Sun-Ripened Tomato & Basil Pasta with Parmesan
A light, vibrant pasta dish featuring locally grown heirloom tomatoes and garden-fresh basil, finished with creamy Parmesan for a simple weeknight dinner. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 35 minutes, pairs dried spaghetti, heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil 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.
Ingredients
- 12 oz (340g) dried spaghetti
- 2 medium (300g), finely diced heirloom tomatoes
- 1/4 cup, plus 1 tbsp for garnish fresh basil
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
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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 well-salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to brown the garlic.
- Step 3: Add the finely diced heirloom tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes until they release juices and the mixture thickens slightly, stirring occasionally.
- Step 4: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet, tossing to coat. If too thick, add 2 tablespoons reserved pasta water until creamy. Stir in 1/4 cup fresh basil and season with sea salt and black pepper.
- Step 5: Divide among plates, top with additional basil and grated Parmesan cheese.









