This garlicky, saucy pasta filled with basil and tomatoes is made from start to finish in about 20 minutes; does dinner get much better than that?
Everything is combined in the pot along with the cooking water and it reduces down into a perfect one dish meal as it cooks. It sounds almost too good to be true, right?
I’ve seen versions of this recipe floating around online all summer and I finally had to try it. With rave reviews from everyone who has tried it, I still doubted that the dish would live up to the hype. I was wrong.
This pasta is unbelievably rich and creamy and saucy, without any cream or actual “sauce” in the recipe. The recipe just begs to be played with; there are countless variations already running through my mind.
20 Minute One Pot Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil
Ingredients
- 12 ounces spaghetti linguini or fettuccine *
- 1 large onion very thinly sliced, about 2 cups
- 4 - 6 garlic cloves very thinly sliced
- 12 ounces or 3 cups grape tomatoes halved
- 10 basil leaves torn in half
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus more to taste
- 4 1/2 cups water
- Topping: Freshly grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese several basil leaves thinly sliced
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a straight sided large skillet or pot. Bring to a high boil and then reduce heat just enough to keep it boiling without splattering you as you stir and toss it constantly with tongs for about 8-10 minutes. The water and tomatoes will reduce down and the pasta will release starches that thicken it and make it creamy.
- Do not wait for all of the liquid to evaporate. Taste the pasta as it finishes cooking. When it has softened to your liking remove from the heat. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Scoop into serving bowls and top with fresh cheese and additional basil. Enjoy!
- * I used gluten free, brown rice fettuccine noodles and they worked just as well as traditional pasta.
ONE YEAR AGO TODAY: Ginger Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
TWO YEARS AGO TODAY: Balsamic Butter Sauce
Jenn S says
Very interesting.. will definitely have to give this a try… not only because I just adore any pasta dish, but I love one pot simple dishes even better!!! 🙂
bellini says
What a perfect dish for busy weekdays.
Chris Scheuer says
This is amazing Mary, it does seem unbelievable. You come up with the best stuff to try!
Anonymous says
I've tried this recipe before, it truly is a delicious meal!!
Deanna Lyn says
I really have to try this looks great plus easy thanks for sharing!
Michelle says
this looks so good thanks so much 😉
Geni says
This is fantastic! So glad you shared this Mary! I hope you have been well.
Mallory @ Because I Like Chocolate says
Never in my life have I cooked pasta this way. I have always just reserved some of the cooking water to help thicken up the sauce. But I'm open to try anything that can be made in one pot!
Pam says
Bookmarked. I've been seeing this way of making pasta all summer long too. Yours looks absolutely incredible!
carol kaplan says
I've sent this to several people and one is texting me back,;-) Looks delish!
Karen Kerr says
I'm definitely going to try this!
Becki's Whole Life says
Ok, I'm convinced now! That picture of the finished dish does look creamy – wow! I will need to make this soon before my basil is all done.
Deborah says
I have been dying to try a one pot meal like this, and this one looks perfect!
Big Dude says
We make no boil lasagna but I've never seen anything like this. The concept sounds amazingly simple and the results speak for themselves.
PVM says
This I must try! Please add your site to Pepperplate. It makes it so easy to upload your recipes for others to keep. I adore your blog. Thanks
TSack says
I just finished making this, Mary, and it's soooo good. I added fresh mushrooms, but otherwise stuck to the recipe. Any time you want to send some of this in with Sean, I'll be happy to help him eat it. 🙂
Magnolia Verandah says
What a great quick school holiday staple. I need to try this out for myself.
Joshua Hampton says
Wow. Pasta dinners don't get any easier than this. And it looks gorgeous, too.
Anonymous says
This is delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Anonymous says
This is really good !!! I followed the recipe but I added some mushrooms and diced orange pepper for something extra…..I will make this again for sure but next time I'm going to try adding about 1/4 cup of cream to make the sauce creamier/rose. The is so much you can do with this recipe to switch it up a bit.