A simple, cheap 5-ingredient classic ready in 15 minutes.

Tomato & Garlic Spaghetti

⏱ Prep: 5 min  🔥 Cook: 10 min  🕒 Total: 15 min  🍽 Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 200g spaghetti

• 3 garlic cloves, sliced

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 can chopped tomatoes (or 2 fresh tomatoes, diced)

• Salt & pepper

• Optional: basil, parmesan

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Fast & fuss-free — ready in just 15 minutes, perfect for busy nights.

• Made with simple ingredients — tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, spaghetti… that’s it!

• Budget-friendly — super cheap to make but tastes amazing.

• Light yet satisfying — perfect comfort food without being heavy.

• Naturally vegetarian and easily made vegan if you skip the cheese.

• Fresh, vibrant flavours — garlic and tomato are a classic combo that never disappoints.

Instructions

1. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions.

2. Heat olive oil in a pan, add sliced garlic, and cook until fragrant.

3. Add tomatoes, season with salt & pepper, simmer 5 minutes.

4. Toss in cooked spaghetti and mix well.

5. Serve with basil or parmesan if desired.

Tips

• Use fresh garlic — it gives the sauce a stronger, richer flavour.

• Reserve some pasta water — adding 2–3 tablespoons helps the sauce coat the spaghetti perfectly.

• Slice the garlic, don’t mince it — sliced garlic cooks more gently and won’t burn as fast.

• Use ripe tomatoes — the riper they are, the sweeter and more flavourful your sauce will be.

• Add fresh basil at the end — keeps the flavour bright and fresh.

• Finish with olive oil — a drizzle on top makes the dish taste restaurant-quality.