Smashed Tomato Pasta

Name: Smashed Tomato Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 lb spaghetti; 2 pints cherry tomatoes; 1/3 cup olive oil; 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced; 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated; 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

One of 2026's most-made recipes: cherry tomatoes blistered and smashed in garlicky olive oil until they collapse into a chunky sauce, tossed with pasta, basil, and parmesan in twenty minutes.

20 minEasyServes 4480 cal/serving

ItalianDinnerStovetopVegetarianNut-FreePork-FreeAlcohol-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

1 lb spaghetti
2 pints cherry tomatoes
1/3 cup olive oil
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

Instructions

1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the 1 lb spaghetti until al dente, according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
2

While the pasta cooks, heat 1/3 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 6 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
3

Add the 2 pints cherry tomatoes to the skillet and season with 1 tsp salt. Cook, shaking the pan occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes until the tomatoes blister and start to burst.
4

Use the back of a wooden spoon to smash the tomatoes against the skillet until they break down into a chunky sauce.
5

Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet along with a splash of reserved pasta water. Toss over medium heat until the sauce coats the pasta, adding more pasta water as needed.
6

Remove from heat and stir in half the 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese and half the 1/2 cup torn fresh basil leaves.
7

Divide among bowls and top with the remaining parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves before serving.

Questions

Can I make Smashed Tomato Pasta dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated. Swap the cheese for a plant-based melting cheese (expect a milder flavor). The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Smashed Tomato Pasta gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 1 lb spaghetti. Swap the pasta for a gluten-free one, cooked a minute short of its package time. Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Smashed Tomato Pasta keep?

Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three days. Reheat gently on the stovetop.

Can I halve or double Smashed Tomato Pasta?

Yes. As written it serves 4. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

Serve it with

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