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Tomato Basil Pasta is a quick and easy recipe made with tender penne pasta and juicy grape tomatoes and fresh basil. Perfect for lunch or dinner and ready in just 20 minutes, it’s a delicious meal that the whole family will love.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Penne pasta is my favorite pasta to cook with. It’s hearty, it’s rustic and there is no twirling required. It hold it’s own against some pretty delicious sauces, like this creamy garlic sauce, and it’s perfect in this Tomato Basil Pasta recipe.
It’s also easy to pick up out of the pot with your fingers if that’s how you like to do things. No judgement here.
There is no cream or butter, and you could use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta so you can feel good about eating the whole pan. It’s super fresh, with a whole pint of sweet tomatoes and loads of fresh basil and garlic. Let’s get cooking, shall we?
Ingredients
- Penne Pasta – I love this shape for a hearty dish like this, but any type of pasta, from rotini to fettuccine, could be used.
- Olive Oil – Opt for a higher quality for the best flavor.
- Onion – Peeled and diced fine, or even grated if you’d prefer not to have chunks of onion in your pasta.
- Garlic – Peeled and minced fresh garlic, or jarred. If you don’t want pieces of garlic in the dish, slice it and saute to impart flavor without the chunks of garlic.
- Red Pepper Flakes – For a little heat, add some red pepper flakes and saute with the minced garlic. You can adjust the heat level by adding more or less, or omit it altogether.
- Grape Tomatoes – Beautiful, ripe tomatoes sliced in half to release all those delicious juices.
- Fresh Basil – a big handful, more or less. Slice thinly with a sharp knife or just tear into the pan.
- Parmesan Cheese – Freshly grated and stirred into the sauce right at the end. I also like to serve with extra cheese as a garnish.
How to Make Tomato Basil Pasta
See recipe card below for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- This pasta recipe starts as most good pasta recipes do – cooking the pasta just right! Bring some water to a boil, then salt it generously. I usually toss in a few good pinches.
- Measure out about 3 cups of the dry penne pasta. This doesn’t have to be an exact science, so a little more or a little less won’t hurt. You don’t want the pasta to be cooked all the way, so set your timer for a couple of minutes less than the package calls for. It will finish cooking in the sauce you’re about the make.
- Once the pasta is boiling, start on the sauce. Heat some olive oil and saute diced onions and garlic and a little red pepper flakes for heat.
- Next add the sliced grape tomatoes to the pan. The tomatoes will release juices as they cook that will create the sauce.
- After a minute or two the tomatoes will start to blister; at this point you’ll add a ladle-ful of the pasta water straight out of the pot (about 1 cup of pasta water). The starch that’s released from the pasta as it cooks will help to thicken the tomato basil sauce.
- Simmer the sauce for a minute or two, then add the pasta. If you time it just right, the pasta will be about ¾ of the way done at this point, but if the pasta is ready sooner, just drain it and set it aside until you’re ready to add it; shouldn’t be more that a couple of minutes.
- Once the pasta is added you’ll just continue to let the tomato basil sauce simmer over medium-low heat. The pasta will finish cooking and become nice and tender, with a delicious tomato basil flavor.
- The tomatoes combined with the garlic, onion and the pasta water will have created a yummy sauce that’s smooth and luxurious and thick enough to coat the penne pasta. Stir in the fresh basil just before serving.
- The finishing touch is a bit of Parmesan cheese that you can stir in, or just garnish the top with. Make sure to test the seasonings and add more salt and pepper if you like.
FAQs
Fresh basil is recommended for the best flavor, but dried basil can be used as a substitute. Use about one-third the amount, as dried herbs are more concentrated, and add it when you add the tomatoes at the beginning so it has tome for the flavors to develop.
Grape or cherry tomatoes are commonly used, but you can also use diced Roma or plum tomatoes if you prefer. The key is to choose ripe and flavorful tomatoes.
Absolutely! Chicken, shrimp, or tofu can be added for additional protein. Cook your protein of choice separately and toss it with the pasta at the end.
Just because it’s my favorite, doesn’t mean that it’s yours! While penne is commonly used, you can substitute it with other pasta shapes like spaghetti, fusilli, or linguine, depending on your preference.
Adding a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of ricotta or cream cheese can lend a creamy texture to the dish.
While best served fresh, the sauce can be made in advance and stored in the fridge. Heat it up and toss it with freshly cooked pasta and fresh basil when you’re ready to serve.
Helpful Tips
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh tomatoes and basil will give the dish a more vibrant and authentic flavor. If possible, choose ripe tomatoes and freshly picked basil.
- Cook Pasta Al Dente: Follow the package instructions but taste-test a minute before the suggested cooking time. Al dente pasta holds the sauce better and adds texture to the dish.
- Season the Cooking Water Generously: Salt the pasta water generously. This will season the pasta itself and enhance the overall flavor of the dish.
- Add Basil at the Right Time: Stir in fresh basil towards the end of cooking to retain its bright color and fresh flavor. Cooking it too long may cause it to lose its vibrant taste.
- Storage: Allow to cool completely, then transfer leftovers to an airtight container and into the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently or enjoy cold, like a pasta salad.
More Pasta Recipes to Try
- Penne Pasta Primavera
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta
- Angel Hair Pasta
- Gnocchi Alfredo
- Pasta Carbonara
- Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Chicken and Vegetable Pasta
Tomato Basil Penne Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pint grape tomatoes sliced in half
- 6-8 leaves fresh basil sliced into thin strips (chiffonade), plus some for garnish
- Salt & pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese plus some for garnish
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes more of less for desired heat level.
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the penne pasta and cook, until about three-quarters of the way done (2 minutes under what’s called for on the package.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until soft; about 3 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes and garlic and cook for 1 minutes before adding the tomatoes and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until the tomatoes just begin to blister, about 2 minutes. Add a ladle full of the pasta water (about ¾-1 cup) and the chopped basil to the tomatoes.
- Add the pasta to the saute pan and bring to a boil. The liquid will reduce as the pasta finishes to form a sauce; 3-4 minutes. Stir in ⅓ cup fresh grated Parmesan.
- Season with salt and garnish with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
It looks good, but you forgot to list the amount of red pepper flakes.
You’re right. It’s about 1/4 teaspoon, more or less depending on your desired heat level.
Made this the other night and added chicken bites to it. Super good!
So glad you enjoyed it Lisa! Thanks for stopping by.
Can the leftovers be eaten cold?
You could eat them cold. I guess it would be like a pasta salad.
Just made this and it was delicious. Nice and light and fresh. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I could have added a bit more Parmesan but then again I might have been a tad heavy handed with the pasta! That is a simple fix had I grated more! I just wanted to dive in! Wish I could figure out how to post a picture!
I made this for dinner tonight and added ground turkey sausage. I served it with fresh steamed green beans. It was soooo good! Thanks for the recipe.
You are so welcome Stacie! Thanks for stopping by.
Can this be reheated? How do you recommend reheating since it has the basil and tomatoes in it that had already been cooked?
Hi Kelly, yes it can be reheated, just do so slowly and add a little olive oil or butter if it’s dry.
Very good would do it again
Thank you Bill! Thanks for stopping by.
I love this recipe, thank you so much Kristin! My kids hate almost everything I cook, but this they actually ask me for! Your recipe works so well for me because the instructions and cooking method are clear; it leaves me no room for errors. The changes I made, in case it helps anyone else, were to omit the onions and red pepper flakes, add a pinch of sugar with the tomatoes, and double the garlic, tomatoes and basil. I look forward to trying more of your recipes.
Love it! Thanks for your feedback Marivi!
Great quarantine meal! We sautéed chicken breast first, then added back in when you add the pasta. It was delicious and a bit heartier.
Nice! Thanks for stopping by Kathy.
Super easy and delicious, thanks! My wife and I enjoyed it
Thank you!
I love penne too! Look so delicious!
I really liked this recipe, I added a little Italian seasoning and some capers. It was so good that 3 of us ate the recipe made for 4.