Description
A simple and delicious Baked Parmesan Pasta recipe featuring roasted cherry tomatoes and parmesan cheese baked to golden perfection, combined with pasta tossed in a creamy garlic-infused sauce, garnished with fresh basil. Perfect for a flavorful weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- ¼ Cup olive oil
- 2 Cups cherry tomatoes
- 5 oz parmesan cheese
- 2 Cups pasta (your favorite kind)
- 2 Garlic cloves (minced)
- Pepper to taste
- Fresh Basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare ingredients: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In a baking dish, combine olive oil, cherry tomatoes, and parmesan cheese. Toss to evenly coat the tomatoes with the olive oil and cheese. Sprinkle with pepper to taste.
- Bake the tomatoes and cheese: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the top of the parmesan cheese is golden and the cherry tomatoes are roasted and soft.
- Cook the pasta: While the tomatoes and cheese are baking, cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve â…“ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- Combine baked ingredients: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Add the minced garlic to the baked tomatoes and parmesan, stirring well. The heat will help create a creamy sauce as the cheese melts and mixes with the roasted tomatoes.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Add the cooked pasta and the reserved pasta cooking water to the baking dish. Toss everything together thoroughly until the pasta is well coated with the creamy tomato and parmesan sauce.
- Season and garnish: Sprinkle additional pepper to taste. Serve the pasta garnished with fresh basil leaves for a burst of bright flavor and aroma.
Notes
- Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for the best flavor and melting quality.
- You can substitute cherry tomatoes with grape tomatoes if preferred.
- Reserve pasta cooking water is key to achieving the creamy consistency for the sauce.
- Add cooked chicken or shrimp for a protein boost.
- Adjust baking time if using a different oven or baking dish size.
