Tomato-Basil Pasta with Fresh Basil and Parmesan

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-17 · Updated 2026-04-17

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.

Elegant pasta with vibrant tomato sauce and hand-chopped basil for a classic Italian finish. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs spaghetti, olive oil, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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: 25 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 480 cal/serving

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Ingredients

8 oz spaghetti
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves, minced garlic
28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup, chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup, grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

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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, reserving 1 cup pasta water before draining.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
Step 3: Add 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, then add drained spaghetti and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water. Toss for 2 minutes until sauce coats pasta evenly.