Tomato Butter Pasta Recipe

Imagine twirling your fork through silky strands of pasta coated in a velvety, vibrant sauce that strikes the perfect balance between tangy tomatoes and rich, luxurious butter. This Tomato Butter Pasta Recipe transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary meal that tastes like it came from an upscale Italian restaurant. The mouthwatering combination of sweet tomatoes and creamy butter creates a sauce that clings beautifully to every bite, making each forkful absolutely irresistible. You’ll learn how to create this elegant yet surprisingly simple pasta dish that’s guaranteed to become a weeknight favorite in your home.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

The magic of this Tomato Butter Pasta lies in its beautiful simplicity and incredible depth of flavor. While many pasta recipes require countless ingredients and complicated techniques, this one achieves culinary perfection with just a handful of quality components. The contrast between the bright acidity of the tomatoes and the silky richness of the butter creates a sauce with incredible depth – creamy yet light, rich yet refreshing.

What makes this dish truly special is the textural experience: tender pasta enveloped in a sauce that’s smooth and velvety while still maintaining small tomato pieces that burst with flavor in each bite. It’s sophisticated enough for a dinner party but quick enough for a Tuesday night when you need something comforting after a long day.

Best of all, this tomato butter pasta dish comes together in just about 25 minutes, making it the perfect solution when you want something that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen, but actually allows you plenty of time to relax and enjoy your evening.

Ingredients

For this luscious Tomato Butter Pasta Recipe, you’ll need:

• 1 pound (450g) pasta (preferably spaghetti, bucatini, or linguine)
• 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 can (28 oz/800g) whole peeled tomatoes, preferably San Marzano
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more for pasta water
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, torn, plus more for garnish
• ½ cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

The quality of tomatoes matters significantly in this butter tomato sauce – San Marzano tomatoes with their sweet flavor and low acidity create the most balanced sauce. Similarly, using good-quality butter will elevate the richness and mouthfeel of this pasta dish considerably. For vegetarians, make sure to use Parmesan labeled as vegetarian, as traditional Parmesan contains animal rennet.

Pro Tips

Creating the perfect Tomato Butter Pasta is all about technique and timing. Here are three professional tips to elevate your dish:

First, properly salt your pasta water until it “tastes like the sea” – this is your only opportunity to season the pasta itself. This foundational flavor makes a noticeable difference in the final dish. Reserve at least 1 cup of this starchy cooking water before draining; it contains starches that help bind the sauce to the pasta and adjust consistency.

Second, crush whole tomatoes by hand rather than using a food processor or pre-crushed tomatoes. This creates varying textures in your sauce – some pieces will be larger, others will break down completely – resulting in a more complex and interesting eating experience than a uniformly smooth sauce.

Finally, finish cooking your pasta directly in the sauce for the last minute or two. This critical step allows the pasta to absorb the flavors while releasing starches that thicken the sauce. The pasta and sauce become one cohesive dish rather than two separate components simply combined on a plate.

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Pasta

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add a generous amount of salt (about 1 tablespoon per quart/liter of water). Cook your pasta until it’s 1-2 minutes shy of the package directions for al dente – you’ll finish cooking it in the sauce. Before draining, reserve at least 1 cup of the starchy pasta water for later use. Don’t rinse the pasta – that starch helps the sauce cling!

Step 2: Start the Sauce

While the pasta cooks, place a large, heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and the olive oil. Once the butter has melted, add the sliced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned. If the garlic starts to brown, reduce the heat immediately to prevent bitterness.

Step 3: Add Tomatoes

Pour the whole tomatoes and their juices into the pan. Use your hands to crush the tomatoes directly into the skillet, creating irregular pieces. This rustic approach gives your tomato butter pasta wonderful texture variation. Add the red pepper flakes and salt, then stir to combine. Allow the sauce to simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it starts to thicken and the tomatoes break down further.

Step 4: Finish the Sauce

Once the sauce has reduced slightly, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and stir until completely melted and incorporated. This creates the silky, glossy finish that makes this Tomato Butter Pasta Recipe so distinctive. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.

Step 5: Combine and Serve

Add the nearly-cooked pasta directly to the sauce along with about ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss continuously over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until the pasta is perfectly al dente and has absorbed some of the sauce. If the mixture seems dry, add more pasta water a tablespoon at a time. Remove from heat, stir in the grated Parmesan and torn basil. Serve immediately in warmed bowls, topped with additional Parmesan and fresh basil.

Variations

This versatile Tomato Butter Pasta can be easily customized to suit different tastes and dietary needs:

For a protein-packed version, add sautéed shrimp during the final minute of cooking, or fold in strips of prosciutto just before serving for a salty contrast to the sweet tomato sauce. The rich butter sauce pairs beautifully with seafood or cured meats without overwhelming them.

Create a vegetable-forward variation by adding a handful of baby spinach or arugula when tossing the pasta with the sauce. The residual heat will wilt the greens perfectly while adding beautiful color and nutritional value. For more substance, roasted cherry tomatoes, zucchini, or eggplant make excellent additions to this butter tomato pasta.

For a dairy-free alternative, replace the butter with additional olive oil and a tablespoon of nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese. While you’ll miss some of the richness, the fundamental character of the dish remains intact with these simple substitutions.

Storage and Serving

This Tomato Butter Pasta is best enjoyed immediately after preparation when the sauce is at its creamiest and the pasta is perfectly al dente. However, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When reheating, add a splash of water and warm gently on the stovetop, stirring frequently to reconstitute the sauce.

For an elegant serving presentation, twirl the pasta using a carving fork against a ladle to create a neat nest in warmed, shallow bowls. Top with a sprinkle of additional Parmesan, fresh basil, and a drizzle of high-quality olive oil.

Complement your tomato butter pasta dish with a simple arugula salad dressed with lemon juice and olive oil to cut through the richness. For a complete meal, serve alongside garlic bread to soak up every last bit of the luxurious sauce and a glass of medium-bodied Italian red wine like Chianti or Montepulciano d’Abruzzo to enhance the tomato flavors.

FAQs

Can I use canned crushed tomatoes instead of whole peeled tomatoes?
While you can use crushed tomatoes in a pinch, whole peeled tomatoes crushed by hand provide better texture variation and often higher quality. The sauce won’t be quite as rustic but will still be delicious.

Is there a substitute for butter to make this recipe dairy-free?
Yes, you can substitute the butter with high-quality olive oil or a plant-based butter alternative. The sauce won’t be as rich but will still have a wonderful tomato flavor.

My sauce seems too thin. How can I thicken it?
Allow it to simmer uncovered a bit longer to reduce further, or add more grated Parmesan cheese. The starchy pasta water actually helps thicken the sauce too, counterintuitively.

What pasta shape works best with this sauce?
Long pasta shapes like spaghetti, bucatini, or linguine work beautifully as they wrap up the silky sauce. However, shapes with ridges or hollows like rigatoni or penne also capture the sauce well.

Can I make this sauce ahead of time?
Yes! The sauce (without the pasta) can be made up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated. Simply reheat gently before adding freshly cooked pasta. The flavors often improve after a day as they meld together.

Conclusion

This Tomato Butter Pasta is comfort food at its finest — lusciously silky, vibrantly flavored, and satisfyingly simple. The magical transformation that happens when sweet tomatoes meet rich butter creates a sauce that’s both sophisticated and soulful. It’s the kind of dish that makes weeknight dinners feel special without demanding hours in the kitchen, proving that truly extraordinary food often comes from embracing simplicity rather than complexity. Whether you’re cooking for yourself after a long day or hosting friends for an impromptu dinner party, this pasta never fails to impress with its elegant balance of flavors and textures.

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