Do you like pasta? Yes? Great. Now how about vegetables? Also yes? Awesome! Now take the two and combine them. Add a little bit of cheese (Parmesan or feta), maybe a little protein, and BOOM — Mediterranean Pasta! Just trust me when I say you are going to fall in love with this recipe!
Where The Inspiration Came From
The inspiration behind this dish is something I’ve wanted to share for quite some time now, and I finally get to tell it!
When I first made this dish, it wasn’t this exact recipe. I actually started with someone else’s version — long before I had much cooking experience, but when I already knew I loved being in the kitchen. At the time, I wasn’t even searching for Mediterranean pasta. I was looking up “healthy pasta dishes” because I wanted fresh, lighter meals my family and I could enjoy.
And let me tell you, that recipe delivered. It quickly became one of my favorite pasta meals, and over time, I experimented, changed ingredients, balanced flavors, and eventually… this version was born. Fresh, bright, and totally mine.
Protein Anyone?
Alright, meat lovers — this one’s for you! No, this recipe doesn’t require any meat, but if you’re someone who simply can’t eat a meal without a protein on the plate, don’t worry. You can easily add chicken, Italian sausage, shrimp, or anything you think pairs well. Honestly, even pepperoni could work!
Personally, I think this dish is perfect all on its own without meat, but that’s just me. Everyone has different tastes — especially the carnivores I know (and they know who they are).
Heat or No Heat?
Now let’s talk spice! If you’re like me and you see red pepper flakes in a recipe, you either:
- add one tiny shake
- carefully count out every flake (yes, I really do this), OR
- leave it out completely
But if you love heat, you probably do four or five shakes… or seven or eight… or however many your taste buds can handle. Either way, this pasta works perfectly with or without spice.
A fun fact about me:
I can’t handle heat. At all.
Even a tiny bit can ruin a dish for me. So I always adjust the heat level for people like me. But if you love spice, feel free to crank it up!
Let’s Talk Pasta
Okay, let’s discuss one of my favorite topics: pasta. This recipe calls for angel hair, but truly, you can use just about any pasta shape you love — and I don’t just mean spaghetti-like noodles. Spirals, tubes, bows… pasta has endless possibilities.
Some great options include:
- Fusilli (those tight spirals that catch sauce beautifully)
- Bucatini (spaghetti’s thicker, hollow cousin)
- Farfalle (sweet little bowties)
- Macaroni (everyone knows macaroni, right?)
You really can’t go wrong here. If it’s pasta, it will work!
Cozy Mediterranean Pasta
Ingredients:
- Kosher Salt for pasta water
- 8 oz. Angel Hair Pasta
- 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 cups Grape Tomatoes, halved
- 1 1/2 cans Sliced Olives
- 4 Cloves of Garlic, minced
- 3 Tbsp Italian Parsley, chopped
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- Small Pinch Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/4 cup Lemon Juice
- Lemon Zest, one whole lemon
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
Directions:
- Salt Water & Cook The Pasta
Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a generous amount of kosher salt.
Add the pasta and cook according to package directions.
Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. - Prep The Ingredients
While the pasta cooks, halve the grape tomatoes, drain the olives, and mince the garlic. - Build The Flavor
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant — don’t let it burn.
- Cook The Tomatoes & Olives
Add the tomatoes and olives.
Cook 5–8 minutes, until the tomatoes begin to soften and release their juices. - Bring It Together
Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Add the cooked pasta directly into the skillet and toss to coat.
Use splashes of pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. - Add Fresh Herbs & Cheese
Stir in the chopped parsley and half of the Parmesan cheese. - Adjust & Serve
Taste and adjust with more lemon juice, zest, or black pepper if needed.
Top with the remaining Parmesan and a sprinkling of parsley.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes & Tips
- Don’t Skip The Pasta Water
This dish is delicious, but it isn’t made with a heavy sauce — which means the pasta can clump together once it’s out of the pot. Adding even a small splash of pasta water makes a huge difference. It loosens the noodles, adds silkiness, and helps everything coat evenly. - Fresh Lemon Juice Vs. Bottled Lemon Juice
For the best flavor, use fresh lemon juice. Bottled lemon can taste dull or slightly bitter, while fresh lemon is bright, zesty, and perfectly balanced. It takes only a minute to squeeze a lemon, and the payoff is worth it. You won’t regret it! - Don’t Overcook The Tomatoes
Yes, tomatoes can be overcooked! If they cook too long, they turn mushy and lose their fresh texture. Keep an eye on them — you want them softened and juicy, not broken down into sauce. The goal is tender, not mushy.
What To Serve It With
This dish has so much going on that it may seem like it doesn’t need a side at all… but every legendary meal deserves a legendary side! Here are some delicious options to pair with your cozy Mediterranean pasta!
- Simple Side Salad
A simple side salad goes a long way with a dish like this. It adds freshness, extra color, and balances out the meal perfectly. If you need salad ideas, check out my Simple Side Salad post here. - Roasted Vegetables
Roasted veggies are another great companion. They add flavor, color, and even more texture. Asparagus or broccoli can easily take this dish from a 7 to a 10! For inspiration, try my Simple & Savory Roasted Asparagus recipe here. - Bread
Garlic bread, garlic knots, bruschetta… the list goes on (and yes, store-bought counts — zero judgment here!). Bread is a fantastic side because not only does it belong, but you can use it to scoop up all those flavorful leftover tomatoes and olives on your plate. A win-win!
There’s something special about a dish that’s both comforting and fresh, and this Mediterranean pasta nails it. Play with the flavors, add a little twist, make it cozy in your own way — that’s half the fun! However you choose to enjoy it, I hope it brings you as much joy as it brings to my kitchen.
Until Next Time…
Stay Saucy
Hailey🍝
Pasta-tively Delicious 
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