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Best Slow-Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta with Garlic

slow-roasted cherry tomato pasta with garlic - featured image
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This simple yet elegant pasta features jammy, slow-roasted cherry tomatoes and sweet, mellow garlic tossed with al dente pasta, fresh basil, and Parmesan. It’s a hands-off, pantry-friendly recipe that delivers incredible depth of flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pints (about 600g) cherry tomatoes
  • 2 whole heads garlic
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
  • Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup (20g) fresh basil leaves, loosely packed
  • 1 pound (450g) short pasta (e.g., rigatoni, penne, orecchiette, or casarecce)
  • 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Wash and dry cherry tomatoes. Cut tops off garlic heads to expose cloves.
  2. On a large baking sheet, combine tomatoes and garlic (cut-side up). Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat and spread in a single layer.
  3. Roast for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, until tomatoes are collapsed and wrinkled, and garlic is soft.
  4. About 15 minutes before tomatoes are done, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta water before draining.
  5. Let roasted tomatoes and garlic cool slightly. Squeeze garlic cloves from skins into a small bowl and mash into a paste.
  6. In a large bowl, combine roasted tomatoes (with juices) and mashed garlic. Gently break up tomatoes with a fork or potato masher (do not puree). Stir in 1/2 cup reserved pasta water.
  7. Add drained hot pasta, fresh basil, and Parmesan. Toss vigorously until well coated. Add more pasta water as needed for a silky sauce.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning. If using, drizzle with balsamic vinegar and toss. Serve immediately with extra basil, Parmesan, and olive oil.

Notes

Don’t rush the roast—low and slow is key for jammy tomatoes and sweet garlic. Save more pasta water than you think you need; it helps bind the sauce. Use a potato masher, not a blender, for a rustic sauce. For extra flavor, add red pepper flakes to the pan for the last 10 minutes of roasting.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow-roasted cherry tomato pasta, roasted garlic pasta, easy pasta recipe, vegetarian pasta, weeknight dinner, cherry tomato recipe

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