One-Pan Tomato Basil Pasta – Fresh & Flavorful in 30 Minutes
🍝 One-Pan Tomato Basil Pasta Recipe
A simple, fresh, and flavorful pasta dish made with ripe tomatoes, fragrant basil, and perfectly cooked pasta — all in one pan! Ready in under 30 minutes.
🍽 Ingredients (Serves 2–3):
- 8 oz (220g) spaghetti or penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (or diced ripe tomatoes)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn or chopped
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 2–3 tablespoons pasta cooking water (to loosen the sauce)
🍳 Instructions:
1. Cook the Pasta
- In a large skillet or wide pan, bring about 4 cups of water to a boil.
- Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 2–3 tablespoons of the starchy pasta water before draining.
2. Sauté Garlic & Tomatoes
- In the same pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant (don’t let it brown).
- Add the cherry tomatoes (and sugar if needed). Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook for 5–7 minutes until the tomatoes soften and start to break down into a chunky sauce.
3. Combine Everything
- Return the cooked pasta to the pan.
- Toss everything together, adding a few tablespoons of pasta water to help coat the pasta in the tomato-garlic mixture.
4. Stir in Basil & Serve
- Off the heat, stir in fresh basil leaves and Parmesan cheese if using.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
5. Serve Hot
- Transfer to serving plates and enjoy your quick and delicious one-pan pasta!
✅ Tips:
- Add mozzarella at the end for a Caprese-style twist.
- Toss in some cooked shrimp or grilled chicken for extra protein.
- Use fresh herbs like parsley or oregano if you’re out of basil.
