Tomato-Basil Pasta with Ricotta
A vibrant pasta dish with sun-ripened tomatoes, fresh basil, and creamy ricotta for a balanced Mediterranean flavor. This Mediterranean recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs pasta, tomatoes, garlic 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 (spaghetti or penne) pasta
- 4 medium (chopped) tomatoes
- 3 cloves (minced) garlic
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup (fresh, chopped) basil
- 1 cup (fresh) ricotta
- 1/4 cup (grated) parmesan
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide
Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →
Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Step 2: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté garlic until fragrant, then add tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.
- Step 3: Cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes break down into a chunky sauce.
- Step 4: In a bowl, mix ricotta, parmesan, basil, salt, and pepper. Fold into the pasta and tomato sauce. Serve warm.
