Speedy Creamy Tomato Pasta with Fresh Basil

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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.

Velvety tomato pasta sauce made from scratch in under 20 minutes, finished with fresh basil and Parmesan for a light yet satisfying weeknight dinner. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 30 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 450 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring 4 quarts salted water to a boil (add 1 tbsp salt). Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook 8-10 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, sautéing 1 minute until fragrant (do not brown).
  3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Add 28 oz crushed tomatoes and 1/2 tsp salt, simmering 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
  4. Step 4: Reduce heat to low. Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan until melted. Add drained spaghetti and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, tossing vigorously until sauce coats pasta and becomes glossy.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan and basil garnish.

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