Sun-Drenched Tomato Basil Pasta with Crispy Garlic

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.

A vibrant weeknight pasta featuring a simple tomato sauce bursting with fresh basil and golden garlic, finished with a sprinkle of Parmesan for creamy perfection. This Italian quick recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 40 minutes, pairs spaghetti, extra-virgin olive oil, and garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner. Each serving lands at about 620 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: 15 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 620 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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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, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 thinly sliced garlic cloves and cook for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
  3. Step 3: Add 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes, 1/2 tsp kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes to the skillet. Simmer uncovered for 8 minutes until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
  4. Step 4: Add 1/4 cup packed fresh basil to the sauce and stir until wilted. Toss in drained spaghetti, adding reserved pasta water 1 tbsp at a time until sauce coats strands evenly.
  5. Step 5: Season with 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, sprinkle with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, and serve immediately.

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