One-Pot Garlic Butter Penne with Cherry Tomatoes
A quick and easy pasta dish featuring tender penne tossed in a garlic butter sauce with juicy cherry tomatoes and fresh basil. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 20 minutes, pairs penne pasta, unsalted butter, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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 penne pasta
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 2 cups, halved cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup, chopped fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 4 cups water
The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Pans + Buying Guide
Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →
Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large deep skillet, melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter over medium heat until foaming. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 2: Add 12 oz penne pasta, 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes, 4 cups water, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the skillet. Stir to combine and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 12-14 minutes until the pasta is tender and the water has mostly evaporated.
- Step 4: Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves until melted and well combined. Serve immediately.









