Description
Creamy Tomato Pasta is a comforting Italian-inspired dish featuring penne pasta tossed in a rich, silky tomato sauce made with butter, garlic, tomato sauce, tomato paste, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. This easy recipe comes together in about 25 minutes and yields a satisfying main course for four servings, garnished with fresh parsley for a touch of color and flavor.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces penne pasta, uncooked (1/2 pound)
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the penne pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes or according to the package directions. Drain the pasta well and set it aside.
- Sauté garlic: While the pasta cooks, heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it becomes bubbly and hot, about 1 minute. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute, being careful not to burn it.
- Prepare tomato sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce and tomato paste into the skillet with the garlic. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a simmer, cooking for 4-5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Add cream and cheese: Reduce the heat to low, then stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Continue cooking the sauce until it thickens to your desired consistency, approximately 3 minutes. Season the sauce with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Add the cooked penne pasta to the sauce and toss well so that each piece is evenly coated with the creamy tomato sauce.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the finely chopped fresh parsley over the pasta for a fresh, herbal finish. Serve the pasta warm for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- To reduce preparation time, use pre-minced garlic.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, but it may be less creamy.
- For a vegetarian version, ensure the Parmesan cheese used is vegetarian-friendly.
- Adding a pinch of red pepper flakes can give the sauce a subtle kick.
- Leftover pasta is best stored in an airtight container and consumed within 2 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
