Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives, and Fresh Basil
Simple yet vibrant pasta tossed with sun-dried tomatoes, briny olives, and fresh basil in a light olive oil sauce. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs spaghetti, olive oil, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 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 olive oil
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 1/2 cup, pitted Kalamata olives
- 1/2 cup, drained and chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/4 cup, chopped fresh basil
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- to taste salt
- to taste pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- 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. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 3: Add 1/2 cup drained and chopped sun-dried tomatoes and 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Step 4: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet along with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil. Toss for 1 minute until sauce coats the pasta.
- Step 5: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.









