Ultra-Quick Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-22 · Updated 2026-04-22

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 drafted and published.

A light, fresh pasta dish ready in 17 minutes, featuring sweet cherry tomatoes and aromatic garlic in a simple olive oil base. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 17 minutes, pairs spaghetti, cherry tomatoes, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 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: 5 min Cook: 12 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 380 cal/serving

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Ingredients

8 oz spaghetti
1 cup, halved cherry tomatoes
3 cloves, minced garlic
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp, chopped fresh basil
1/2 tsp salt

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Instructions

Step 1: Bring 4 quarts of salted water to a boil in a large pot. Add spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
Step 3: Add cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes until slightly softened. Toss in drained spaghetti, 2 tbsp reserved pasta water, and fresh basil. Cook for 1 minute until sauce coats pasta.