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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Pasta

Tomato Basil Pasta

Feb 20, 2023 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 53 Comments

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Tomato basil pasta with a text title overlay.

Tomato and basil is a perfect flavour combination and it works so well in this light and delicious Tomato Basil Pasta. It is ready in under 15 minutes and is a delicious summer meal for feeding a crowd. Serve with some homemade garlic bread and a green salad for a fresh summery meal.

A bowl of Tomato Pasta next to a bowl of salad, a whole tomato and a halved lemon.

This Tomato Basil Pasta is ready in the time it takes to cook the spaghetti. There is no cooking required for the topping, as it is fresh raw tomatoes, plenty of garlic and basil and the sauce is simply some olive oil and lemon juice. This pasta recipe couldn't be more simple.

This is best made in the summer when tomatoes are ripe and in season, as you will get plenty of flavour. It will also ensure this is a really budget friendly meal to make.

If making it out of season, chances are you will be paying extra for bland and hard tomatoes, which won't give you the best dish. You can add even more tomato flavour to this by stirring in some chopped up sun dried tomatoes.

If you want some more delicious tomato recipes, take a look at our Tomato and Basil Soup, Cherry Tomato Pasta or our super simple Tomatoes on Toast.

Jump to:
  • Why you will love it
  • Ingredients needed
  • Step by step
  • What tomatoes to use
  • What pasta to use
  • Add some protein
  • Other ingredients to add
  • What to serve with tomato basil pasta
  • FAQs
  • Extra tips
  • More pasta recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Why you will love it

  • Really quick and simple to make
  • No cook topping
  • A great way to use up end of summer tomatoes
  • Under 300 calories a portion
  • Delicious cold the next day

Ingredients needed

  • Spaghetti
  • Olive oil
  • Lemon
  • Garlic
  • Tomatoes
  • Basil
  • Parmesan

A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Step by step

One: Add the spaghetti to a pan of boiling water and simmer for 12 minutes.

A saucepan containing spaghetti.

Two: Chop up the tomatoes, crush the garlic and finely chop the basil.

Chopped tomatoes, basil leaves, garlic cloves and two lemon halves on a wooden chopping board.

Three: Drain the spaghetti and put it back in the pan with all the other ingredients and mix well.

A saucepan containing cooked spaghetti, chopped tomatoes, chopped basil and crushed garlic.

Four: Serve with Parmesan (optional).

What tomatoes to use

We used money maker tomatoes, as that is what we had an abundance of growing in our garden, however you can use pretty much any tomato - as long as they are nice and ripe. You need to use tomatoes that have plenty of flavour, as the tomatoes are really where all the flavour comes from.

Other options are Roma tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes. You can add extra flavour to this by chopping up some sun dried tomatoes.

What pasta to use

We used spaghetti, as the simple sauce of olive oil, lemon juice and garlic clings really well to it and the chunky tomatoes can sit on top. But you can use any pasta you like - so there is no need to buy anything specially. This also works well with orzo for a pasta salad type dish which is great at a BBQ.

Chopped tomatoes, basil leases and grated parmesan on top of spaghetti

Add some protein

This is a simple vegan pasta dish (unless served with cheese), but that doesn't mean you can't add some extra protein to it. You can grill some salmon, chicken breast or king prawns to go with this, or even some grilled halloumi. It needs to be something fairly chunky. We just went with some shaved Parmesan. Leftover Roasted Chickpeas are also really good on this.

Other ingredients to add

Like most of our dishes, they are easy to customise so you never have to eat it the same way. Sometimes we like to add a sprinkle of chilli flakes for some spice, or some pine nuts just for some added texture. We also chop up some olives to mix in if we have any left over.

A little bit of cheese goes a long way on a pasta dish, so we used some Parmesan. But we often use mozzarella or feta to mix things up a bit.

What to serve with tomato basil pasta

This is a light and fresh meal, so you don't really need to serve it with anything. However, a simple green salad and some homemade garlic bread would go well with this if you are making it for a dinner party. We recommend a balsamic dressing with the salad, which will compliment the tomatoes really well.

Chopped tomatoes mixed with spaghetti in a white bowl, topped with cheese and basil leaves.

FAQs

Is tomato basil pasta healthy?

As far as pasta dishes go, this is a healthy one. There are no rich and creamy pasta sauces, just lots of fresh tomatoes. Tomatoes are a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K.  They are also the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene. This has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.

Can you use canned tomatoes?

This isn't like a traditional tomato pasta sauce that would use canned tomatoes. Instead, it uses diced fresh tomatoes to make a light and fresh chunky topping. Using canned tomatoes would make it too runny, so we wouldn't recommend it.

How to choose the best tomatoes

The key to this dish being the best it can be, is having really ripe and juicy tomatoes. When it comes to choosing tomatoes, you want to make sure they are in season. Winter tomatoes are just absolutely tasteless. Locally grown or homegrown are always the best, but if you are getting them from the supermarket then we have some tips.
You might think that squeezing the tomato is the best way to tell if it's ripe, but it isn't. Instead, hold the tomato in the palm of your hand and it should feel heavy for its size. You should also do a sniff test - ripe tomatoes should smell sweet and earthy and the stronger the tomato smells, the more ripe it is. So, resist squeezing it and ruining it.

How to make a creamy tomato basil pasta

If the simple sauce of olive oil and lemon juice isn't enough for you, then you could make this dish creamier by adding a couple of tablespoons of creme fraiche or Greek yogurt.

How to store tomato basil pasta

This dish is best eaten fresh, and luckily it's so quick and easy to make. However, if you have some of this leftover, then it is delicious the next day. The garlic and basil flavours really intensify and it's really good cold too.

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Extra tips

• Use fresh, ripe and in season tomatoes for the best results.
• Make this dish creamy by stirring in a couple of tablespoons of creme fraiche or Greek yogurt to the spaghetti.
• You can add a kick of spice to the finished dish with a sprinkling of red chilli flakes.
• Add even more tomato flavour with some chopped up sun dried tomatoes.
• Give the dish some extra crunch with a sprinkling of pine nuts.
• Generously salt the pasta so the spaghetti isn't too bland.

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If you’ve tried this Tomato Basil Pasta recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Tomato Basil Pasta in a white bowl next to a tomato, basil leaves and lemon halves.

Tomato Basil Pasta

By: Dannii Martin
Tomato and basil is a perfect flavour combination and it works so well in this light and delicious Tomato Basil Pasta. Ready in under 15 minutes.
5 from 42 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Italian
Prep: 3 minutes mins
Cook: 12 minutes mins
Total: 15 minutes mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 298kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of a carton of milk.
Dairy
An illustration of two ears of wheat.
Gluten

Ingredients

  • 200 g (7 oz) Whole wheat spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1 Lemon - (juice only)
  • 2 Garlic clove - crushed
  • 4 Tomatoes - diced
  • 4 tablespoon Fresh basil - chopped
  • 1 Pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper
  • 30 g (0.33 cups) Parmesan - grated

Instructions

  • Add 200 g Whole wheat spaghetti to boiling water and simmer for 12 minutes.
  • Drain the spaghetti and put back in the pan and add 2 tablespoon Olive oil, juice of 1 Lemon, 2 Garlic clove, 4 Tomatoes, 4 tablespoon Fresh basil and 1 Pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper. Mix well.
  • Put into a serving dish and sprinkle over 30 g Parmesan.

Recipe Tips

  • Use fresh, ripe and in season tomatoes for the best results.
  • Make this dish creamy by stirring in a couple of tablespoons of creme fraiche or Greek yogurt to the spaghetti.
  • You can add a kick of spice to the finished dish with a sprinkling of red chilli flakes.
  • Add even more tomato flavour with some chopped up sun dried tomatoes.
  • Give the dish some extra crunch with a sprinkling of pine nuts.
  • Generously salt the pasta so the spaghetti isn't too bland.
  • If would would prefer a warmer version of this, why not try adding our Roasted Cherry Tomatoes.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 141mg | Potassium: 436mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1225IU | Vitamin C: 32.1mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 2.4mg

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.

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Comments

  1. CONRAD LEHMAN says

    September 12, 2019 at 10:42 pm

    Raw garlic?

    Reply
    • Dannii says

      September 15, 2019 at 5:34 pm

      Yep! It gives it such an intense flavour. You use raw garlic in lots of things - salsa, hummus, tzatziki etc.

      Reply
  2. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

    July 21, 2014 at 5:16 am

    5 stars
    yum! your right about this being perfect for summer.. looks light and delicious. thanks for sharing the great recipe!

    Reply
  3. Gemma says

    July 20, 2014 at 5:00 am

    Hi :) I love what you do here and have nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. :) check out my latest blog post for more info!

    Reply
  4. Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes says

    July 18, 2014 at 5:47 pm

    5 stars
    Tomato and basil go together for me like wine and ANYTHING. I could eat it everyday. It looks so great in this spaghetti and you're right it's great for summer!

    Reply
  5. Kelly says

    July 17, 2014 at 10:51 am

    5 stars
    Love all the fresh tomatoes and basil in this spaghetti Dannii. It looks so summery and fantastic!

    Reply
  6. Kat says

    July 16, 2014 at 2:04 pm

    5 stars
    YUmmmmm!!
    Can I come over for dinner? ;)
    Seriously there is something so perfect about fresh basil. It makes every dish in my opinion. I may or may not have an obsession with simply sniffing my basil plant. No really. I'm kind of obsessed with it

    Reply
  7. Rebecca says

    July 16, 2014 at 11:45 am

    NYOM NYOM NYOM!! Another tasty recipe for me to try!

    Reply
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My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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