When it comes to pasta dishes, simple is best, and it doesn't get much easier than this Cherry Tomato Pasta. Just 7 ingredients go into making this light and fresh pasta dish that is ready in under 15 minutes. Pasta with cheery tomatoes is perfect for eating on a warm summer evening. Juicy cherry tomatoes cooked with plenty of garlic, stirred through linguine with some lemon juice and fresh basil. The perfect fresh tomato pasta.
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This Cherry Tomato Pasta recipe is a great way to use up lots of tomatoes if you have been growing them and they have taken over your garden.
There isn't a traditional sauce to this pasta dish, as once the tomatoes burst in the pan and mix with the oil, they create their own cherry tomato pasta sauce. It's SO good and our go-to pasta dish in the summer.
This pasta with cherry tomatoes recipe is so easy, but it really is bursting with flavor. Literally bursting, as those hot tomatoes pop and you get that intense tomato flavor. Easy to adapt with other vegetables and even lots of protein options. If you are wondering what to do with cherry tomatoes, then this is it!
Looking for some more cherry tomato recipes? Why not try our filling Halloumi Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes, comforting Tomato Baked Risotto or our utterly delicious Baked Feta with Tomatoes?
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Linguine - You can use any pasta for this recipe, but we like something thin like linguine or spaghetti, as the tomatoes are already pretty chunky and they are the star of this dish. But you could use penne or fusilli instead if that is all you had.
- Olive oil - This recipe uses a generous glug of olive oil to cook the tomatoes in, and help to make the sauce. So you want to use the best quality that you can afford, as you really will be able to tell the difference.
- Cherry tomatoes - These are the star of the dish. We have used cherry tomatoes, because they can be cooked whole in the pan and then squashed down to release those beautiful juices. We wouldn't recommend any other tomatoes for this recipe, as they would be too big to cook whole and chopped up they just wouldn't be the same. Try to make this when tomatoes are in season, as you will be able to taste the difference. Cherry tomatoes are the best tomatoes to use in winter months though, as they are sweeter. You can add a more intense tomato flavor but adding chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
- Garlic - This recipe is definitely for garlic lovers and has 5 garlic cloves in it. The more garlic the better we say! You can use less (or more) if you prefer. Fresh is always best, but you could use ready crushed garlic in a jar if you prefer to save a little time.
- Lemon - This helps to make the sauce for the cherry tomato pasta (along with the tomato juices and oil) and really lightens the whole dish up. We have just used the juice, but you could add some zest too if you like.
- Parmesan - It's not a pasta dish without cheese, right? Some shaved Parmesan finishes this dish off beautifully. If you want to keep it vegetarian, then use a veggie alternative. You could just leave it out and make the whole dish vegan.
- Basil - Tomatoes and basil are a match made in heaven. Lots of fresh basil sprinkled on top before serving really finishes off the whole dish.
Variations
The great thing about pasta dishes is that they are so easy to adapt and this is no exception. We have kept this simple and let the garlic and tomatoes be the stars of the show. However, there are lots of ways to pack this dish out with vegetables.
- Vegetables. The easiest way it to add vegetables is to stir some spinach into the pan towards the end of the tomatoes being cooked. You could also do the same with kale.
The key is to stick with quick cooking vegetables like mushrooms, courgette (zucchini), aubergine (eggplant) and bell pepper. Root vegetables like carrots will take too long to cook, and the beauty of this dish is how quick it is to cook. - Protein. We have kept this as a vegetarian dish, but if you want to add some protein to this cherry tomato pasta, then chicken or salmon work well. Try our Slow Cooker Chicken Breasts or Air Fryer Salmon. You could add some Roasted Chickpeas to keep it vegan.
- Cheese. Instead of Parmesan, why not finish this pasta with cherry tomatoes off with some delicious burrata on top?
How to Make Cherry Tomato Pasta
- Step 1: Cook your pasta according to the package instructions. Cook to al dente for best results.
- Step 2: Add the oil to a large pan and once hot, add the tomatoes and garlic (a). Cook on a low heat for 6-8 minutes until the tomatoes have softened. Using a wooden spoon, carefully push the tomatoes down a little so that they burst and the juices create a sauce in the pan (b).
- Step 3: Drain the pasta and add it to the pan, with a splash of the pasta water (a). Stir in the lemon juice and chopped basil (b).
- Step 4: Mix well.
- Step 5: Top with the cheese and basil and serve.
Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce
There isn't a traditional pasta sauce in this pasta with tomatoes, as we have kept it simple with the olive oil, lemon juice and the juice from the tomatoes.
- Extra Sauce. If you wanted more of a sauce, why not make our Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce, or even stir through some Homemade Pesto? We also love adding some Spinach Pesto to the sauce for something a little bit different.
- Spice. If you want a kick of heat, sprinkle some red chilli flakes on just before serving.
Serving suggestions
- Garlic bread. Pasta and garlic bread are such a delicious match. Either buy some ready made, or make your own easy garlic bread by cutting up some French stick and spreading it with a mix of butter, crushed garlic and dried herbs. Then pop it in the oven for 10 minutes.
Why not try our Air Fryer Garlic Bread or Cheesy Garlic Bread recipes? - Toppings. When serving, why not add a drizzle of olive oil, some capers and freshly chopped parsley on top. Olives are a good addition too.
Storage
Store: If you have leftovers of this dish, then it will store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Reheat: To reheat it, add it to a hot pan with a splash of water to loosen it all up.
Freeze: We wouldn't recommend freezing this pasta dish, as there isn't much of a sauce to it so it would be a bit dry once defrosted. So, try to make only as much as you need, or it can be eaten within 2 days.
Tips For Making The BEST Cherry Tomato Pasta
- For some extra flavor, add a splash of balsamic vinegar to the pan just before serving, or stir some pesto into it.
- You can use a potato masher to smash up the tomatoes.
- A sprinkling of freshly cracked black pepper is delicious on this pasta dish.
- You can serve the tomatoes with any pasta, but we find that linguine is a great base for all those juicy tomatoes.
- To make this dish vegan, simply leave out the parmesan or use a vegan alternative.
- Try to make this recipe when tomatoes are in season, as you will be able to taste the difference.
- You can add a splash of the reserved pasta water to the tomatoes if you want to loosen up the sauce a little. You could then even add a dollop of cream cheese to make it a creamy sauce.
- Taste it just before serving and add some salt and black pepper to season to taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can roast the tomatoes instead and it will give this dish much more of an intense tomato flavor. Check out our Roasted Cherry Tomatoes recipe, as these go so well with pasta.
Yes, you could use canned cherry tomatoes, rather than fresh, however that would make more of a tomato sauce. We prefer fresh tomatoes that have burst to make a sauce.
Yes, you could cook the tomatoes in advance and then just reheat them in a pan when your spaghetti is nearly ready later.
More Tomato Recipes
If you've tried this cherry tomato pasta recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
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Recipe
Cherry Tomato Pasta
Ingredients
- 150 g (5.25 oz) Linguine
- 500 g (1.1 lb) Cherry tomatoes
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 5 Garlic clove - crushed
- 1 Lemon - juice only
- 10 g (0.5 cups) Fresh basil - chopped, plus extra to serve
- 30 g (0.33 cups) Parmesan - shaved or grated (optional)
Instructions
- Cook 150 g Linguine according to the package instructions.
- Heat 2 tablespoon Olive oil in a large pan and once hot, add 500 g Cherry tomatoes and 5 Garlic clove and cook on a low heat for 6-8 minutes until the tomatoes have softened.
- Using a wooden spoon, carefully push the tomatoes down a little so that they burst and the juices create a sauce in the pan.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the pan, with a splash of the pasta water, and then stir in the juice of 1 Lemon and 10 g Fresh basil. Mix well.
- Serve topped with 30 g Parmesan and more basil.
Recipe Tips
- For some extra flavor, add a splash of balsamic vinegar to the pan just before serving.
- You can use a potato masher to smash up the tomatoes.
- A sprinkling of freshly cracked black pepper is delicious on this pasta dish.
- You can serve the tomatoes with any pasta, but we find that linguine is a great base for all those juicy tomatoes.
- To make this dish vegan, simply leave out the parmesan or use a vegan alternative.
- Try to make this recipe when tomatoes are in season, as you will be able to taste the difference.
- You can add a splash of the pasta water to the tomatoes if you want to loosen up the sauce a little. You could then even add a dollop of cream cheese to make it a creamy sauce.
- Taste it just before serving and add some salt and black pepper to season to taste.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Sharon says
This is the perfect easy meal. I love that the tomatoes turn out when cooked.
Jenn Allen says
These simple recipes are my favorite! I love uncomplicated flavors and the fresh ingredients in this dish really shine! My new fav!
Jessie says
I have some chicken to make tonight and I think this will pair so great with it!!
Jamie says
I love how simple and easy the ingredient list is! This is my kind of meal and it's perfect for the summer.
Beth Sachs says
Easy, fast, and oh so tasty! My kids loved this cherry tomato pasta for dinner!
Toni says
I loved it! So good and delish! Such a great way to enjoy those cherry potatoes!
Sue says
I made this last night with some colorful cherry tomatoes and it was a huge hit, thanks for an easy dinner recipe :)
Beth says
Yum! My family is going to absolutely love this recipe for dinner tonight! So excited to try this!
Andrea says
Such a simple, delicious and comforting bowl of pasta.
Lauren says
Nice to see anything simple pasta dish that isn’t baked feta pasta lol. Great recipe!
Tania says
Yummy! This looks amazing and so delicious! My hubby and I are going to love this for dinner tonight! So excited to try this