Triweekly Lemon Basil Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-27 · Updated 2026-04-27

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.

Bright and fresh pasta tossed in a lemon-basil sauce with sweet cherry tomatoes, ideal for a triweekly light dinner. This Italian-inspired meal-prep recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs spaghetti, olive oil, garlic cloves 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz spaghetti
3 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
2 cups, halved cherry tomatoes
1 tbsp lemon zest
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup, chopped fresh basil leaves
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup grated, optional Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain the rest.
Step 2: In a large skillet, heat 3 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 3: Add 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes until they soften and release juices. Stir in 1 tbsp lemon zest and 2 tbsp lemon juice.
Step 4: Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Toss well with 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper until the sauce coats the pasta.
Step 5: Remove from heat and sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese if desired before serving this bright lemon basil pasta.