This angel hair pasta with fresh tomatoes is a quick, healthy, and flavorful dinner that delivers all the comfort of a classic Italian meal—with low saturated fat, and ingredients you likely already have at home.
For more easy pasta recipes, check out our creamy broccoli pasta, lemon orzo lentil pasta, and lemon ricotta pasta
A Light, Healthy Dinner You Can Make in Minutes
This angel hair pasta with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and basil is one of those recipes Louise and I turn to again and again—especially on busy summer nights when we want something light, healthy, and bursting with flavor 🍅.
It’s the perfect weeknight vegetarian dinner that comes together in under 20 minutes, with just a handful of pantry ingredients. Made with extra virgin olive oil, ripe cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and a sprinkle of parmesan, this dish is inspired by the simplicity of the Mediterranean diet—heart-healthy, fiber-rich, and packed with antioxidants.
We love how the angel hair pasta soaks up the quick tomato basil sauce, making each bite juicy and satisfying. It’s also a great 15 minute pasta dinner that’s low in saturated fat and naturally high in plant-based nutrients 🌿. And if you’re looking for more protein, just sprinkle on extra cheese or pair it with a side of beans or lentils.
Whether you’re cooking for two or feeding a family, this is a go-to recipe that’s easy, wholesome, and totally delicious. It’s our version of comfort food that feels as good as it tastes ❤️.
Ingredients
Find complete ingredient list, quantities, and substitutions in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.
- Angel hair pasta: angel hair (capellini) cooks in just a few minutes, making it perfect for a 15 minute pasta dinner. Substitute with thin spaghetti or linguine if needed.
- Cherry tomatoes: sweet and juicy, they break down quickly into a quick tomato basil pasta sauce. Substitute grape tomatoes, Roma tomatoes (chopped), or canned San Marzano tomatoes in a pinch.
- Extra virgin olive oil: adds richness and Mediterranean flavor. For a mediterranean diet pasta, use cold-pressed olive oil. Substitute avocado oil or garlic-infused oil for variety.
- Garlic: grated or pressed garlic infuses the oil for bold flavor. Substitute with shallots, roasted garlic for a milder taste, or garlic powder in a hurry.
- Salt: enhances all the flavors in the sauce. Sea salt or kosher salt are great choices.
- Black pepper: freshly cracked adds subtle heat and depth. Substitute with white pepper or pink peppercorns for a twist.
- Red pepper flakes: optional but adds a gentle kick. Substitute with a pinch of cayenne, chili oil, or omit for a milder flavor.
- Fresh basil leaves: adds freshness and ties the sauce together. Substitute with fresh parsley, oregano, or arugula for a peppery note.
- Grated parmesan cheese: melts into the sauce for creamy, salty richness. For a plant-based pasta recipe, substitute with nutritional yeast, vegan parmesan, or skip it entirely.
How to Make Angel Hair Pasta
1. Bring a Large Pot of Water to a Boil
Fill a big pot with water and set it over high heat. While you wait for it to boil, rinse and halve your cherry tomatoes.
2. Make the Easy Tomato Sauce
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the halved cherry tomatoes, pressed garlic, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until the tomatoes soften and release their juices. This is your easy tomato sauce for angel hair—fresh, flavorful, and ready in no time.
3. Cook the Angel Hair Pasta
When the water boils, add salt to the pot, then drop in the angel hair pasta. Cook it 1 to 2 minutes less than what the package says. It finishes cooking in the sauce for perfect texture.
4. Combine Pasta with the Sauce
Before draining the pasta, save about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Then drain the pasta and add it to the skillet with the sauce. Pour in ½ cup of the pasta water and toss everything together with fresh basil leaves. Cook for 1–2 minutes more, until the pasta is al dente and coated in the sauce. Add more pasta water if the sauce looks too dry.
5. Finish with Parmesan and Basil
Turn off the heat and stir in the grated parmesan cheese until it melts into the sauce. Serve your pasta hot, topped with extra basil, a drizzle of olive oil, and more parmesan if you like. This makes a perfect weeknight vegetarian dinner—quick, light, and full of flavor.
Tips
- Use ripe cherry tomatoes: They give the best flavor and natural sweetness to your sauce. If they’re not in season, grape tomatoes or good canned tomatoes will work too for that summer tomato pasta feel.
- Don’t overcook the garlic: Add it with the tomatoes to prevent it from burning. Burnt garlic turns bitter and will overpower your light sauce.
- Cook pasta just shy of al dente: Since it finishes in the sauce, undercooking by 1–2 minutes helps absorb more flavor—this is key for any simple pasta dinner.
- Save the pasta water: That starchy liquid helps the sauce cling to the noodles and gives you a silky finish without adding cream or butter.
- Toss everything together off the heat: When adding parmesan, turn off the heat to avoid clumping. It should melt smoothly into the pasta.
- Make it your own: Want extra flavor? Add olives, sun-dried tomatoes, or capers. For heat lovers, bump up the chili flakes.
- Serve immediately: Angel hair can overcook quickly, so serve it as soon as it’s sauced. This keeps it light and fresh—perfect for a light summer dinner idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can use capellini or thin spaghetti. You can also use regular spaghetti or linguine, just cook it a bit longer. Keep in mind the texture will be slightly different.
Make sure to stir the pasta during the first minute of cooking, and toss it immediately in the sauce after draining. The tomato juices and olive oil will help separate the strands.
Angel hair pasta is best eaten fresh because it cooks so quickly and tends to get soft if reheated. But you can prep the sauce in advance and cook fresh pasta in minutes for a quick vegetarian angel hair pasta meal.
Yes! Just swap half of the olive oil with plant-based or dairy butter. Add it after the garlic has cooked to melt gently into the sauce and give that silky, buttery finish.
Try nutritional yeast, a store-bought vegan parmesan, or toasted breadcrumbs for a cheesy topping without dairy.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
- Greek pasta salad
- Mushroom pasta
- Red pepper pasta
- Creamy tomato pasta
- Cherry tomato pasta
- Marry me orzo
- Mushroom ragu
- Lentil bolognese
If you tried this angel hair pasta recipe or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it goes in the comments. We love hearing from you!
Angel Hair Pasta
Ingredients
- 10 ounces angel hair pasta or capellini
- 2 pounds cherry tomatoes halved
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic pressed or grated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 twists black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 handful fresh basil leaves
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese or non-dairy cheese + more to sprinkle on top
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil: Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Meanwhile, halve 2 pounds cherry tomatoes.
- Make the sauce: In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the tomatoes, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 twists black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down and release their juices.
- Cook the pasta: Salt the boiling water generously and cook 10 ounces angel hair pasta for 1½ minutes less than the package suggests.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta. Add it to the skillet with ½ cup reserved water and 1 handful fresh basil leaves.Toss well and cook for 1–2 minutes more, until the pasta is al dente and coated in the sauce. Add more pasta water as needed.
- Finish and serve: Turn off the heat, stir in ½ cup grated parmesan cheese until melted, and serve with extra basil, olive oil, and more parmesan on top.
Notes
- Angel hair pasta → Try thin spaghetti or linguine for a similar quick-cooking option.
- Cherry tomatoes → Sub grape tomatoes, chopped Roma, or canned San Marzano in a pinch.
- Olive oil → Use cold-pressed for Mediterranean flavor, or swap with avocado or garlic oil.
- Garlic → No fresh garlic? Use shallots, roasted garlic, or garlic powder.
- Salt → Sea salt or kosher salt both work well.
- Black pepper → White or pink peppercorns offer a fun flavor twist.
- Red pepper flakes → Add chili oil or cayenne, or leave out for a milder sauce.
- Fresh basil → Sub with parsley, oregano, or arugula for a peppery bite.
- Parmesan → Go plant-based with nutritional yeast or vegan parm—or skip it altogether.
- Use ripe cherry tomatoes for the best flavor—grape or canned San Marzano work in a pinch.
- Add garlic with the tomatoes to prevent burning and bitterness.
- Undercook the pasta slightly so it finishes perfectly in the sauce.
- Save that pasta water! It makes your sauce silky without needing cream.
- Melt cheese off the heat to keep parmesan smooth, not clumpy.
- Customize it! Toss in olives, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, or extra chili flakes.
- Serve right away—angel hair cooks fast and tastes best fresh and hot.
Nutrition
Hi! We are Nico & Louise
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