Slow-Cooked Tomato-Basil Pasta with Fresh Basil

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-13 · Updated 2026-04-13

A comforting pasta dish where ripe tomatoes simmer slowly with garlic and fresh herbs until deeply flavored, then tossed with al dente pasta. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 50 minutes pairs spaghetti, olive oil, medium diced onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 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
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium diced onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup fresh basil
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup reserved pasta water

Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of heavily 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 3 tbsp olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 medium diced onion and 4 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 3 minutes until softened and translucent — do not brown.
3. Step 3: Stir in 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes, 1/4 cup fresh basil, 1 tsp kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Simmer uncovered for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes break down and sauce thickens slightly.
4. Step 4: Add the drained spaghetti and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water to the saucepan. Toss vigorously for 2 minutes over medium heat until the sauce coats each strand and reaches desired consistency.