Aperol-Infused Tomato Pasta with Fresh Basil
A vibrant Italian pasta dish where Aperol's bittersweet citrus notes elevate a simple tomato sauce, finished with fresh basil and Parmesan. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs pasta, olive oil, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti pasta
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1.5 tbsp Aperol
- 1/4 cup, finely chopped fresh basil
- 1/2 cup, grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 3: Stir in 28 oz diced tomatoes and 1.5 tbsp Aperol, simmering for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 4: Add 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper to the sauce, then stir in 1/4 cup chopped basil and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan until melted and creamy.
- Step 5: Toss the drained spaghetti with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water 1 tablespoon at a time until the sauce clings evenly to the pasta.








