Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan

A quick and easy Angel Hair Pasta recipe with fresh garlic, herbs, and grated Parmesan Cheese. This pasta comes together in less than fifteen minutes and goes well with grilled salmon, roasted chicken, grilled steak, and roasted pork.

Top the thin strands with chopped fresh herbs and freshly grated Parmesan Cheese for the best flavor. This is one of our favorite side dishes.

Try this easy angel hair pasta recipe that will have dinner on the table in no time. With simple ingredients and step-by-step instructions, you’ll have a tasty meal ready in minutes.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Pasta: Angel hair, capellini, spaghetti, thin spaghetti, penne, campanelle, macaroni, and rotini.
• Butter: Unsalted or salted
• Fresh herbs: Use fresh basil, parsley, thyme, and rosemary. Remember, though, that some herbs are better used dried, like oregano and marjoram.
• Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is worth every penny. It has a better texture, tastes better, and melts better than pre-grated Parmesan. Use a microplane or box grater to grate the cheese.

How to make Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic

First, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the noodles and cook according to package directions. Angel hair pasta cooks very quickly, so don’t overcook it. Be sure to drain well.

When the pasta is almost done, melt the butter and heat the olive oil in a large skillet or pan. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute and stir constantly. Add the pasta and toss to coat with the sauce.

Sprinkle the pasta with chopped fresh herbs like basil and parsley and about 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan Cheese. Then toss again to combine. Finally, season with salt, pepper, and, if desired, red pepper flakes to taste. For best results, serve promptly.

Preparation Tips and Storage

• Boil the angel hair pasta over medium heat according to package instructions until slightly al dente, which means somewhat firm to the bite.
• Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water to moisten it if it becomes too dry.
• Add crushed red pepper to taste if you like everything with a little kick.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave at reduced power.

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve this pasta with a simple garden salad or arugula salad. It is also delicious paired with Italian wedding soup and French onion soup. Or keep it simple and serve it with baguettes and sweet cream butter.

Recipe Variations

• Add vegetables: fresh cherry or grape tomatoes, steamed broccoli, sauteed asparagus, or sauteed garlic mushrooms.
• Add meat: crisp cooked bacon, grilled chicken, prosciutto, or sauteed shrimp.
• Add seasonings: lemon pepper, orange pepper, Cajun or creole seasoning.

More Pasta Recipes

Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan

A tasty Angel Hair Pasta Recipe with fresh garlic, herbs, and Parmesan Cheese that pairs well with almost any main course. 

5 from 47 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: side dish/other

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 357kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

• 12 ounces angel hair pasta or capellini pasta
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs like basil parsley, thyme, rosemary (see notes)
• ½ cup grated Parmesan Cheese
• salt and black pepper to taste
• chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

• Cook your pasta slightly al dente according to package directions and drain well. 
• When the pasta has 2 minutes of cooking time left, melt the butter and heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Add the pasta and toss to coat with the butter and garlic.
• Sprinkle the pasta with the herbs and grated Parmesan Cheese. Toss again to combine. If the pasta becomes too dry, add 1-2 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water at a time until desired consistency is reached. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley. For best results, serve promptly.

Notes

• Boil the angel hair pasta over medium heat according to package instructions until slightly al dente, which means slightly firm to the bite.
• Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water to moisten it if it becomes too dry.
• Add crushed red pepper to taste if you like everything with a little kick.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave at reduced power.

Nutrition

Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 210mg | Potassium: 154mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 341IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 1mg

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