One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
Fresh tomato and basil pasta simmered in a single pot for a simple, flavorful weeknight dinner. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs spaghetti, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic 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 spaghetti
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 28 oz, undrained diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup, chopped fresh basil
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 3: Stir in 28 oz diced tomatoes (undrained) and 1 tsp salt. Simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Step 4: Add drained spaghetti to skillet with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and 1/4 cup chopped basil. Toss for 2 minutes until sauce coats pasta and thickens.








