Summer Heirloom Tomato & Basil Pasta

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 developed and reviewed.

A vibrant pasta dish featuring sun-ripened tomatoes and fresh basil, simmered to perfection in a light herb-infused sauce. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs spaghetti, olive oil, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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: 15 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil (use 1 tbsp salt), 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 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 medium finely diced yellow onion, and cook for 5-7 minutes until translucent and lightly golden.
  3. Step 3: Add 4 minced garlic cloves to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 3-4 minutes until they begin to release juices and soften.
  5. Step 5: Add 1/2 cup vegetable broth, 1 cup torn basil, and season with salt and pepper to taste; simmer for 5 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
  6. Step 6: Toss drained spaghetti into the skillet with reserved pasta water (2-3 tbsp at a time) until sauce clings evenly to the pasta.
  7. Step 7: Serve immediately, garnished with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

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