Spaghetti with the Best Homemade Marinara

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-05 · Updated 2026-04-05

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Classic Italian pasta with a vibrant, slow-simmered tomato sauce that’s bursting with fresh herbs and garlic, perfect for weeknight dinners. This Italian pasta recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs Spaghetti, Olive oil, and Garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner. 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 "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 35 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 520 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz Spaghetti
3 tbsp Olive oil
4 cloves Garlic, minced
28 oz Canned tomatoes, crushed
1 tsp Dried oregano
1/4 cup Fresh basil, chopped
1/4 tsp Red pepper flakes
1 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

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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, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant (do not brown).
Step 3: Stir in 28 oz crushed canned tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil. Simmer uncovered for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened and glossy.
Step 4: Add drained spaghetti to the saucepan along with 2 tbsp reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously over medium heat for 1 minute until sauce clings to pasta. Stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.