This Dirty Martini Pasta inspired by the classic cocktail boasts briny, salty, and zesty flavors that make this pasta dish a great 15-minute dinner option! Even if you’re not a huge olive fan, I encourage you to give this a try; it’s the perfect dish to start the weekend with!
Dirty Martini Pasta Is Going Viral!
I immediately stopped my scroll when I came across Dirty Martini Pasta on TikTok! Since I’m a big fan of my Best Penne Alla Vodka Sauce, I knew I’d LOVE this Dirty Martini Pasta that’s made with Gin.
I made a few recipe tweaks from the original recipe by Emily from LegallyHealthyBlonde to get the dish exactly how I like it!
We use more olives, garlic paste, finer lemon zest, a little more pasta, more butter, and more brine! This dish reminds me of a more earthy version of my Spaghetti Limone!
It’s deliciously buttery, briny, and salty, making you realize exactly why it went viral on the popular social media app!
Dirty Martini Pasta Ingredients
- Spaghetti
- Olive oil
- Chopped Castelvetrano olives
- Garlic paste
- Lemon zest
- Gin (or vodka is fine, too)
- Salted butter
- Olive brine
- Reserved pasta water
- Sea salt
- Cracked black pepper
- Blue cheese or feta cheese
- Fresh parsley
Though this pasta version of a dirty martini has a few more ingredients than the cocktail, I promise that you’ll love it just as much! Especially since it’s made just as easily as assembling the cocktail!
This pasta recipe mirrors the classic cocktail; it’s made with similar ingredients such as gin, olive brine, and Castelvetrano olives. The flavor then builds with the addition of butter, garlic paste, and lemon zest and is then topped with blue or feta cheese!
Dirty Martini Pasta Substitutions & Variations
- Olives – This dish can be made with manzanilla olives instead of Castelvetrano if you’d like.
- Pasta – This Dirty Martini Pasta Recipe can be made with any pasta. I find that spaghetti, linguine fini, bucatini, or angel hair are the best options because the olives and cheese get twirled up in it for each bite.
- Cheese – Parmesan cheese or goat cheese can be used instead of blue or feta cheese. You can also omit the cheese altogether if you follow a vegan diet!
- Gin – Just like when ordering a Dirty Martini Cocktail, you can use Gin or vodka in this pasta version. Though I do think Gin adds a bit more flavor! However, alcohol can even be left out of the recipe altogether as well.
- Cream Sauce Variation – To enjoy this with a cream sauce, add 1/3 cup of heavy cream.
How To Make TikTok Dirty Martini Pasta
Please note that a double batch of this pasta is shown in the photos below. I wrote the recipe with the idea of a 2 person serving for a date night, but you can easily double it in a regular skillet for a family!
Step 1: Cook the noodles in a large pot of salted water until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve a portion of the pasta water and set it aside before draining the spaghetti.
Step 2: While the pasta cooks, add olive oil and chopped Castelvetrano pitted olives to a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.
Step 3: Add garlic paste and lemon zest to the skillet of olives and cook while constantly stirring.
Step 4: Pour in the gin and cook until almost completely evaporated.
Step 5: Add in the salted butter and stir until it becomes fully melted.
Step 6: Add the drained pasta along with the olive brine and reserved pasta water. Stir constantly to allow the dirty martini pasta sauce to emulsify and become almost creamy.
Step 7: Sprinkle Sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
Step 8: Serve with additional crushed and chopped olives, blue or feta cheese, and minced fresh parsley.
How To Serve Dirty Martini Pasta
This Dirty Martini Pasta can be enjoyed as the main dish with a slice of Parmesan Garlic Bread and a side salad filled with fresh veggies. You can also serve this pasta alongside a juicy steak, grilled chicken breast, or even shrimp!
And, of course, don’t forget to sip an actual Dirty Martini with it! I recommend this Dirty Smoked Martini!
How To Store TikTok Dirty Martini Pasta
Once completely cooled, any leftover Dirty Martini Pasta can be stored in an airtight container. Enjoy the leftovers for up to 4 days!
To reheat, add olive oil and the leftover pasta to a skillet or pan and heat over medium heat. Stir and cook until the pasta is thoroughly heated. Leftovers can also be heated in the microwave.
Dirty Martini Pasta FAQs
Are Dirty Martinis Made with Gin or Vodka?
Dirty Martinis are traditionally made with gin; however, they’re also very commonly made with vodka. Both options do a great job in the cocktail as well as in this pasta recipe!
Can I Make this Dirty Martini Pasta without Alcohol?
Absolutely! This dish will still be super delicious without alcohol. Just skip that step entirely and move to the next!
What are Castelvetrano Olives?
Castelvetrano olives are tender, crisp olives that are green in color with a mild, rich, and buttery flavor! These olives, which are also known as Nocellara del Belice, are grown in Sicily and harvested young.
Once they’re harvested, they skip curing and instead are washed until their bitter flavor has been removed.
Can I use Gluten-Free Pasta when Making this Pasta Recipe?
Yes, feel free to use gluten-free pasta to make this Dirty Martini Pasta.
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If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review. I love hearing from you!
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TikTok Dirty Martini Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup chopped castelvatrano pitted olives about 18 olives, plus extra for garnish
- 2 tablespoons garlic paste
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest about 1 small lemon worth
- 1 ounce gin
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 ounces olive brine
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water
- sea salt to taste
- cracked black pepper to taste
- blue or feta cheese for serving
- minced fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook 8 ounces spaghetti in a pot of salted water according to package directions for al dente – reserve ¼ cup of pasta water and set aside before draining the spaghetti.
- While the pasta cooks, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and ½ cup chopped castelvatrano pitted olives to a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat for 4 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add 2 tablespoons garlic paste and 2 teaspoons lemon zest to the skillet and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Add in 1 ounce gin and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until almost completely evaporated.
- Add 2 tablespoons salted butter and stir until fully melted. Then add the drained pasta along with 3 ounces olive brine and ¼ cup reserved pasta water and stir vigorously so the sauce emlusifies and becomes almost creamy.
- Add sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
- Serve with a few additional crushed and chopped olives, blue or feta cheese, and minced fresh parsley .
Video
Notes
- You can use any pasta to make this recipe, but we thought spaghetti or linguine fini worked best.
- If you don’t like blue or feta cheese, Parmesan could also be used.
- 1/3 cup of heavy cream may be added for those who prefer a cream sauce.
Nutrition
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