Sun-Ripened Tomato and Basil Pasta
Simple spaghetti tossed with sweet cherry tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil in a light olive oil sauce, ready in 25 minutes. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs Spaghetti, Cherry tomatoes, Garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 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.
Ingredients
- 8 oz Spaghetti
- 2 cups Cherry tomatoes
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 3 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup Fresh basil
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 8 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 3: Add 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes break down and release juices.
- Step 4: Add drained spaghetti to the skillet with 1/4 cup reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously for 2 minutes until sauce clings to pasta, then stir in 1/4 cup chopped basil and 1/2 tsp salt. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese and toss again.









