Easy Pasta Recipes: 5 Easy Pasta Recipes with Bertolli Olive Oil

Looking for easy pasta recipes that are flavorful, satisfying and simple enough for a weeknight dinner? Pasta and olive oil make a versatile combination that works with everything from fresh vegetables and herbs to creamy sauces and bold flavors.

Whether you’re looking for olive oil pasta recipes, experimenting with cooking with extra virgin olive oil, or simply need inspiration for a quick dinner, these five recipes are easy to prepare with everyday ingredients.

Olive oil can be used throughout the cooking process, from sautéing garlic and vegetables to preparing sauces or adding a finishing touch to cooked pasta. The type of olive oil you choose can also influence the final flavor of the dish.

Below, discover five easy pasta recipes made with Bertolli Olive Oil, including sundried tomato pasta, pesto Alfredo pasta, cherry tomato spaghetti, Thai peanut noodles and lemon asparagus pasta.

What Is the Best Olive Oil for Cooking Pasta?

The best olive oil for cooking pasta depends on the recipe and the flavor you want to achieve. Extra virgin olive oil works particularly well in pasta dishes where the flavor of the oil is part of the finished dish, such as recipes with garlic, tomatoes, vegetables, herbs or simple sauces.

When cooking with extra virgin olive oil, you can use it to sauté vegetables and aromatics, incorporate it into sauces or drizzle it over pasta before serving. Its versatility makes it a useful ingredient for both simple pasta dishes and recipes with more complex sauces.

5 Easy Pasta Recipes with Olive Oil

These olive oil pasta recipes combine simple ingredients with different flavors and cooking styles. From a creamy sundried tomato sauce to fresh lemon and asparagus, each recipe offers an easy way to use olive oil in everyday pasta dishes.

Cherry Tomato, Spinach & Basil Spaghetti

By Winnie Liong of @winniesbalance

Fresh tomatoes, spinach and basil make this one of the simplest olive oil pasta recipes for a quick meal. Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil is used to sauté the tomatoes and garlic before everything is combined with the spaghetti.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb uncooked spaghetti
• 2 tbsp Bertolli® Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pint grape tomatoes
• 3–4 cups raw spinach
• Handful of fresh basil
• Crushed red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions.
2. While the spaghetti is cooking, sauté the tomatoes and fresh garlic in Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil for 2–3 minutes.
3. Turn off the heat and add the raw spinach, allowing it to soften.
4. Once the spaghetti is cooked and drained, combine it with the tomatoes and spinach.
5. Finish with fresh basil and crushed red pepper flakes.

Sundried Tomato Pasta

By Lauren McNeil of @tastingtothrive_rd

This creamy sundried tomato pasta combines sunflower seeds, garlic, lemon and olive oil for a simple sauce that comes together in a blender. It’s an ideal option when you’re looking for easy pasta recipes with plenty of flavor and minimal preparation.

Ingredients:

• 500g pasta
• 1/3 cup sundried tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup water
• 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 2 tbsp Bertolli Olive Oil
• 1/2 cup hulled sunflower seeds
• 2 large handfuls spinach
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/3 cup sliced sundried tomatoes (optional)

Directions:

1. Cook 500g of pasta according to package instructions.
2. Combine the hulled sunflower seeds, sundried tomatoes, garlic, lemon juice, water, nutritional yeast and Bertolli Olive Oil in a blender. Blend until smooth.
3. Once the pasta is cooked, drain and combine with the sundried tomato mixture and spinach.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste and, if desired, add sliced sundried tomatoes before serving.

Easy Pesto Alfredo Pasta

By Alexa Soto of @alexafuelednaturally

Pesto and a creamy cashew milk sauce come together in this simple pasta dish. Olive oil is used to sauté the garlic and onion, showing how cooking with extra virgin olive oil can help build flavor from the beginning of a pasta recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb pasta noodles of choice
• 1 tbsp Bertolli Olive Oil
• 1 cup prepared vegan pesto (store-bought can also be used)
• 1 small yellow onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cashew milk
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp salt

Directions:

1. 1. Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
   2. While the pasta is cooking, sauté the garlic and onion in 1 tbsp Bertolli Olive Oil over medium heat for approximately 6 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt.
   3. Reduce the heat to low and pour in the cashew milk. Cook for approximately 3 minutes, until it begins to thicken, then add the nutritional yeast.
   4. Add the pesto and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
   5. Once the pasta is cooked, use tongs to transfer the noodles directly into the sauce.
   6. Add 1/2 cup of hot pasta water and mix until the noodles are fully coated.
   7. Finish with freshly cracked pepper and chopped fresh basil.

Thai Peanut Veggie & Noodle 

By Amy Wilichowski of @eatsbyames

For something different from traditional Italian-inspired pasta, this recipe combines noodles, sautéed vegetables and a creamy peanut sauce. Extra virgin olive oil is incorporated into both the vegetables and the sauce, making it another versatile example of cooking with extra virgin olive oil.

Ingredients:

For the pasta:

• 3–4 cups uncooked pasta noodles
• Pinch of salt

For the vegetables:

• 1/2 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced yellow bell pepper
• 1 cup snap or snow peas
• 1/2 tbsp Bertolli® Extra Virgin Olive Oil

For the peanut sauce:

• 1/2 cup unsalted, unsweetened peanut butter
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp sriracha or hot sauce of choice
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp Bertolli® Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3 tbsp water
• 1 1/2 tbsp freshly grated ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

For the garnish:

• 1/3 cup shelled peanuts
• Handful of fresh cilantro

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta with a pinch of salt according to package instructions.
2. While the pasta is cooking, sauté the vegetables in Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil over medium heat for approximately 5 minutes or until tender.
3. Blend the peanut sauce ingredients until a smooth sauce forms, approximately 2–3 minutes.
4. Once the pasta and vegetables are cooked, toss everything together.
5. Garnish with peanuts and fresh cilantro before serving.

Lemon Asparagus Pasta

By Mia Zarlengo of @bitesbymi

Lemon, asparagus, garlic and Parmesan create a fresh pasta dish that requires only a handful of ingredients. It’s one of those easy pasta recipes that works particularly well for a quick lunch or a simple dinner.

Ingredients:

• 1 8-oz box pasta
• 1 bunch asparagus
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 1/2 tbsp Bertolli Olive Oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Sea salt
• Black pepper

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
2. While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet with 1 tbsp olive oil.
3. Once hot, add the garlic and cook until fragrant, approximately 30 seconds, then add the asparagus.
4. Add Italian seasoning, 1/4 tsp salt and a few cracks of black pepper. Stir to coat and cook for 10–12 minutes.
5. When the pasta is cooked, stir in the lemon juice, 1 1/2 tbsp Bertolli Olive Oil and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Stir in the asparagus and serve.

How to Cook Pasta with Extra Virgin Olive Oil

These recipes show that cooking with extra virgin olive oil can go beyond simply drizzling it over finished pasta. Depending on the recipe, olive oil can be used to sauté garlic and vegetables, blend creamy sauces, combine dressings and sauces or finish a pasta dish before serving.

For simple olive oil pasta recipes, ingredients such as garlic, tomatoes, lemon, basil, spinach, Parmesan and seasonal vegetables pair naturally with olive oil and make it possible to create flavorful meals without complicated preparation.

Whether you’re preparing a quick pesto pasta, vegetable spaghetti or lemon asparagus pasta, these easy pasta recipes offer different ways to make olive oil part of everyday cooking.