Simple Tomato Basil Pasta
A classic pasta dish made with canned tomatoes and fresh herbs for a restaurant-quality meal in 20 minutes. This Italian-inspired quick recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs dried spaghetti, olive oil, crushed tomatoes for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 190 calories and feeds 2, 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
- 2 oz (56g) dried spaghetti
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp, finely chopped fresh basil
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- pinch salt
- pinch black pepper
- 1/4 cup, grated (optional) parmesan cheese
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: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 2 oz dried spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/4 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes and 1/4 tsp dried oregano, and simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened and fragrant.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh basil, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Add the drained spaghetti and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water, and toss until sauce coats the pasta evenly. Serve with 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (if using).
