Tomato and Corn Pasta with Basil and Garlic
A bright and summery pasta dish featuring sweet corn and juicy tomatoes tossed with garlic and fresh basil for a light, satisfying meal. This Italian-inspired summer cookout recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs penne pasta, fresh corn kernels, cherry tomatoes for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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 penne pasta
- 1 1/2 cups (from about 3 ears) fresh corn kernels
- 2 cups, halved cherry tomatoes
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3, thinly sliced garlic cloves
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup, torn fresh basil leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup, plus more to serve grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp, freshly squeezed lemon juice
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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 boil. Add 12 oz penne pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 3: Add 1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels and 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes until tomatoes soften and corn is tender.
- Step 4: Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 1/2 cup torn fresh basil leaves. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Step 5: Serve immediately with extra grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top to highlight the fresh summer flavors.









