Name: Cherry Tomato Pasta
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 10 ounces dry spaghetti (or linguini ); 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (+ more for drizzling); 3-4 cloves garlic (, sliced thin); 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 2 pints cherry tomatoes (, halved ); 1/3 cup dry white wine ((optional)); 3/4 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste (more for pasta water)); Fresh cracked pepper (, to taste); 1 cup basil (, chopped and divided ); 1/3 cup crumbled vegan feta ((more for topping))

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In just 30 minutes you can have this restaurant-worthy Cherry Tomato Pasta on your table. The sauce is so easy to make, and the deep flavors will blow you away!

overhead view of cherry tomato pasta in a white skillet.

If there was one food that I could live on for the rest of my life, it would definitely be pasta. I could go every day eating dishes like this Tomato Orzo, my Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta, this Roasted Red Pepper Pasta and so many more.

One of my all-time favorite pasta recipes is this simple, yet luxurious Cherry Tomato Pasta. It has all the flavors of summer in every bite and I never tire of it. You've gotta try it too!

🌟 This is a quick overview with step-by-step photos. For the complete ingredient amounts and instructions, scroll down to the recipe card below.

Ingredients, Notes, and Substitutions

This recipe requires just 10 simple ingredients and that includes salt + pepper. Here's what you'll need and some substitution ideas.

Ingredients to make the recipe spread out on a table top.

Cherry Tomatoes - try to use vibrant red tomatoes and let them slightly ripen for the best flavor. You can also use grape tomatoes.
Olive Oil - high-quality extra-virgin olive oil will yield the best flavor.
Garlic - I highly recommend using fresh garlic for maximum flavor.
Spaghetti - Linguini would be my second choice for this sauce. However, you can use any type of pasta that you like. You may need to add less/more depending on the variety you choose though.
White Wine - any type of dry wine will work. I really love Bogle Chardonnay and use it for lots of recipes. It's inexpensive too. I don't recommend cooking wine. You can also omit the wine if you don't have it.
Vegan Feta Cheese - I've tried this recipe with Violife and Follow Your Heart feta and they both worked really well. If you can't find them, you can omit the cheese altogether or choose any type of soft cheese that will somewhat meld into the sauce. Vegan cream cheese or vegan ricotta will work too, but I would use half the amount so it doesn't overly thicken the sauce or overtake the other flavors.
Fresh Basil - it really completes the dish, but if you don't have it, you can use fresh parsley. I would reduce the amount by half though.
Crushed Red Pepper - this adds a subtle heat and flavor, but feel free to omit if you don't have it.

How to Make Cherry Tomato Pasta

It takes just 6 steps to complete this delicious dish. Just make sure you have everything prepped because the process goes quickly. Here's what you'll need to do.

4 process photos of making tomato sauce in a white skillet.

While the pasta is boiling, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Sauté until the garlic is softened and fragrant.
Add the tomatoes, salt, and black pepper to the pan. Sauté until tomatoes soften and release their liquid.
Pour in the white wine and simmer to reduce slightly. If the wine smells strong in the sauce, give it another minute to simmer.
Add half the basil and the feta cheese. Cook until the cheese melts into the sauce.

Two process photos of tossing pasta in sauce.

5 - Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, drain the pasta and drizzle with olive oil. Add the pasta into the pan and half of the pasta water. Cook down until somewhat creamy and noodles are coated. Add the remaining pasta water if needed.
6 - Top with the remaining basil and more feta if desired. Serve immediately.

overhead view of cherry tomato pasta on a white plate with skillet of pasta on the side.

Cherry Tomato Pasta Success Tips

This dish will come out perfect every time. Just follow the recipe closely and have everything ready to go. Here are my top tips for a top-notch experience.

Don't simmer the tomatoes too high or the liquid will reduce too much. Keep it at a mild-medium simmer. If the pan is looking a little dry, just add 1-2 tablespoons of pasta water and simmer a little longer.
If the sauce is done before the pasta, just put the pan on low heat until the pasta is done. Just remember to raise the heat when you add the pasta.
Make sure to cook the pasta until just shy of al dente because it will continue to cook when it's added to the sauce. You don't want mushy pasta.
Be sure to use the recommended amount of pasta so the sauce covers it perfectly. If you want to make more pasta, just add another pint of tomatoes to the recipe and adjust seasoning as needed.
Things will move quickly once the sauce and pasta are cooking. So prep everything before you begin and have everything near your cooking station.
It's tempting to use less olive oil, but it's really needed for this recipe to create this luxurious sauce.

Serving Suggestions

This Cherry Tomato Pasta goes well with my Vegan Caesar Salad, a loaf of No-Knead Artisan Bread, and a glass of white wine. Don't forget the Vegan Parmesan Cheese!

close up view of tomato pasta on a white dish with skillet in the background.

More tomato recipes to enjoy

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