Easy Mushroom Garlic Spaghetti Recipe
This Easy Mushroom Garlic Spaghetti is a simple, flavorful pasta dish featuring tender cremini mushrooms sautéed with garlic and tossed with whole wheat spaghetti, Pecorino Romano cheese, and fresh parsley. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal, it offers a creamy texture thanks to reserved pasta water and a delightful umami boost from the mushrooms.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 12 ounces spaghetti, whole wheat or your favorite brand
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 4–6 garlic cloves, chopped
- Kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese, plus more for serving
- 2–3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook 12 ounces of spaghetti according to package directions. When the pasta is done, reserve 2/3 cup of the pasta water before draining the noodles.
- Sauté mushrooms: While the pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 pound of sliced cremini mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes until the mushrooms are tender and browned.
- Add garlic and season: Stir in 4-6 chopped garlic cloves and season with a pinch of kosher salt and ground pepper. Cook for 1 more minute to let the garlic release its fragrance.
- Toss pasta and cheese: With the skillet still on heat, add the drained spaghetti, 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese, and the reserved pasta water. Use tongs to toss everything together well, allowing the starchy water and cheese to form a creamy sauce that coats the pasta.
- Finish with parsley and serve: Stir in 2-3 tablespoons of coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves. Serve immediately with additional Pecorino Romano cheese if desired.
Notes
- Don’t forget to reserve the pasta water! It contains starch that helps thicken the sauce and create a creamy texture.
- Using fresh sliced mushrooms is preferable to canned for better flavor and texture. Pre-sliced mushrooms save prep time.
- Long pasta noodles like spaghetti work best so the sauce clings well and flavors infuse thoroughly.
- Pecorino Romano cheese offers a more robust flavor than Parmesan and is recommended for this dish.
- Store leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Keywords: Mushroom garlic spaghetti, easy pasta recipe, cremini mushrooms, Pecorino Romano pasta, vegetarian spaghetti
