This Creamy Tomato Pasta is a simple and delicious meal made from scratch with a cream and tomato based sauce that is rich and silky smooth. This quick and easy recipe is ready in under 30 minutes using simple ingredients that are easy to find.
With effortless preparation and endless flavor, this carb-loaded meal is perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. Creamy tomato pasta is filling, flavorful, and kid-friendly. Make a big batch because the whole family with be asking for seconds.
Why You’ll Love this Creamy Tomato Pasta
- Quick and easy to make. This creamy tomato pasta is ready to serve in under half an hour from start to finish! It’s a simple and uncomplicated, beginner-friendly dish that packs a lot of flavor without requiring a lot of hassle. Perfect for busy weeknights.
- Simple ingredients. Other quick pastas (especially box mixes) contain fillers and artificial ingredients. This creamy penne pasta is only made with real ingredients you recognize, and you have complete authority to make substitutions as needed (such as making it completely vegan)!
- Incredibly versatile. One of the highlights of this pasta with creamy tomato sauce is that it can be served as main dish for dinner or and a side dish to another entree (hello Chicken Parm!). Plus, you can customize it by adding in other ingredients such as protein, veggies, and spices. However you serve it, it is sure to please.
Ingredient Notes
To make this delicious RECIPE, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- pasta – use your favorite pasta shape. Penne, rotini, or cavatappi are great shapes for holding sauce.
- butter – you can use olive oil instead or a plant-based butter substitute if you are vegan.
- garlic – use fresh garlic if you can, or make it easier by using 1 teaspoon of pre-minced garlic in place of each garlic clove used here.
- tomato sauce – homemade and store-bought both work.
- tomato paste – you can use tomato puree in place of tomato paste at a 3:1 ratio.
- heavy cream – you can also try a heavy coconut cream if you prefer to make it a little lighter, but it will change the taste of the pasta making it slightly sweeter.
- Parmesan cheese – Parmesan cheese adds a rich, nutty flavor to the sauce and helps to thicken it. Asiago or pecorino romano are both great swaps for Parmesan.
- salt and pepper
- fresh parsley – highly recommended for serving on top, but you can leave it out if you don’t like parsley. Chopped basil works well too.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a cooking pot, and a large skillet.
How to Make the Best Creamy Tomato Pasta
- Cook pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes or according to package directions. Drain the pasta well and set aside.
- Sauté garlic. Meanwhile, heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until bubbly hot, about 1 minute. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add tomato sauce. Pour in tomato sauce and tomato paste. Stir and bring it to a simmer, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add cream. Reduce the heat to low and stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Cook until thickened to a desired consistency, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Toss in pasta. Add in the cooked pasta and toss well to coat evenly. Garnish with parsley and serve warm.
Recipe Variations
- Add protein: Feeding a crowd or eating a late lunch? Make the pasta a little more filling by adding a pre-cooked protein like grilled or oven baked chicken, sausage, or beef!
- Add veggies: Sauté some veggies before you add in the garlic to make this pasta more heartier. Some great options are mushrooms, broccoli, and zucchini. You can also stir in a few handfuls of spinach at the end until wilted (in the last minute of cooking).
- Make it spicy: Make spicy creamy tomato pasta by adding some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the tomato sauce for a bit of heat.
- Turn it into pasta alla vodka: Add a splash of vodka to the tomato sauce for a unique flavor. Simmer the sauce until the alcohol has cooked off before adding the cream.
How to Serve
Serve this Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian-inspired dishes. It pairs well with:
For more pasta sides, see our 30 Side Dishes for Pasta.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Cook the pasta al dente. Cook the pasta until it is just tender, but still has some bite to it. This will prevent the pasta from becoming mushy and will result in a better texture when tossed in the sauce.
- Don’t overcook the cream. Be careful not to overheat the cream, as it can curdle and separate. Add the cream to the sauce at the end of cooking and cook on low heat until heated through.
- Garnish with fresh herbs. We garnished with fresh parsley, but you can use other fresh herbs such as basil or oregano. Herbs add a burst of freshness and color to the dish.
- Top with cheese. Serve with a generous sprinkling of parmesan cheese (really, don’t skimp on the cheese!).
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Transfer any leftover tomato pasta into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days.
How to Reheat
Reheat in the microwave in 10 second increments until heated through or in a skillet on the stovetop for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until warm. You may need to add a splash of water if the sauce has thickened up too much in the fridge.
How to Freeze
Once the pasta has cooled to room temperature, portion it into freezer bags or meal prep containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
More Pasta Recipes
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Creamy Tomato Pasta
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Creamy Tomato Pasta is a simple and delicious meal made from scratch with a cream and tomato based sauce that is rich and silky smooth. This quick and easy recipe is ready in under 30 minutes using simple ingredients that are easy to find.Â
Ingredients
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes or according to package directions. Drain the pasta well and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until bubbly hot, about 1 minute. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Pour in tomato sauce and tomato paste. Stir and bring it to a simmer, about 4-5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Cook until thickened to a desired consistency, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add in the cooked pasta and toss well to coat evenly.
- Garnish with parsley and serve warm.
Notes
How to store: Transfer any leftover tomato pasta into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days.
How to reheat: Reheat in the microwave in 10 second increments until heated through or in a skillet on the stovetop for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until warm. You may need to add a splash of water if the sauce has thickened up too much in the fridge.
How to freeze: Once the pasta has cooled to room temperature, portion it into freezer bags or meal prep containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: creamy tomato pasta, pasta with creamy tomato sauce,
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