Description
Sweet, spicy, and full of comforting flavor, this Caramelized Onion Pasta with Chilli Oil is the ultimate easy dinner recipe. It’s made with just a few pantry staples and delivers restaurant-quality taste right at home. Whether you’re craving a quick dinner idea, a meatless meal, or a bold twist on classic pasta, this dish has you covered. Perfect for busy weeknights, cozy weekend cooking, or when you’re in need of simple food ideas with big flavor. A must-try for fans of healthy-ish comfort food, this recipe fits into easy recipe categories, dinner ideas, and even impressive last-minute meal planning.
Ingredients
200g spaghetti
3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp chilli oil (adjust to taste)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
1. Slice the onions thinly and add them to a wide skillet with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for 30–40 minutes until deeply caramelized.
2. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until just shy of al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta.
3. Once the onions are golden and jammy, reduce the heat and stir in the chilli oil. Let it warm through for about 30 seconds.
4. Add a splash of pasta water to the pan to begin forming a sauce. Stir to emulsify.
5. Toss in the drained pasta and mix everything over low heat, adding more pasta water until the sauce evenly coats the noodles.
6. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve topped with extra onions, parsley, and more chilli oil or red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
Use a wide pan for best caramelization and even heat distribution.
Make sure to taste your chilli oil before adding—it varies in spice and saltiness.
Don’t skip the pasta water—it helps create a luscious, glossy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 68g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: caramelized onion pasta, chilli oil pasta, easy dinner recipe, meatless pasta, spicy pasta, pantry meal