Description
Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe with flavorful tomatoes, garlic, and creamy sauce. Quick, comforting, and crowd-pleasing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or spaghetti work well)
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) olive oil
- 8 garlic cloves, minced (about 3 tablespoons)
- 1 small onion, finely diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 cans (14.5 oz/411g each) whole peeled tomatoes
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients Begin by bringing a large pot of generously salted water to a boil for your pasta. While waiting, prepare your aromatics by mincing the garlic and dicing the onion finely. Open your canned tomatoes and have all ingredients measured and ready for a smooth cooking process.
- Step 2: Start The Sauce Base Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onions and cook for 3-4 minutes until they become translucent but not browned. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using), stirring constantly for 60-90 seconds until fragrant. Be vigilant here – the garlic can burn quickly, which would impart bitterness to your Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta.
- Step 3: Develop The Tomato Flavor Pour in the canned tomatoes with their juices, breaking them up with a wooden spoon as they enter the pan. Season with salt and black pepper, then allow the mixture to come to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. You’ll notice the sauce thickening and the flavor concentrating – this is exactly what you want for your garlic pasta with tomato sauce.
- Step 4: Cook The Pasta While the sauce simmers, cook your pasta in the boiling water until it’s al dente (typically 1-2 minutes less than package directions suggest). Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
- Step 5: Create The Creamy Sauce Reduce the heat under your tomato sauce to low, then gradually stir in the heavy cream. Allow the sauce to gently simmer for another 2-3 minutes until it takes on a beautiful orange-pink hue. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and incorporated. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to achieve your desired consistency.
- Step 6: Combine And Finish Add the drained pasta directly to the sauce, tossing thoroughly to coat every strand. Allow the pasta to cook in the sauce for 1-2 minutes, which helps it absorb the flavors. Fold in the fresh chopped basil, then taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Your Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta is ready to serve, garnished with additional basil leaves and freshly grated Parmesan.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 65mg