Western
Quick Garlic Onion Pasta with Mozzarella
A super fast pasta dish focusing on garlic and onion flavors, elevated by melted mozzarella. Perfect for when you need dinner in a hurry.
About this recipe
Quick Garlic Onion Pasta with Mozzarella is a western dinner for 2 that is a fast, high-heat stir-fry — have everything chopped before the wok gets hot., and it takes around 20 min start to finish. We sized it for a small household and ranked it on OneToCook by how much of it you already have in the fridge.
Good to know
* Dietary flags are derived from the listed ingredients — always check labels and your own needs for allergens.
Ingredients
- 300g cooked pasta
- 80g mozzarella
- 1/2 medium onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
Equipment
Method
- 1
Finely chop the onion and minceMince.Cut very finely (releases stronger flavour, but burns faster).Glossary → the garlic.
~3 min
- 2
Heat 1 tbsp cooking oil and 1 tbsp olive oil in the frying pan/wok over medium heat (setting 5/9). SautéSauté.Cook quickly in a little fat over medium-high heat, keeping the food moving.Glossary → the chopped onion until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
~7 min
- 3
Add the mincedMince.Cut very finely (releases stronger flavour, but burns faster).Glossary → garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
~2 min
- 4
Add the cooked pasta to the pan along with the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss well to coat the pasta.
~3 min
- 5
Add the mozzarella cheese to the pan. Stir gently until the cheese is mostly melted and coats the pasta. If it's too dry, add a splash of water or milk (if you have it).
~5 min
- 6
Serve immediately.
Smart swaps
Out of something? Try one of these.
- Garlic
- garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push.
Cook's notes
- Smash each clove with the flat of your knife first — the skin slips off and it minces in seconds. How to mince garlic →
- Dice the onion before anything heats up so it’s ready when the pan is — a even dice cooks evenly. How to dice an onion →
Storage & leftovers
Cool, then store airtight in the fridge for up to 2–3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout; add a splash of water if it has dried out.
Frequently asked
How long does Quick Garlic Onion Pasta with Mozzarella take to make? +
Around 20 min from start to finish, almost all of it hands-on.
How many people does this recipe serve? +
As written it serves 2. To cook for 4, roughly multiply the ingredients — but cook in batches if the pan gets crowded, so things sear instead of steaming.
What equipment do I need? +
You’ll want: pot, frying pan / wok. OneToCook only suggests recipes that fit the equipment you tell it you have, so you can filter these out if your kitchen is more minimal.
What can I use if I'm missing an ingredient? +
Common swaps for this dish: Garlic → garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push. See the full list of smart swaps above.
Can I make Quick Garlic Onion Pasta with Mozzarella ahead of time? +
Cool, then store airtight in the fridge for up to 2–3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout; add a splash of water if it has dried out.
More Western recipes
Western
Garlic Butter Spaghetti
Pantry pasta at its best — garlic, butter and a little chilli in 15 minutes, one pot.
Western
Cheesy Egg Toast
Crispy buttered toast, melty cheese and a soft egg — the 8-minute fridge breakfast-for-dinner.
Western
Tuna Tomato Pasta
Store-cupboard hero — canned tuna and tomato into a quick, savoury pasta sauce.