Tomato Basil Pasta

Farmer's market ripe tomatoes, sweet Italian basil, garlic and freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese make up this fantastic Tomato Basil Pasta recipe.

It’s light and fresh and on the table in less than 30 minutes,plus this Tomato Basil Pasta dinner is perfect for busy schedules and those who prefer a lighter meal.

Change the recipe up by adding leftover meat from previous dinners during the week or leftover pasta marinara sauce but if you want a true tomato basil pasta dish, the simplicity in this recipe is super delicious.

Of course, for those who love a traditional meat tomato sauce, or even an alfredo sauce, you can adapt this recipe and it will still taste marvelous.

We will add some suggestions below to make this dinner different every time you make it and no one won't know about our secret basic recipe sauce

All you need is your favorite pasta and a few simple pantry ingredients kept on hand and this will be a winner in your home for all your pasta lovers out there.

Scroll down to see our simple printable recipe with step-by-step instructions at the bottom o this page if you would like to skip all the tips and suggestions we added.

Why Should You Try This Recipe for Tomato Basil Pasta?

1. First of all, if you have a busy schedule and don't have time to cook, this pasta recipe will be the easiest, tastiest, and quickest, plus these fresh flavors combined make every a pretty plate to serve,
2. Pasta can be stored for a very long time in the pantry, and in this recipe, you can substitute any pasta you have on hand.
3. This pasta recipe is a lighter meal and perfect all year round, but especially in warmer weather.
4. The additions can be endless to create a new dish every time you make this basic pasta dish
5. Tomato and basil are the perfect pairing in flavors for this pasta dish, and easy for meal planning for busy schedules

Additions and Suggestions for Tomato Basil Pasta

1. sauteed mushrooms
2. cooked mini meatballs
3. sauteed broccoli rabe
4. canned heated
5. artichoke hearts
6. mozzarella balls or cubes
7. feta cheese with kalmata olives
8. broccoli florets steamed
9. cooked escarole
10. bell peppers or hot peppers
11. raw arugula 
12. smoked salmon 
13. cooked pork tenderloin
14. cooked steak
15. cooked shrimp 
16. any leftover meats like rotisserie chicken or roasted chicken breast boneless \
17. jar sauces IE alfredo, marinara, meat sauce lightly tossed into the basic recipe with pasta
18. deli meats chopped
19. pepperoni slices

Pasta Suggestions

1. rigatoni
2. bowties
3. mostaccioli
4. fusilli
5. seashells
6. spaghetti
7. bucatini

Tips for Cooking Tomato Basil Pasta

• cook any kind of pasta you prefer al dente
• use jarred sauces to change up the pasta dish
• instead of butter, you can use all olive oil
• use only grape or cherry tomatoes for best results
• any raw vegetables or cooked vegetables can be used in place of tomatoes
• use any cooked meats you prefer chicken, steak, pork, or more bacon instead
• cubed cheeses of any kind can be used in addition to the tomato basil pasta recipe
• for a little heat add some red pepper flakes as a garnish

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Pasta Lovers

One last thing for a quick meal tip!

Cook the pasta of choice ahead of time and toss it with the butter, and cheese, and make the basic recipe, it will keep up to 4 days, then just reheat it with any of your favorite additions for a quick new meal!


This pasta dish is perfect in warmer weather for a light pasta meal.


Enjoy it with any kind of pasta and improvise with additions it can be all vegetarian or made with the addition of meat and perfect for repurposing those leftovers!

Tomato Basil Pasta

Yield: 6

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 15 MinTotal time: 25 Min

This is a quick 15 minutes recipe with tomato, fresh basil, and many options to add to any pasta you prefer. It's easy and a perfect light meal.

Ingredients

• 1 lb spaghetti cooked al dente and drained and saving two cups of HOT pasta water or another pasta you prefer like penne pasta
• 2 tablespoons salted butter
• 1 package of around 12 ounces or more of grape tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons finely minced fresh garlic
• 2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino Romano
• Optional: mozzarella balls or cubes and/or add 2 cups marinara sauce for a sauce-style pasta dish
• Cooked Meat options (using 1 cup): cooked boneless chicken, Italian sliced sausage, crispy bacon, small mini meatballs, boneless pork add cooked meats to the bowl after the cheese step. Leftover meats are perfect for this dish from a previous dinner.

Instructions

1. Cook pasta, as per package instructions until al dente.
2. Slice the tomatoes in half and add them to a medium-sized bowl.
3. Fold in the fresh basil with olive oil, finely minced garlic, and balsamic vinegar
4. Add some salt and pepper to taste and stir together.
5. Place the drained pasta with HOT pasta water in a large clean serving bowl.
6. Stir in the cheese, and butter using tongs and toss to coat the pasta and combine then add the tomato mixture to this creamy mixture.
7. Serve immediately with additional freshly grated Parmesan.

Notes

Pasta Suggestions

1. rigatoni
2. bowties
3. mostaccioli
4. fusilli
5. seashells
6. spaghetti
7. bucatini

Tips

• cook any kind of pasta you prefer al dente
• use jarred sauces to change up the pasta dish
• instead of butter, you can use all olive oil
• use only grape or cherry tomatoes for the best results
• any raw vegetables or cooked vegetables can be used in place of tomatoes
• use any cooked meats you prefer chicken, steak, pork, or more bacon instead
• cubed cheeses of any kind can be used in addition to the tomato basil pasta recipe
• for a little heat add some red pepper flakes as a garnish

Additions and Suggestions

• sauteed mushrooms
• cooked mini meatballs
• sliced pepperoni
• sauteed broccoli rabe
• canned heated artichoke hearts
• mozzarella balls or cubes
• feta cheese with kalmata olives
• broccoli florets steamed
• cooked escarole
• bell peppers or hot peppers
• raw arugula
• smoked salmon
• cooked pork tenderloin
• cooked steak
• cooked shrimp
• any leftover meats like rotisserie chicken or roasted chicken breast boneless
• jar sauces IE alfredo, marinara, and meat sauce lightly tossed into the basic recipe with pasta
• deli meats chopped

Nutrition Facts

Calories

404.59

Fat (grams)

11.97

Sat. Fat (grams)

4.7

Carbs (grams)

60.29

Fiber (grams)

3.02

Net carbs

57.27

Sugar (grams)

4.07

Protein (grams)

13.2

Sodium (milligrams)

193.06

Cholesterol (grams)

18.82

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https://www.whatscookinitalianstylecuisine.com/2012/06/mozzarella-chicken-penne-marinara.html

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pasta recipes, spaghetti recipes, tomato basil recipes, 15 minutes recipes, summer pasta recipes

Italian, American

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Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2013. It was edited and re-published in 2025.