Best Quick Tomato Pasta

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A vibrant pasta dish with fresh tomatoes and basil, ready in 20 minutes — the best quick pasta for busy weeknights. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs Spaghetti, Olive oil, Garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 8 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: In a large skillet, heat 3 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant (do not brown).
  3. Step 3: Add 1.5 cups halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet, stirring to combine, and cook for 3-4 minutes until tomatoes soften and release juices.
  4. Step 4: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet, along with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and 1/2 tsp salt, tossing to coat the pasta in the sauce.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, tossing until the cheese melts and the sauce coats the pasta.
  6. Step 6: Adjust seasoning with additional salt and red pepper flakes if desired.

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