This easy garlic basil pasta is a tasty dish you can make in 10 minutes. Roasted garlic and fresh basil give the spaghetti a simple, but amazing flavor.

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I love easy pasta recipes, and this is definitely a good one. The dish can be served and enjoyed as is, or you can serve it with vegetables or meat.
🥘 Ingredients
To make basil pasta, you will need your favorite type of pasta, fresh basil, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and fresh garlic.
You can also serve the pasta with freshly ground black pepper and parmesan if that's your thing.
🔪 Instructions
Add the pasta to a pot of boiling water, and cook as instructed on the package. This typically takes 3-10 minutes, depending on which type of pasta you use.
Meanwhile, slice or roughly chop garlic and basil. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, and add the garlic along with red pepper flakes. Saute for a minute or two, or until the garlic is golden.
Drain the excess water off the pasta, then toss it with the garlic, pepper flakes and fresh basil. Add some extra olive oil if you wish, and serve.
🍝 Pasta
I love making garlic basil pasta with spaghetti, but any type of pasta can be used. Long types of noodles, such as tagliatelle, angel hair or pappardelle are all great options.
You can also use short types of pasta if you prefer.
💭 Top tips
Here's my best tips to get this recipe perfect:
- Cook the pasta al dente. It should be soft, but still have some chew to it. Taste a noodle to check that it's done right!
- Use fresh garlic and basil for the best results. They carry a lot of tasty flavor, and is way better than using dried herbs.
- For a more wholesome dish, you can use whole grain pasta, or pasta made from beans or chickpeas.
🥗 How to serve garlic basil pasta
This noodle dish can be served and enjoyed as is, or you can serve it with roasted vegetables, breaded chicken, Air Fryer Garlic Bread or chicken marsala.
I prefer to serve it warm, but you could also allow the pasta to chill and serve it as a simple noodle salad.
🍲 Leftovers
Leftover garlic basil pasta can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat the leftovers in a microwave, or serve them cold if you wish.
As this dish stores well, pasta with basil and garlic is an excellent meal prep option. Prepare a big batch, and serve it with multiple meals through the week!
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If you love easy pasta dishes, you should try any of these recipes:
📋 Frequently asked questions
Is garlic basil pasta healthy? - This dish can definitely be enjoyed as a part of a healthy diet.
Is this recipe allergy friendly? - You should always check the nutrition labels of the ingredients you use, but this recipe is generally dairy free, egg free, soy free, and nut free.
Can I add other ingredients? - Absolutely! Feel free to add more herbs, spices or vegetables to create a more hearthy pasta dish.
Can I use dried basil? - I think the result is better if you use fresh basil, but you can definitely try using dried herbs too.
Recipe
Garlic Basil Pasta
Ingredients
- 200 g pasta
- 3 garlic cloves
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ cup fresh basil
Instructions
- Add the pasta to a pot of boiling water, and cook as instructed on the package. This typically takes 3-10 minutes, depending on which type of pasta you use.
- Meanwhile, slice or roughly chop garlic and basil. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, and add the garlic along with red pepper flakes. Saute for a minute or two, or until the garlic is golden.
- Drain the excess water off the pasta, then toss it with the garlic, pepper flakes and fresh basil. Add some extra olive oil if you wish, and serve.
Notes
Leftovers
Leftover garlic basil pasta can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat the leftovers in a microwave, or serve them cold if you wish. As this dish stores well, pasta with basil and garlic is an excellent meal prep option. Prepare a big batch, and serve it with multiple meals through the week!Top tips
Here’s my best tips to get this recipe perfect:- Cook the pasta al dente. It should be soft, but still have some chew to it. Taste a noodle to check that it’s done right!
- Use fresh garlic and basil for the best results. They carry a lot of tasty flavor, and is way better than using dried herbs.
- For a more wholesome dish, you can use whole grain pasta, or pasta made from beans or chickpeas.
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