Sun-Kissed Tomato Basil Pasta with Garlic Croutons

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, restaurant-quality pasta dish featuring ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and crispy garlic toasts that elevate simple ingredients into a showstopper. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs Spaghetti, Ripe tomatoes, Fresh basil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. 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 "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: 20 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, 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 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Add 2 cups diced tomatoes to the skillet and simmer for 5 minutes until slightly reduced and juicy, stirring occasionally.
  4. Step 4: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with 1/4 cup reserved pasta water, tossing to coat. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped basil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta.
  5. Step 5: Transfer to a serving dish, top with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, and sprinkle with 1/2 cup homemade croutons for crunch.

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