Easy Angel Hair Pasta Recipe (2024)

Dec 21, 2023 by Tania Sheff · This post may contain affiliate links

ThisAngel Hair Pastais made with cherry tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil. You won't believe how simple and TASTY this recipe is!

A scrumptious dish made with just a few simple ingredients. Isn’t that what we are looking for when planning our next dinner? This easy Angel Hair Pasta recipe is going to become your new favorite. I know it!

This recipe comes from my mom. She lived in Italy for over 10 years and also worked as a chef there, so she knows a thing or two about Italian cuisine. This was one of the first recipes she taught me. When she first mentioned this recipe, I wasn’t impressed. Tomatoes, pasta, garlic, olive oil… It sounded so bland. Boy, was I wrong! Once I tried it, there was no going back! Let's take a look at what you'll need to make this delicious angel hair pasta recipe.

Video Tutorial for this Angel Hair Pasta

This Angel Hair Pasta Recipe is Vegan.

Ingredient list

• Pasta.I used regular Angel Hair Pasta. You can also use whole-wheat pasta as a healthier alternative. Of course, you can use other pasta shapes, such as regular spaghetti, thin spaghetti, or linguine.
• Fresh Tomatoes.I love using fresh cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes the most because they are the sweetest and most flavorful. That said, you can use regular tomatoes, but if you do, I suggest adding ½ tsp. of sugar to the sauce.
• Fresh Garlic.It adds a ton of flavor, so don't skip this ingredient. Garlic powder won't be as good here. You can use MORE garlic, of course. 🙂
• Olive Oil.High-quality extra virgin olive oil brings the best flavors and health benefits. You can also use butter, or garlic butter if you'd like.
• Fresh Herbs.I used a combination of parsley and fresh basil since I have both in my garden now. You can use either one or both.
• Seasonings.Salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.

How to make this Easy Angel Hair Pasta

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil and tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes are soft and start to fall apart (about 10 minutes).

3. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions until al dente (3 minutes).

4. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to the tomato sauce. Stir, and cook for about 3-4 minutes, breaking tomatoes in the process.

5. Drain the pasta. Add the cooked pasta and chopped herbs to the tomato sauce. Stir, and cook for 2-3 minutes. Serve with garnished with more herbs or shaved Parmesan cheese.

Tips for perfect pasta

• Perfect timing.To make this dish super fast, we are cooking the pasta and the tomato sauce simultaneously. It is best to start boiling the pasta right before the garlic goes into the tomato sauce. This way, the sauce and the pasta will be ready in 3-4 minutes, so you can combine them and serve. Angel hair pasta cooks pretty quick and so does the sauce. If you don’t feel like multitasking, you can boil the pasta beforehand and rinse it with cold water (to prevent sticking). When the sauce is ready, just add the pasta and cook it until heated through.
• Don't forget about the salt.Salt adds flavor to the pasta! When boiling pasta, add at least a tablespoon of salt per 4 quarts of water. Here is a helpful guide:How to Cook Pasta Perfectly Every Time
• Tasty tomatoes.Tomatoes are the main ingredient here. So, make sure you use flavorful tomatoes.

How to store leftovers

Store the leftover Angel Hair Pasta in an airtight container to prevent drying out. It will stay in the fridge for up to 4 days. It tastes great when reheated.

FAQs about this recipe

• How long do you cook Angel Hair Pasta?Because this pasta is so thin, it takes only about 3 minutes to cook it until al dente. It's best to check the best of the box, to the precise cooking time.
• Can I use other types of pasta for this recipe?Yes, I've tried this recipe with almost all pasta types and it tastes great every time.
• Can I add chicken or shrimp to this recipe?Yes. I would add the chicken together with tomatoes in Step #2 and add the shrimp together with garlic and spices in Step #4.
• Can I make the sauce ahead of time?Yes, it stores well in the fridge. You can even freeze it if you'd like.
• Can I add wine?Yes, you can add about ¼ cup of white wine in Step #4.
• Can I make it creamy?Yes, I explain how to turn the tomato sauce into creamy sauce below. Scroll down.
• What other seasonings or ingredients can be used? Ithink a great addition is a touch of lemon juice at the end. Also, about ½ tsp. of oregano would be great as well.

What to serve with Angel Hair Pasta

You can serve this dish on its own. It makes a tasty and filling vegetarian/vegan dinner. It will also taste great with chicken, chicken piccata, Italian meatballs or turkey meatballs, seafood, steak, and roasted vegetables. Here are some of my favorite recipes:

• Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast
• Easy Chicken Kebabs
• Shrimp in Roasted Pepper Sauce
• Cajun Salmon
• Fajita Shrimp Recipe
• Healthy Cod Fish Skillet
• Roasted Zucchini Salad

How to make this recipe creamy

Did you know that you can make a CREAMY Angel Hair Pasta? It's very tasty as well. You'll just need to add about ⅓ cup of Half&Half (or full-fat coconut milk for the vegan option) at step #4. You can also add about ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese together with cream. I encourage you to try both the original recipe and the creamy version and pick a favorite. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this easy dinner recipe, friends! It can also serve as an amazing side dish. This is one of the most popular recipes on my site and for a good reason. The simple sauce is full of flavor and it takes minutes to get this pasta dinner on your table. If you want to turn it into creamy pasta recipe, it's easy to do so, as I explained above! Please, refer to the recipe card below for the nutrition info and full instructions.

More tasty pasta recipes:

• Tomato Mushroom Spinach Pasta
• Creamy Roasted Pepper Pasta
• Easy Broccoli Pasta
• Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic