Description
This creamy tomato pasta recipe is a quick and comforting dish featuring a smooth tomato and cream sauce tossed with perfectly cooked pasta. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s a perfect weeknight dinner that balances the rich flavors of garlic, tomato, and parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 (14 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
To Serve
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta until al dente according to the package instructions. This usually takes about 8-10 minutes depending on the pasta type.
- Prepare the sauce base: While pasta cooks, heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for about one minute, stirring constantly to prevent burning and to release the garlic’s aroma.
- Add tomato and cream: Stir in the tomato paste, tomato sauce, heavy cream, and Italian seasoning into the skillet. Mix well until the sauce is smooth. Let it simmer gently for about 5 minutes, adjusting the heat to maintain a very gentle bubbling until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
- Season the sauce: Add salt and pepper to taste, being generous as preferred. If the sauce tastes too acidic or tangy, stir in a pinch of sugar to balance the flavors.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Drain the cooked pasta and toss it directly in the skillet with the creamy tomato sauce. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of the hot pasta water to loosen it.
- Serve: Plate the creamy tomato pasta immediately, topping each serving with freshly grated parmesan cheese as desired.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute the heavy cream with half-and-half or a milk alternative.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten free.
- Fresh basil or parsley can be added as a garnish to enhance flavor.
- If you prefer a spicier sauce, add a pinch of red pepper flakes when sautéing garlic.
- Be careful not to overcook the pasta; al dente texture pairs best with creamy sauces.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
