One-Pan Tomato Basil Pasta with Fresh Herbs

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 developed and reviewed.

Simple pasta tossed in a vibrant tomato-basil sauce with garlic and lemon, ready in 30 minutes with minimal cleanup. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs spaghetti, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 480 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, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, avoiding browning.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp sea salt, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Simmer for 5 minutes, then stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil and 1 tsp lemon zest.
  4. Step 4: Add drained spaghetti to the skillet along with 1/4 cup reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously for 2 minutes until sauce coats pasta evenly and thickens slightly.

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