Four-Ingredient Rustic Tomato and Basil 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 simple yet flavorful pasta dish combining ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil to create a fresh Italian classic. This Italian pasta recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs spaghetti, ripe plum tomatoes, chopped, and garlic cloves, thinly sliced for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 380 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 "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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: 15 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 380 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 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 thinly sliced garlic cloves and sauté gently for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Add 4 medium chopped ripe plum tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes if using. Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally until the tomatoes break down into a chunky sauce.
  4. Step 4: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet along with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and 1/2 cup torn fresh basil leaves. Toss vigorously for 1-2 minutes until the sauce coats the pasta and the basil wilts slightly. Serve immediately.

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