Easy Oven-Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce
A quick and flavorful pasta sauce made by roasting cherry tomatoes and garlic to caramelized perfection, then blending with fresh basil for a bright, fresh, and slightly smoky sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 35-40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds (900 g) cherry tomatoes, ripe and firm
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 large garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- Parmesan cheese, freshly grated (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Rinse 2 pounds (900 g) of cherry tomatoes and pat dry. Peel 4 large garlic cloves but leave them whole.
- Toss tomatoes and garlic in a mixing bowl with 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to coat evenly.
- Spread the mixture evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding.
- Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes, tossing halfway through, until tomatoes shrivel, burst, and caramelize, and garlic turns golden and fragrant.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Using an immersion blender, pulse the roasted tomatoes and garlic until smooth but slightly chunky. Add pasta cooking water or more olive oil if a thinner sauce is desired.
- Stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes if using. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately over your favorite pasta or store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Notes
Keep an eye on tomatoes after 20 minutes to prevent burning. Toss halfway through roasting for even caramelization. Blend while tomatoes are warm for smoothest texture. For dairy-free, omit Parmesan or use vegan alternatives. Sauce can be stored in fridge up to 4 days or frozen up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/2 cup sauce
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 1.3
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 2
Keywords: oven roasted cherry tomato pasta sauce, easy pasta sauce, roasted tomato sauce, quick pasta sauce, cherry tomato sauce, homemade pasta sauce