Spanish Spaghetti with Olives: An Easy & Flavorful Mediterranean Twist for Weeknight Dinners
Spanish Spaghetti with Olives – a captivating Spanish twist on your classic spaghetti with meat sauce! This quick, easy, and incredibly flavorful dinner is sure to become a beloved family favorite, bringing a taste of the Mediterranean to your table.
Spaghetti is an undisputed champion of weeknight dinners, a universally loved meal that graces tables worldwide. Its comforting appeal and endless versatility make it a staple in countless households. Sometimes, we embark on an elaborate culinary journey, crafting a rich, homemade sauce from scratch over several hours. Other times, life simply gets in the way, and we lean on efficient solutions like a One-Pan Spaghetti recipe, where every ingredient melds together beautifully in just 20 minutes. This recipe, however, offers a delightful departure from the norm, introducing a vibrant Spanish flair to a familiar dish.
This particular rendition offers a fun and exciting twist, infusing your traditional spaghetti with distinctly different, yet wonderfully harmonious, flavors. I vividly recall my mother making a similar dish during my childhood, always featuring black olives. While this recipe leans into the bright, briny notes of green olives, black olives would indeed be a fantastic alternative if that’s your preference, lending a slightly milder, earthier tone to the finished dish. The beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability and its ability to transport your taste buds to the sun-drenched coasts of Spain.
Olives are undeniably one of those ingredients that tend to divide opinion – people either passionately love them or prefer to steer clear. It’s a fascinating culinary paradox! My own husband, for instance, isn’t typically an olive enthusiast when presented with them plain. Yet, surprisingly, when these briny gems are finely chopped and thoroughly mixed into a rich, savory pasta sauce, he thoroughly enjoys them. This dish perfectly illustrates how olives, when integrated thoughtfully, can transform a meal. They contribute a unique salty depth and a delightful textural counterpoint that elevates this spaghetti from merely good to absolutely delicious. The burst of flavor from each olive piece cuts through the richness of the meat sauce, creating a beautifully balanced and incredibly satisfying eating experience.
Why You’ll Love This Spanish Spaghetti Recipe
There are countless reasons to add this Spanish Spaghetti with Olives to your regular dinner rotation. It’s an innovative yet approachable way to jazz up a classic, offering a fresh perspective on a beloved dish. The combination of savory ground beef, aromatic spices like oregano and paprika, a hint of red wine, and the distinctive flavor of green olives creates a rich, complex sauce that’s both comforting and exciting. It’s surprisingly quick to prepare, making it ideal for busy weeknights when you crave something special without spending hours in the kitchen. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to introduce new flavors to your family, proving that a little twist can go a long way in making mealtime memorable.
Essential Ingredients for Spanish Spaghetti
Crafting this flavorful Spanish spaghetti requires a handful of common pantry staples and a few star ingredients that lend it its signature taste. Each component plays a crucial role in building the layers of flavor that make this dish so irresistible.
- Dried Spaghetti: The foundation of our dish. Any long pasta will work, but classic spaghetti is perfect for holding the rich sauce.
- Olive Oil: Essential for sautéing and building the aromatic base, imparting a light, fruity undertone.
- Onion: Finely chopped, it provides a sweet and savory base as it caramelizes.
- Garlic: Minced fresh garlic is indispensable for that pungent, aromatic kick that defines many Mediterranean dishes.
- Dried Oregano: A staple herb that brings warm, earthy, and slightly bitter notes, quintessential to Spanish and Italian cooking.
- Paprika: The secret weapon for Spanish flavor! Sweet paprika adds a vibrant color and a mild, peppery warmth without heat.
- Ground Beef: Lean ground beef forms the hearty core of the meat sauce, absorbing all the wonderful flavors.
- Red Wine: A splash of dry red wine deglazes the pan, adding depth and a subtle complexity to the sauce.
- Pasta Sauce: A good quality jarred pasta sauce provides a convenient and robust tomato base.
- Green Olives: The star of the show! Roughly chopped green olives infuse the sauce with their distinctive briny, tangy, and slightly fruity flavor.
- Parsley: Freshly chopped parsley is used as a garnish, adding a burst of freshness and color.
- Salt & Pepper: To season the dish to perfection, enhancing all the natural flavors.
Crafting Your Delicious Spanish Spaghetti: Step-by-Step Guide
Preparing this Spanish Spaghetti is a straightforward process, designed for efficiency without compromising on flavor. Follow these simple steps to bring this delightful dish to life in your kitchen:
- Cook the Spaghetti: Begin by bringing a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Once boiling, add your dried spaghetti and cook according to the package instructions until it’s al dente – tender but still firm to the bite. Drain well and set aside, reserving a little pasta water if you like for thinning the sauce later.
- Sauté Aromatics: While your pasta cooks, heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the finely chopped onions and sauté for 3-5 minutes until they become translucent and softened. Next, stir in the minced garlic and cook for just about one minute more, or until you can distinctly smell its fragrant aroma. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can turn bitter quickly.
- Season and Brown Beef: Into the skillet, mix the dried oregano and paprika, stirring them for about 30 seconds to allow their flavors to bloom in the hot oil. Then, add the ground beef to the pan, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Continue cooking until the beef is thoroughly browned. Once cooked, if there’s any excess grease, carefully drain it away to prevent the sauce from becoming too oily.
- Deglaze with Wine: Pour the red wine into the skillet with the browned beef and aromatics. Bring it to a simmer and cook for approximately 2-3 minutes. This step allows the alcohol to evaporate, leaving behind a concentrated, rich flavor that deglazes the pan, lifting any flavorful browned bits from the bottom.
- Simmer the Sauce: Stir in the chopped green olives and the jarred pasta sauce. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for about 10 minutes. This simmering time allows all the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a harmonious and robust sauce.
- Season to Taste: Taste the sauce and season it generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper as desired. Remember that olives are salty, so adjust your salt addition accordingly.
- Combine and Serve: Finally, add the cooked and drained spaghetti directly into the skillet with the Spanish-inspired meat sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is thoroughly coated. Serve immediately, garnished with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley for a bright finish.
Choosing the Right Red Wine for Your Sauce
The addition of red wine to this spaghetti sauce is subtle but impactful, contributing depth and a touch of sophistication. You really can use any dry red wine you have on hand – the key is “dry.” Avoid anything overly sweet or fruity, as those flavors can clash with the savory profile of the dish. Good options include a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, or even a Chianti. Because you’re using such a small amount (just 1/4 cup), it’s perfectly fine to open a bottle solely for this recipe if you plan to enjoy the rest of the wine with your meal. However, if you prefer not to open a whole bottle, or if you’re cooking for someone who avoids alcohol, a little beef broth makes an excellent substitute. It will still provide a savory liquid base to deglaze the pan and enhance the overall richness of the sauce, ensuring your Spanish Spaghetti remains delicious and satisfying.
Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Spanish Spaghetti
This flavorful Spanish Spaghetti with Olives is a meal in itself, but pairing it with a few simple sides can elevate your dining experience. The rich, savory, and briny notes of the pasta are beautifully complemented by fresh, crisp elements or warm, crusty additions.
- A Light Side Salad: A fresh, crisp green salad with a simple vinaigrette is the perfect counterpoint to the rich pasta. It adds a refreshing crunch and a touch of acidity that cleanses the palate.
- Crispy Garlic Bread: No spaghetti dinner is truly complete without some warm, buttery garlic bread. Our Air Fryer Garlic Bread recipe offers a quick and easy way to get that perfect golden crust, ideal for soaking up every last drop of the delicious sauce.
- Steamed Green Vegetables: A side of steamed broccoli or green beans lightly seasoned with salt and pepper can add a healthy and vibrant element to your meal.
Creative Ways to Use Leftover Olives
If you find yourself with extra green olives after making this delicious spaghetti, don’t let them go to waste! Olives are incredibly versatile and can add a burst of flavor to many other dishes. Here are some fantastic ideas to incorporate those briny beauties:
- Lemon Chicken Skillet with Artichokes: Olives would be a brilliant addition to this Mediterranean-inspired chicken dish, adding a salty kick alongside the bright lemon and tender artichokes.
- Greek Pasta Salad: A natural fit! Toss them into a vibrant Greek pasta salad with feta, cucumbers, tomatoes, and a tangy dressing for a refreshing side or light meal.
- No-Knead Olive Bread: Bake them into a rustic loaf of bread for a delightful aroma and bursts of savory flavor in every bite.
- Cheesy Green Olive Dip: Combine them with cheese and other savory ingredients for a crowd-pleasing dip perfect for entertaining.
- Garlic Olive Cheese Bread: Spread them over cheesy garlic bread before baking for an extra layer of salty, savory goodness.
Discover More Easy & Delicious Dinner Recipes
If you loved the ease and flavor of this Spanish Spaghetti, you’re in for a treat! Our site is brimming with simple yet satisfying dinner ideas that cater to all tastes and schedules. Whether you’re looking for quick weeknight solutions or something special for the weekend, we have you covered. Explore some of our other popular and easy-to-make recipes:
- Caprese Pasta Salad
- Pan Seared Salmon
- Arby’s Beef & Cheddar (Homemade Version)
- Chile Relleno Casserole
- Old-Fashioned Goulash
- Chicken Chorizo Pasta
- Philly Cheesesteak Pizza
- Smothered Burrito
Spanish Spaghetti with Olives
Ingredients
- 12 oz thin spaghetti
- 2 Tablespoons 0live oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup red wine
- 1 24oz jar pasta sauce
- 1 5.75 jar green olives, roughly chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil, and cook pasta according to the package directions.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add onions, and sauté for 3-5 minutes, until soft. Stir in garlic, and cook for about 1 minute.
- Add oregano and paprika; stirring to combine.
- Add the ground beef to the pan, breaking apart, and cooking until browned.
- Pour in red wine, and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add olives and pasta sauce and stir to combine. Let simmer for 10 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Drain pasta and toss with sauce to coat.
- Sprinkle with parsley to serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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