Creamy Tomato Pasta
A quick and easy weeknight pasta that's tossed in tomato cream sauce and finished with chopped fresh basil.
Serves4 to 6
Prep5 minutes
Cook15 minutes to 25 minutes
Sometimes the only thing that can solve a long, hectic weekday is a splash of cream. In those cases, turn to this comforting pasta. Al dente noodles, such as bow-tie pasta, are tossed in a quick tomato cream sauce and finished with lots of chopped fresh basil and grated Parmesan for the kind of meal the whole family can agree on. It will put a smile of everyone’s face, no matter the kind of day they had.
An Easy Weeknight Pasta That’s Just Rich Enough
This quick and easy dinner is inspired by penne alla vodka, but made simpler with fewer ingredients — namely, the vodka. I assure you, it won’t be missed, and the omission makes it more kid-friendly.
While there are ways to make any pasta sauce, this pasta sauce is just four ingredients: onion, garlic, a can of crushed tomatoes, and cream. That last ingredient is what makes the sauce extra special, but it’s not poured with a heavy hand. A generous splash is really all you need to add richness to the sauce without making this dinner feel too indulgent. The result is a comforting pasta dinner that will likely become a habit throughout these chilly winter months.
Creamy Tomato Pasta
A quick and easy weeknight pasta that's tossed in tomato cream sauce and finished with chopped fresh basil.
Prep time 5 minutes
Cook time 15 minutes to 25 minutes
Serves 4 to 6
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1 pound
dry short pasta, such as penne
- 2 tablespoons
olive oil
- 1
small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves
garlic, minced
Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt, plus more as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
- 1 (28-ounce) can
crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup
heavy cream
- 1/2 cup
chopped fresh basil leaves
Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large, high-sided sauté pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and sauté until softened and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, if using, and sauté until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Carefully pour in the crushed tomatoes. Add the salt and pepper and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low and stir in the cream. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook al dente, about 10 minutes or according to package instructions.
Drain the pasta and add it to the sauce. Toss gently to combine. Add the basil, toss once more, and serve immediately with grated cheese.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.