20-minute Cherry Tomato Pasta

20 minutes is all it takes to make this easy, tasty cherry tomato pasta. Juicy cherry tomatoes, basil and Parmesan ensures every bite is delicious.

Ingredients

• Pasta. Any pasta shape will work with this sauce.
• Olive oil.
• Cherry tomatoes. 
• Fresh garlic. 
• Basil. 
• Chilli flakes. 
• Parmesan.
• Salt and pepper. 

How to make cherry tomato pasta

1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of cooking water before draining.
2. Make the cherry tomato sauce: While the pasta water comes to a boil and the pasta cooks, make the sauce. Pour olive oil into a large pan set over medium-high heat. Add sliced garlic and allow to fry for a few seconds before adding the cherry tomatoes. I like to halve around three quarters of the tomatoes and keep the rest whole for texture. Season with chilli flakes, salt and pepper and allow to cook, stirring regularly until the tomatoes start to pop. Squash some of the tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon to get all the juices to release. Once all the tomatoes have softened, reduce the heat. Add the drained pasta with some of the reserved cooking water. Stir until well combined.
3. Serve: Stir in Parmesan and roughly torn basil leaves then serve.

Can I make this ahead?

Absolutely! The sauce can be made and refrigerated for up to 5 days in advance. Simply reheat in a pan before tossing with cooked pasta.

Can I make this with canned tomatoes?

Yes, you can. The flavor will be a little different because the fresh cherry tomatoes are much brighter in flavor than canned tomatoes but it will be delicious, regardless.

Easy pasta recipes

1. Creamy spinach artichoke pasta
2. Fettucini Alfredo
3. Shrimp Aglio e Olio

20-minute Cherry Tomato Pasta

20 minutes is all it takes to make this easy, tasty cherry tomato pasta. Juicy cherry tomatoes, basil and Parmesan ensures every bite is delicious.

4.84 from 12 votes

Print Pin Rate Add to Shopping ListGo to Shopping List

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cherry tomato pasta, cherry tomato recipe, tomato pasta

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 463kcal

Author: Alida Ryder

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
• 4 cups cherry tomatoes (halve some and leave some whole)
• pinch of chilli flakes
• salt and pepper to serve
• 500 g pasta cooked + 1 cup cooking water reserved
• ½ Parmesan cheese grated
• fresh basil leaves roughly chopped/torn

Instructions

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of cooking water before draining.
• While the pasta water comes to a boil and the pasta cooks, make the sauce. Pour olive oil into a large pan set over medium-high heat.
• Add sliced garlic and allow to fry for a few seconds before adding the cherry tomatoes.
• Season with chilli flakes, salt and pepper and allow to cook, stirring regularly until the tomatoes start to pop. Squash some of the tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon to get all the juices to release.
• Once all the tomatoes have softened, reduce the heat. Add the drained pasta with some of the reserved cooking water. Stir until well combined.
•  Stir in Parmesan and roughly torn basil leaves then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 463kcal | Carbohydrates: 98g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 88mg | Potassium: 337mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 729IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 3mg