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Pasta Napoletana

Pasta Napoletana

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This quick and easy Pasta Napoletana is a traditional Italian favorite made with tomatoes, garlic, onion, and basil. Ready in under 30 minutes, this dish delivers pure Mediterranean comfort with every bite—simple, fresh, and absolutely delicious.

  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz (220 grams) spaghetti or bucatini (short pasta is fine too)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil or extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 1 medium-sized onion, finely chopped
  • 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 can (14 oz/400 grams) tomatoes (whole, diced or cherry tomatoes)
  • ½ tsp fine salt, plus more to taste
  • â…› tsp black pepper
  • 1 handful of basil leaves, chopped or torn
  • 3 Tbsp grated parmesan, to serve

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Start cooking the pasta about 5 minutes after you start making the sauce. Cook pasta per packet instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook 5–6 minutes until soft and translucent.
  3. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Add tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Stir and simmer for 15 minutes until slightly reduced, breaking whole tomatoes with the back of a spoon.
  5. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add the drained pasta to the pan with the sauce along with fresh basil and toss well. Add a splash of reserved pasta water to make it juicier.
  6. Serve with freshly grated parmesan, extra basil, black pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Notes

  • Use high-quality Italian canned tomatoes for best flavor.
  • Add olives, anchovies, or capers for an extra punch of flavor.
  • Leftovers can be stored in the fridge up to 2 days and reheated with a touch of water and olive oil.
  • Author: lily
  • Prep Time: 3 minutes
  • Cook Time: 22 minutes
  • Category: Pasta
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegetarian