This spaghetti dish is exceedingly painless; guests can't help but have seconds

Cooktop Cove: This spaghetti dish is exceedingly painless; guests can't help but have seconds

By Audrey Michels

No time to waste on chopping, sautéing, slow-cooking or roasting? This is the simplest, quickest pasta dish that will still taste like it came from an Italian restaurant. That’s right — gourmet taste in less than 15 minutes. The secret? Spicy garlic oil.

The better quality the pasta, olive oil and garlic, the better this dish will taste, so go for the best you can get. Fresh pasta will cook even faster (in just a few minutes), so that’s another reason to go with fresh if you can. A fresh garnish, such as torn parsley or basil, would also make a big difference.

Spicy garlic spaghetti

4 minutes

10 minutes

14 minutes

12 ounces spaghetti

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup bread crumbs

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Grated parmesan for garnish

Parsley for garnish

Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the box. Drain and set aside, saving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water in a measuring cup.

In a large heavy-bottomed skillet over a medium-high heat, add the olive oil.

Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and toss until fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the spaghetti and bread crumbs, and sauté until all of the pasta and breadcrumbs are evenly coated in the oil mixture and warmed through.

Add a few tablespoons to 1/2 cup of pasta water if the mixture is too dry.

Garnish with grated parmesan and parsley.

Serve immediately.