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Home » Dinner » Pasta Pomodoro Recipe

July 1, 2019 By Sara 20 Comments

Pasta Pomodoro Recipe

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This pasta pomodoro recipe is spaghetti tossed in a homemade tomato sauce and garnished with plenty of parmesan cheese and fresh basil. A classic Italian dish that’s perfect for entertaining!

You can never go wrong with a hearty pasta dish, especially when you’re feeding a crowd. Some of my favorites include penne alla vodka, Cajun chicken pasta and this simple yet satisfying pasta pomodoro.

Pasta Pomodoro Recipe | Spaghetti Recipe | Homemade Tomato Sauce #pasta #spaghetti #tomatoes #basil #italianfood #dinner #dinneratthezoo
Pasta Pomodoro Recipe | Spaghetti Recipe | Homemade Tomato Sauce #pasta #spaghetti #tomatoes #basil #italianfood #dinner #dinneratthezoo

Pasta pomodoro topped with grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves.

Sometimes simple is best, like in this case with the classic Italian favorite pasta pomodoro. The pasta is tossed in the most delicious homemade tomato sauce, with a secret ingredient that makes it taste like it came from your favorite Italian restaurant. Add some parmesan cheese and fresh basil, then serve!

What is pasta pomodoro?

“Pomodoro” is literally Italian for tomato. The ingredients for this dish typically contain some type of canned whole tomatoes, onion, garlic, butter, parmesan cheese and fresh basil. While pomodoro is often made with spaghetti, it can also be made with other types of pasta.

How do you make pasta pomodoro?

You don’t need to wait for ripe summer tomatoes to enjoy pasta pomodoro. The homemade sauce can be made year round with high quality canned tomatoes. The secret ingredient for a great sauce is a can of San Marzano whole tomatoes. These plum tomatoes are sweet and mild, and they are the perfect foundation for pomodoro sauce. San Marzano tomatoes can be found in any grocery store under a variety of labels.

The first step in making pasta pomodoro is to prepare the sauce. The sauce starts with sauteed onions and garlic. The tomatoes are pureed, then simmered with the garlic and onions. Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to give the sauce a bit of a kick! While the sauce is simmering, prepare your pasta. The cooked pasta is tossed with the sauce, then butter and parmesan cheese are stirred into the mix to add richness. Add some more cheese and fresh basil for garnish, then serve and enjoy!

Homemade tomato sauce with fresh basil sprigs.

Tips for pasta pomodoro

  • While spaghetti is traditional in this dish, other long types of pasta can be used such as fettuccine, bucatini or angel hair pasta.
  • Freshly grated parmesan cheese works best in this dish. Pre-grated cheese often contains stabilizers and anti caking agents and does not melt as well.
  • You can make the sauce up to 2 days in advance, then reheat the sauce in a pan and toss the pasta, butter and parmesan cheese in the sauce right before serving. The sauce can also be frozen for up to 2 months.

Spaghetti noodles in a pan of tomato sauce.

Pomodoro Variations

This dish is delicious as is, but you can add other ingredients to customize it to your family’s tastes.

  • Protein: Try adding grilled chicken, shrimp, meatballs or Italian sausage to your pasta.
  • Vegetables: You can incorporate sauteed veggies such as mushrooms, zucchini, artichokes or eggplant.
  • Cheese: Add a layer of shredded mozzarella or fontina over the top of your pasta, then place it under the broiler for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

A skillet of tomato sauce with spaghetti, butter and cheese.

This pasta dish is perfect as a lighter main course, or you can serve it as a side dish alongside chicken and vegetables. I like to serve my pomodoro with a side of garlic bread and a green salad. It’s always a huge hit with kids and adults alike!

A pan of pasta pomodoro with cheese and fresh basil as garnish.

More delicious pasta recipes

  • Caprese Pasta
  • Turkey Pasta Carbonara
  • Cajun Chicken Pasta
  • Taco Pasta
  • Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Pasta pomodoro topped with grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves.
Print Pin
5 from 13 votes

Pasta Pomodoro

This pasta pomodoro recipe is spaghetti tossed in a homemade tomato sauce and garnished with plenty of parmesan cheese and fresh basil. A classic Italian dish that's perfect for entertaining!
Course Main
Cuisine Italian
Keyword pasta pomodoro
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 576kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons garlic minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 28 ounce can San Marzano Whole Tomatoes pureed in a blender or food processor
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese divided use
  • 3 sprigs fresh basil plus more basil leaves for garnish.
  • 12 ounces spaghetti or other long pasta

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 4-5 minutes or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
  • Stir in the red pepper flakes (optional), then add the pureed tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes or until sauce has just started to thicken. Stir in the sprigs of basil, then remove the sauce from the heat.
  • While the sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti in a large pot of salted water according to package directions.
  • Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking liquid.
  • Discard the basil sprigs. Add the pasta to the pan with the tomato sauce, toss to coat. Place the pan of pasta over medium heat.
  • Add the pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until pasta sauce is at your desired consistency.
  • Stir in the butter and half of the parmesan cheese. Toss the pasta until the cheese and butter are melted.
  • Remove the pasta from the heat. Top with remaining parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves, then serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 576kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 544mg | Potassium: 812mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 865IU | Vitamin C: 20.5mg | Calcium: 246mg | Iron: 3.8mg

Filed Under: Dinner, Pasta Tagged With: Basil, Spaghetti, Tomatoes

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Comments

  1. Taylor DiLanzo says

    December 2, 2020 at 10:58 pm

    5 stars
    This is excellent! My fiancé loved it! Super easy to make. I am making it for a second time, instead of long pasta could I do it with tortellini pasta and grilled chicken?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 3, 2020 at 6:42 pm

      Yes that will work just fine!

      Reply
  2. Jean says

    July 15, 2020 at 9:01 pm

    5 stars
    This was yummy! I had the fresh basil and topped it with a few grilled prawns! Restaurant style at home!

    Reply
  3. DC says

    May 11, 2020 at 7:41 pm

    Can this be made with pasata rather than pureeing whole tomatoes?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 13, 2020 at 7:49 pm

      Yes that’s fine!

      Reply
  4. Cindy taffet says

    April 15, 2020 at 4:02 pm

    5 stars
    This dish was awesome even without the onions. Enjoy your recipes
    Thx again Cindy Taffet

    Reply
  5. Cynthia taffet says

    April 13, 2020 at 6:14 pm

    Want to try this but can I omit the onions?
    Thx you

    Reply
    • Sara says

      April 13, 2020 at 7:24 pm

      Yes that’s fine!

      Reply
  6. Joyce says

    March 25, 2020 at 2:18 pm

    5 stars
    This was such a satisfying dish! I heaped on the parmesan cheese as I love it that way! I did have fresh basil so I added it on too

    Reply
  7. Debra says

    February 2, 2020 at 1:51 pm

    5 stars
    I love this recipe as even my fussy eaters eat this!

    Reply
  8. Jacque Hooper says

    July 8, 2019 at 11:53 am

    5 stars
    This is my family’s all-time favorite recipe! Made this for dinner last night and am going to serve it again this evening! Easy and delicious; yum!

    Reply
  9. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    July 3, 2019 at 6:36 am

    5 stars
    This looks incredibly delicious! I know for sure this would be a huge hit in my house!

    Reply
  10. Jade Manning says

    July 3, 2019 at 5:55 am

    5 stars
    That’s dinner sorted tonight! Delicious!

    Reply
  11. Catalina says

    July 2, 2019 at 1:26 pm

    5 stars
    This is an Italian classic recipe that everyone loves it! Looks fabulous!

    Reply
  12. Danielle says

    July 2, 2019 at 11:12 am

    Two questions because I really want to make this!

    1. Can you freeze the sauce if you make it ahead?
    2. If you are using fresh tomatoes, how many would you need?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 2, 2019 at 8:25 pm

      Yes you can freeze the sauce! You’d use 2 pounds of fresh tomatoes.

      Reply
  13. Krista says

    July 2, 2019 at 7:53 am

    5 stars
    There’s nothing more satisfying than a bowl of delicious homemade pasta! Yum!

    Reply
  14. Katerina @ diethood .com says

    July 2, 2019 at 4:37 am

    5 stars
    My family would LOVE this!! Such a flavorful dish!

    Reply
  15. Beth Pierce says

    July 1, 2019 at 5:46 pm

    5 stars
    Loved the added kick of the chili flakes! Was the perfect ingredient for a classic dish! Yum!

    Reply
  16. Demeter says

    July 1, 2019 at 2:04 pm

    5 stars
    I love how the simple things sometimes are just the best! So classic.

    Reply

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With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More
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