One-Pot Creamy Tomato & Herb 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 comforting weeknight dinner with al dente pasta coated in a rich tomato-herb sauce, ready in 30 minutes with minimal cleanup. This Italian-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs spaghetti, olive oil, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 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 650 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 and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 small finely diced onion and sauté for 5 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
  4. Step 4: Pour in 28 oz can crushed tomatoes, then stir in 1 tsp dried oregano, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream and cook for 2 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Add drained spaghetti and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water 1 tbsp at a time until sauce coats pasta evenly.
  6. Step 6: Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Cook for 1 more minute until cheese melts and sauce glistens.

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