Easy Creamy Tomato Pasta
A silky tomato cream sauce made from pantry ingredients and tossed with short pasta. Dinner is ready in about 30 minutes.
- Total30 min
- Yield4 servings
- LevelEasy
Not yet kitchen-tested This recipe is written from established cooking techniques and reviewed for accuracy, but our team hasn't cooked it from these exact instructions yet. How we test recipes
This is a weeknight sauce built on two small steps that add a lot of flavor. Cooking the tomato paste until it darkens deepens its sweetness, and a splash of starchy pasta water helps the cream and cheese cling to every piece of pasta.
The sauce simmers while the pasta boils, so both finish at about the same time.
Recipe
Easy Creamy Tomato Pasta
A silky tomato cream sauce made from pantry ingredients and tossed with short pasta. Dinner is ready in about 30 minutes.
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Total time
- 30 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Course
- Main Course
- Cuisine
- Italian-American
Ingredients
Scaling changes ingredient amounts only. Cooking times, pan sizes, and temperatures may need adjusting.
Makes: 4 servings
Instructions
Boil the water. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season it generously with kosher salt. It should taste pleasantly salty.
Soften the onion. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes, until soft and translucent but not browned.
Toast the garlic and tomato paste. Add the garlic and tomato paste. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant and the paste turns a deeper brick red. Don’t let the garlic brown, or it will taste bitter.
Simmer the sauce. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes, until slightly thickened.
Cook the pasta. While the sauce simmers, cook the pasta until about 1 minute short of the package’s al dente time. Before draining, scoop out 1 cup of the cooking water.
Finish the sauce. Reduce the heat under the sauce to low. Stir in the cream and Parmesan until smooth. Keeping the heat low helps prevent the cream from separating.
Toss together. Add the drained pasta and 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until the sauce coats the pasta glossily. Add more pasta water a splash at a time if it looks thick.
Season and serve. Taste and add salt if needed. Stir in most of the basil, then serve topped with the remaining basil and extra Parmesan.
Recipe Notes
Tips
- Pasta keeps absorbing sauce as it sits, so serve right away or loosen leftovers with a splash of water.
- For extra protein, stir in a can of drained white beans or serve with grilled chicken.
Substitutions
- Heavy cream: Half-and-half works but is less rich. Keep the heat low so it doesn’t separate.
- Vegetarian note: Traditional Parmesan is made with animal rennet. For a strictly vegetarian dish, choose a Parmesan-style cheese labeled as made with vegetable or microbial rennet.
Allergens: Contains wheat and milk.
Recipe from The Cozy Recipe Kitchen: https://cozy-recipe-kitchen.b-cdn.net/recipe/easy-creamy-tomato-pasta/
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of water or milk.
Freezing
The sauce alone, without pasta, freezes well for up to 3 months. Frozen pasta tends to turn soft and grainy, so cook fresh pasta when you reheat the sauce.
Make Ahead
Make the sauce through step 4 up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate. Reheat it, then finish with the cream, cheese, and freshly cooked pasta.
Troubleshooting
- My sauce looks grainy or separated.
- The heat was too high after the dairy went in. Take the pan off the heat and stir in a splash of pasta water vigorously to bring it back together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use canned diced tomatoes?
Yes, but the sauce will be chunkier. Blend it briefly with an immersion blender if you prefer it smooth.
Allergens and Food Safety
Allergens: Contains wheat and milk.
Allergen notes are based on the listed ingredients. Always check product labels. See our Disclaimer.
Nutrition Information
We don't publish nutrition facts for this recipe yet. We'd rather share none than share numbers that haven't been calculated with a documented method. Learn more.
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