemade chicken alfredo.

Here’s how it all comes together.

Cook pasta in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Before you drain the pasta, reserve 1/2 a cup of pasta water. Toss pasta in olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat and saute garlic and red pepper flakes for about 2 minutes. Stir frequently so the garlic does not brown or burn.

Add fresh parsley and capers to the pan along with about half the reserved pasta water.

Cook for a minute.

Add pasta to the pan and toss to coat evenly in the olive oil mixture. 

Cook for about a minute or until it’s heated through. Add remaining pasta water as needed to coat the noodles. You want a silky smooth sauce on the noodles.

Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan and enjoy!

Things I learned while testing this recipe.

• If your family doesn’t like heat, omit the red pepper flakes. I’m a wimp when it comes to spicy foods and I didn’t find this pasta to be too spicy for me. It’s a very small amount of red pepper flakes spread throughout the entire pan of pasta. If you decide to leave it out, the flavor will still be delicious, but I recommend serving some red pepper flakes on the side so your guests can add some if they’d like.
• Salt your pasta water! This is your first chance to season the pasta and this will add a ton of flavor to the overall dish.
• Always save your pasta water! Try to get in the habit of always saving your pasta water because it is AMAZING. The starchy pasta water will help any sauce you make stick to the noodles better. It will also give your pasta a gorgeous glossy finish. Whether you’re serving your noodles with tomato sauce or creamy alfredo sauce, add a splash of pasta water along with the sauce and watch how it transforms the dish!

Let’s switch it up a bit.

Feel free to add your favorite veggies or proteins to this simple dish. Some of my favorites are:

• broccoli
• asparagus
• peas
• canned artichoke hearts
• fresh spinach
• sliced zucchini
• lemon juice or zest
• anchovies
• grilled chicken breast
• shrimp

Just in case you have leftovers.

• Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
• Reheating: I prefer to reheat this pasta in a pan over medium heat. You may want to add a drizzle of olive oil or a splash of water to loosen up the pasta. If you’re in a pinch, you can also pop it in the microwave for 30-60 seconds or until warmed through. Be sure to season to taste with salt and pepper before serving!

More easy pasta recipes for your eating pleasure.