By Becky Hardin
Published Aug 30, 2019
This Italian Pasta Pomodoro recipe is made with fresh tomatoes and a light and flavorful sauce. Perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal and made using simple ingredients.
Why We Love This Pasta Pomodoro Recipe
Pasta al pomodoro is a traditional Italian pasta dish. It is made with tomatoes, garlic, and pasta and it is a light dish rather than a heavy sauced one.
- Quick. This pomodoro recipe is a deliciously light pasta dish that’s ready on the table in 25 minutes.
- Healthy. There’s no need for a jarred sauce in this recipe, so it’s lower in sugar and salt than you may normally expect.
- Easy. It’s pretty much all done in one pan and the flavors are so fresh.
Variations on Pomodoro Pasta
It is quick to make and traditionally served with spaghetti, although you could also serve it with penne, linguine, or another kind of pasta . It’s fresh, flavorful and delicious!
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover pasta pomodoro in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze the pasta and pomodoro sauce in separate Ziplock bags for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and combining.
Serving Suggestions
This pasta dish is great on its own, but you can also serve it with a wealth of side dishes. We love it with homemade garlic bread , stuffed tomatoes , cheesy broccoli , or asparagus with pancetta .
More Pasta Recipes To Try
- Chicken Parmesan Pasta Skillet
- Baked Spaghetti
- Crockpot Spaghetti Casserole
- Baked Ziti
- Creamy Chicken Spaghetti
Notes from the Test Kitchen
- Cook the pasta al-dente .
- Use canned crushed tomatoes, not whole for this recipe.
- To make this dish vegetarian use a vegetable broth and omit the cheese to make it vegan.
5-Star Review
“This pasta was so easy to make and had SO much flavor – plus it was pretty enough for a dinner party!” -Courtney O’Dell
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 pound dry spaghetti (1 box)
- ▢ 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ▢ 1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ 2-4 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth
- ▢ 15 ounces crushed tomatoes or petite diced (1 can)
- ▢ 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- ▢ Freshly grated Parmigiana Reggiano or Parmesan cheese, for serving
Video
Instructions
- Bring a large salted pot of water to a boil over high heat. Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions, and drain. 1 pound dry spaghetti
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Add the fresh tomatoes, salt, and pepper and sauté, stirring often, 1 minute. 1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Add the minced garlic, stir, and cook for 1 minute. 2-4 cloves garlic
- Add the broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, cooked pasta, and chopped basil; stir often and cook 3-4 minutes or until liquid is reduced. 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth, 15 ounces crushed tomatoes, 3 tablespoons tomato paste, ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves, 1 pound dry spaghetti
- Serve in individual dishes and garnish with fresh basil leaves and cheese. Freshly grated Parmigiana Reggiano
Becky’s Tips
- Use canned tomatoes rather than fresh for a better texture.
- Omit the cheese to make this dish vegan.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Pasta Pomodoro Step by Step
Cook the Tomatoes: Bring a large salted pot of water to a boil over high heat. Cook 1 pound of spaghetti to al dente according to the package instructions, and drain. While the pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add 1 cup of chopped fresh tomatoes, ½ teaspoon of kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper and sauté, stirring often, 1 minute.
Cook the Garlic: Add 2-4 cloves of minced garlic, stir, and cook for 1 minute.
Add the Broth: Add 1 cup of vegetable broth, 15 ounces (1 can) of crushed tomatoes, 3 tablespoons of tomato paste, the cooked pasta, and ¼ cup of chopped fresh basil; stir often and cook 3-4 minutes or until liquid is reduced.
Garnish and Serve: Serve in individual dishes and garnish with fresh basil leaves and cheese.
Pomodoro and marinara are both Italian tomato-based sauces and they are made with similar ingredients. One of the main differences is the texture of the sauce; pomodoro is thick and smooth and marinara sauce is runnier and chunky.
Pasta Pomodoro Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry spaghetti (1 box)
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2-4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth
- 15 ounces crushed tomatoes or petite diced (1 can)
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- Freshly grated Parmigiana Reggiano or Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large salted pot of water to a boil over high heat. Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions, and drain. 1 pound dry spaghetti
- While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Add the fresh tomatoes, salt, and pepper and sauté, stirring often, 1 minute. 1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Add the minced garlic, stir, and cook for 1 minute. 2-4 cloves garlic
- Add the broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, cooked pasta, and chopped basil; stir often and cook 3-4 minutes or until liquid is reduced. 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth, 15 ounces crushed tomatoes, 3 tablespoons tomato paste, ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves, 1 pound dry spaghetti
- Serve in individual dishes and garnish with fresh basil leaves and cheese. Freshly grated Parmigiana Reggiano
Video
Notes
- Use canned tomatoes rather than fresh for a better texture.
- Omit the cheese to make this dish vegan.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
