• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Food Banjo

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • About
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • About
×

Home » Pasta

Burst Cherry Tomato Basil Pasta

Published: Jul 6, 2017 · Last Updated: Oct 18, 2022 by Aimee - This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Share with others!

  • Share
  • Tweet
Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
tomato basil pasta

This burst tomato basil pasta is topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese. It has blistered cherry tomatoes and fresh basil. It's so easy to make for a fast and flavorful weeknight dinner, and it's one of our favorite meals!

The juicy cherry tomatoes pair perfectly with the fresh basil in this pasta dish.

It's simple enough to make for a weeknight, but feels fancy enough for a special occasion.

Tomato Basil Pasta with Parmesan and a fork

There are so many reasons to love this tomato basil pasta. The tomatoes get burst and juicy. The parmesan cheese adds that touch of sharpness.

The basil and other herbs add so much flavor. The pasta adds just the right touch.

The olive oil adds just the right amount of richness. And if you choose to add red pepper flakes, they add a bit of spice.

Not only that, but this pasta dish is so easy to make. It truly is a great recipe for beginners or experts.

Also, it's perfect in the summer because the tomato basil pasta can be made completely on the stove. No need to turn on the oven.

While I do make this year round, in summer I make it at least once a week. So good!

Ingredients

  • Pasta
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Fresh basil
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic
  • Dried oregano
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and Pepper

What type of pasta to use

You can use any pasta you like to make this, but I prefer angel hair pasta. I just love how it all comes together, and the thinness of the pasta works great with this dish.

Plus, it’s fun to twirl around your fork and then poke a tomato for the perfect juicy bite. However, you can use rotini, farfalle, spaghetti. Whatever you have around!

burst tomatoes served on spaghetti with fresh basil leaves and parmesan cheese

Where do you get fresh Parmesan cheese?

So in a pinch, you can use the grated stuff you get in a container at the store.

However, I highly suggest keeping a wedge of Parmesan around. It's SO. MUCH. BETTER. when it's freshly grated.

The wedges last for awhile, and you can save and freeze the rinds to use in soups and other things.

I also find that it's cheaper to actually buy the wedges and grate them yourself. You can use a regular cheese grater or a microplane, depending on how thinly you want the cheese grated.

We usually get our Parmesan cheese wedges at Costco. However, you can usually find them at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and a lot of grocery stores. Just ask!

Pairings and customizations

One of the lovely things about this burst tomato pasta is how easy it is to customize! Here are some ideas.

  • Add some precooked chicken breast or cooked shrimp to make this tomato basil pasta with chicken or shrimp.
  • Add more red pepper flakes or less depending on your love of spice.
  • Add a bit of harissa to the tomatoes when cooking for additional flavor and spice.
  • Instead of pasta, serve over fresh zucchini noodles like in this recipe.
  • Add some spinach when cooking for additional veggies.
  • Keep the basil leaves whole, or julienne them.
  • Serve with this Tuscan Kale Salad and this Italian Margarita.

Other pasta dishes

While I love making burst cherry tomato pasta, there are so many other pasta dishes to love too!

When I want a little spice, I made this Creamy Harissa Pasta. And when I want something creamy with pesto, I make this Copycat Pesto Cavatappi.

Instructions to make burst cherry tomato pasta

First, wash your cherry tomatoes and mince your garlic.

Then start water for your pasta. Depending on how long your pasta takes to cook, you might add it right away or wait a bit. (For example, angel hair takes less time than spaghetti or farfalle -- look at the package directions).

To a large skillet, heat your olive oil, then add the cherry tomatoes.

Cook for a bit, then add the garlic, dried herbs, basil, and red pepper flakes. Stir occasionally until tomatoes are burst and softened.

cherry tomatoes in a container

Drain the pasta, then add the olive oil and herbs mixture, leaving the tomatoes behind.

Stir to combine.

Plate, then top with the cooked burst tomatoes, fresh parmesan cheese, and extra basil leaves.

Tomato Basil Pasta with Parmesan
Tomato Basil Pasta with Parmesan cheese and a fork

Other weeknight dinners to try

Turmeric chicken and asparagus in a skillet.
Turmeric and Black Pepper Chicken
Creamy pesto cavatappi in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
Creamy Pesto Cavatappi
easy pasta bake
Easy Cheesy Pasta Bake
Pasta with cherry tomatoes and basil

Burst Tomato Basil Pasta with Parmesan Cheese

Recipe by Aimee
This burst tomato basil pasta is topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese. It has blistered cherry tomatoes and fresh basil. It's so easy to make for a fast and flavorful weeknight dinner.
4.67 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Course Pasta
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 2
Calories 597 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • ⅓ lb angel hair pasta
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 6-8 basil leaves chopped, plus a few more for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ⅛ cup parmesan cheese grated
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the ingredients by washing and drying the tomatoes, chopping the garlic and basil leaves.
  • Start boiling the water for pasta. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once heated, add the cherry tomatoes. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then add then garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, and chopped basil.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until tomatoes are blistered, stirring occasionally. This will take about 7-10 minutes.
  • While tomatoes are cooking, cook the pasta in a large pot until soft. Drain.
  • Into the pasta pot, drain the cooked olive oil and herbs, leaving the tomatoes behind. Stir until pasta is coated. Add more olive oil if needed. Add salt and pepper.
  • Plate, then top with the cooked tomatoes. Add freshly grated parmesan and extra basil leaves, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 597kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 15gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 427mgPotassium: 733mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1362IUVitamin C: 56mgCalcium: 145mgIron: 3mg

If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.

Tried this recipe?Tag @foodbanjo on Instagram and share your photos!
« Peach Iced Tea
Paris in June »

Share with others!

  • Share
  • Tweet

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hello!

foodbanjo-authors
Hi! I'm Aimee, and I'm so glad you stopped by! I love sharing easy recipes that are flavorful and delicious.
Read more about Food Banjo!

Join the Email List!

Sign up for recipes & learn about what's going on with us!

(Check your spam box... just in case!)

Weeknight Dinners

Blood orange salmon with blood orange slices on top.

Blood Orange Salmon

Air Fryer Peri Peri Chicken

Peri Peri Salmon on a white plate with parsley on top.

Peri Peri Salmon

Calabrian chicken on a plate with parsley.

Calabrian Chicken

Air Fryer rainbow trout with lemon slices.

Air Fryer Rainbow Trout

air fried pesto salmon on a white plate.

Air Fryer Pesto Salmon

Air Fryer Gochujang Chicken Thighs

Salmon with bang bang sauce and green onions.

Bang Bang Salmon

Soup Favorites

tuscan chicken soup with a spoon

Tuscan Chicken Soup

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup - Dairy-Free

chickpea and tomato stew with bread

One-Pot Chickpea and Tomato Stew

Lemon orzo soup topped with shrimp.

Lemon Orzo Soup with Shrimp

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Nutrition Disclaimer

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 Food Banjo