Midnight Spaghetti (Garlic Chili Oil Pasta)

This Midnight Spaghetti is a quick and flavorful pasta that delivers bold taste with minimal effort. Garlic is gently sautéed in olive oil to release its fragrance, then infused with crushed chili flakes for a kick. Tossed with perfectly al dente spaghetti and finished with Parmesan cheese, it's the ultimate late-night or weeknight go-to. Simple ingredients, big flavor—this pasta is pasta perfection in under 15 minutes.

Author: These Carbs Don't Count

Category: Vegetarian

Cuisine: Italian

Difficulty: MEDIUM

Prep. Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 2 plates

Calories: 535 kcal per serving

Ingredients

½ lb - spaghetti
¼ cup - olive oil
4 cloves - garlic
½ tsp - crushed red chili flakes
⅛ - Salt
½ cup - grated Parmesan cheese
⅛ - Fresh parsley

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente, about 8–9 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water and drain.
While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced garlic and sauté until golden but not burned, about 1–2 minutes.
Add crushed red chili flakes and cook for 30 seconds more to infuse the oil.
Add cooked spaghetti to the skillet and toss with the garlic chili oil. If needed, loosen with a splash of reserved pasta water.
Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and well combined.
Plate and top with extra Parmesan and chopped parsley, if using. Serve immediately.