Yes! This recipe freezes well. Let cool to room temp before transferring to a freezer safe jar or container. Make sure to leave at least 1/2 inch of space at the top of the container for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Herby Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce

Name: Herby Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 6-8 ounces pasta of choice (I use fettucine); 16 ounces cherry tomatoes; 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (divided); 3-4 cloves garlic (more to taste); 1/2 teaspoon dry oregano (see note #1); 1/2 teaspoon dry thyme; 1/2 teaspoon dry parsley; 1/2 teaspoon dry rosemary; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 to 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (see note #2); 1/2 cup basil (chiffonade (slice thinly) ); shredded Parmesan (for topping, optional); freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

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Roasted cherry tomatoes tossed with olive oil and herbs make this deliciously rich and flavorful pasta sauce a must-try recipe! This recipe comes together in just over 30 minutes and is perfect for summer.

Overhead view of large white bowl filled with spaghetti and cherry tomato sauce

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Recipe features

Roasted cherry tomatoes add a rich, deep flavor to the sauce
The sauce uses under 10 ingredients, most of which are pantry staples!
Ready in just over 30 minutes
Easy to double, freeze and customize

Let me tell you: roasting the tomatoes enhances their flavor and takes the sauce to the next level.

Last year I tried my hand at growing tomatoes for the first time and I ended up with SO many cherry tomatoes. As a result, I made this sauce almost every week last summer.

If you like my cherry tomato galette or balsamic tomato pasta, you are sure to love this recipe!

What you'll need

Labeled ingredients used to make cherry tomato sauce

Cherry tomatoes: I like to use a mix of red and orange tomatoes for appearance. You can also use grape tomatoes or even small slicing tomatoes.

Olive oil: I recommend using an olive oil that you enjoy the flavor of because it contributes a lot to the sauce. But you don't need to buy the most expensive bottle at the grocery store; you can usually get a flavorful olive oil in the middle price range.

Garlic: I use 3-6 garlic cloves depending on the size for a very garlicky result. Adjust to taste.

Dry herbs: Dry parsley, thyme, rosemary and oregano add a bunch of flavor. All of the herbs in this recipe can be omitted or substituted.

Tip: You can use 1 and ½ teaspoons fresh chopped herb in place of ½ teaspoon dry herb as desired.

Step by step instructions

Note: Make sure to reserve at least ½ cup pasta water from your pasta before draining. This can be replaced with water as needed but you may need to add extra salt to taste.

Cherry tomatoes in olive oil on a white sheet pan

Step one: Layer cherry tomatoes and sliced garlic on a half sheet pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, tossing with clean hands to coat. You can layer the sheet pan with parchment paper for easier cleanup if desired.

Close up of shriveled roasted cherry tomatoes on white background

Step two: Roast cherry tomatoes and garlic at 400F for 20 minutes total. After 10 minutes remove the tomatoes and stir them around. Return to the oven for another 10 minutes, or until the cherry tomatoes appear burst and the skins are shriveled.

Step three: Place a medium sauce pot over medium heat. Once hot, drizzle in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the dry herbs to bloom. Cook for 30 seconds to a minute, stirring frequently to prevent burning.

Cherry tomatoes and herbs in a black sauce pot

Step four: Add in the cherry tomatoes, garlic, any liquid that collected on the pan, salt and half of the basil. Stir to combine. Add in ¼ cup pasta water to thin the sauce. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.

At this point you can serve the sauce or immersion blend it. Add extra pasta water as needed to thin the sauce.

Cherry tomato sauce with wooden spoon in a black sauce pot

Recipe FAQ

Texture: This is a pretty chunky sauce but you can puree it in the blender or immersion blend it to make it smoother.
Sweetness: The cherry tomatoes are naturally sweet, so I don't add any sugar. If you do want a sweeter pasta sauce you can add ½ teaspoon white sugar.
Make it a meal with panko breaded tofu cutlets, a can of chickpeas or your favorite protein. Spinach also goes really well wilted into the sauce.

Can I use slicing tomatoes?

Yes, but I recommend slicing them into wedges first to remove the core and so that they cook more quickly.

Can I freeze this?

Yes! This recipe freezes well. Let cool to room temp before transferring to a freezer safe jar or container. Make sure to leave at least ½ inch of space at the top of the container for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How long does this keep?

For best quality, keep refrigerated in a closed container for 3-4 days.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes! This recipe makes only about 2-4 servings, depending on your appetite. You can easily double or even triple the recipe. The baking time will remain the same.

Side view of spaghetti topped with cherry tomato sauce and melted cheese

Looking for more summer favorites?

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