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Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta With Garlic And Basil

Burst cherry tomato pasta with garlic and basil features blistered cherry tomatoes and a glossy, clinging sauce made by tossing al dente spaghetti or linguine with starchy pasta water. The skillet method keeps everything cohesive, with Parmesan and torn basil stirred in at the end for bright flavor.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Spaghetti or linguine
  • 1 lb spaghetti or linguine
Olive oil
  • 0.25 cup olive oil
Garlic
  • 4 cloves garlic cloves Sliced
Cherry tomatoes
  • 4 cup cherry tomatoes
Red pepper flakes
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes
Fresh basil
  • 0.5 cup fresh basil Torn
Parmesan
  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan
Salt and pepper
  • 1 salt and pepper To taste

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook the pasta
  1. Cook the spaghetti or linguine in salted boiling water until al dente, then reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. Set the drained pasta aside while you start the sauce in the skillet.
Build the garlic-tomato sauce
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the sliced garlic, cooking until fragrant.
  2. Add the cherry tomatoes and red pepper flakes, cooking until the tomatoes blister and burst, about 8-10 minutes.
  3. Mash some of the tomatoes with a spoon to create a chunky sauce.
Toss and finish
  1. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet along with a splash of the reserved pasta water, tossing to coat.
  2. Stir in the torn basil and Parmesan.
  3. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Notes

Pro tip: use the starchy pasta water sparingly at first—toss, then add a little more only if the sauce looks too tight. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently with a splash of water. Freezing isn’t recommended because the tomatoes and basil can lose texture. For a dairy-light option, swap Parmesan for a similar amount of finely grated nutritional yeast or a dairy-free hard-style cheese.