15-Minute Cherry Tomato Basil Pasta Recipe
This 15-Minute Cherry Tomato Basil Pasta is a quick, fresh, and flavorful dish perfect for busy weeknights. Featuring angel hair pasta tossed with sautéed garlic, juicy cherry tomatoes, and fragrant basil, it’s a simple yet elegant Italian-inspired meal that comes together in just minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 (1-pound) package of angel hair spaghetti
Sauce and Seasoning
- ¼ cup of olive oil
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 pints of cherry or grape tomatoes, cut into quarters
- 1 cup of chopped basil
- ½ teaspoon of salt
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook the angel hair spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Sauté garlic and tomatoes: Using the same pot over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the minced garlic and quartered cherry tomatoes, cooking for 2 to 3 minutes. Gently mash the tomatoes with the back of a spatula or wooden spoon to release their juices and create a light sauce.
- Combine ingredients: Stir in the chopped basil, salt, cooked pasta, and reserved pasta water into the pot. Toss everything gently to combine and heat through, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to slightly thicken.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to help loosen the sauce and help it cling to the pasta.
- Use fresh basil for the best flavor; dried basil won’t provide the same aroma or taste.
- You can add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick if desired.
- This dish pairs well with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese or toasted pine nuts for extra richness.
- To save time, prepare ingredients beforehand and have the sauce ready to go as soon as the pasta finishes cooking.
Keywords: cherry tomato pasta,basil pasta,quick pasta recipe,easy italian pasta,15-minute dinner,angel hair spaghetti
