15-Minute Cherry Tomato Basil Pasta Recipe
A quick and fresh 15-minute Cherry Tomato Basil Pasta featuring tender angel hair spaghetti tossed with garlicky cherry tomatoes and fragrant basil, perfect for a light and flavorful weeknight meal.
- 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
- 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 half a cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Prepare the tomato sauce: Using the same pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and quartered cherry tomatoes, cooking for 2 to 3 minutes. Gently mash the tomatoes using the back of a spatula or wooden spoon to release their juices and create a slightly chunky sauce.
- Combine ingredients: Stir in the chopped basil, salt, cooked pasta, and the reserved pasta water into the tomato mixture. Toss gently until everything is well combined and the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency and help the sauce cling to the pasta better.
- Use fresh basil for the best flavor; dried basil won’t provide the same aromatic freshness.
- Angel hair pasta cooks very quickly, so watch it carefully to avoid overcooking.
- You can substitute cherry tomatoes with grape tomatoes if preferred.
- For a spicier kick, add red pepper flakes when sautéing garlic.
Keywords: Cherry Tomato Basil Pasta, Quick Pasta Recipe, 15-Minute Pasta, Easy Italian Pasta, Angel Hair Pasta Recipe
