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Creamy Tomato-Basil Pasta combines the rich and comforting flavors of creamy tomato sauce with the fresh and aromatic notes of basil. It’s a simple yet indulgent pasta dish that’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a special weekend meal. Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta is a crowd-pleaser that’ll have your taste buds dancing with joy.
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients for Creamy Tomato-Basil Pasta
- Tips & FAQs
- TikTok
- Recipe
- Check out these other great recipes!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
The creamy tomato sauce brings a rich and velvety texture to the dish, while the basil adds a burst of freshness and a hint of sweet aroma. Together, they create a perfect balance of flavors. Pasta is one of the ultimate comfort foods, so having that creamy sauce will make you feel warm and content. My recipe is quick, making it a perfectly easy meal for busy weeknights. It’s also family-friendly, so your picky children will be wanting more in no time since it’s a meal that picky eaters tend to enjoy. You can add grilled chicken or shrimp for a heartier meal, or toss in some vegetables for extra nutrition.
Ingredients for Creamy Tomato-Basil Pasta
- Penne or Rigatoni Pasta: I personally prefer short cut pastas because its ridges and holes picks up all of that delicious sauce. You can opt in for linguine or spaghetti, if that’s what you prefer.
- Canned Diced Tomatoes: The chunky tomatoes offer texture to the dish. You can, however, chop up some fresh tomatoes and use those instead. The canned tomatoes often have liquid in them, so that’s why I chose the canned tomatoes over fresh. For one 28 oz can of diced tomatoes, you will need about 2-3 pounds of fresh tomatoes, which is about 10-12. I recommend Roma tomatoes.
- Canned Tomato Sauce: It helps this recipe add a bit more sauce so you’re not left with a tiny bit of sauce. While you can certainly make your tomato sauce from scratch using fresh tomatoes, using canned tomato sauce in this recipe ensures consistency, convenience, and a reliable flavor profile. It’s a time-saving and reliable choice.
- Tomato Paste: I love using tomato paste in tomato cream sauces. It helps thicken the sauce and gives a rich, umami tomatoey flavor.
- Garlic Cloves: What’s a great pasta sauce without garlic?
- Yellow Onions: Gives the sauce a good balance in flavor so it’s not straight tomato.
- Italian Seasoning: I love the flavors that Italian seasoning gives to a dish. You can make your own fresh Italian seasoning, but dried is more readily available.
- Fresh Basil: Fresh is key here. It gives a beautiful, vibrant and aromatic note to the sauce that you just won’t get with dried basil. Don’t skimp out on it, either!
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: This helps cut through the sweetness of the tomatoes and herbaceous basil by offering a sharp, bold taste. The amount is minimal, so it doesn’t overpower the dish.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Used to start the sauce off!
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Totally optional, but great for those who love a kick to their dishes.
Tips & FAQs
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, but keep in mind that the pasta may soak up the sauce a bit, resulting in it becoming a tad bit soggy. It still tastes amazing!
- Reheat: You can reheat this over the stovetop with a splash of milk or broth to help the sauce thicken up a bit, “reviving” it in a sense.
- Variations:
- Add some protein such as grilled chicken or shirmp, or even meatballs to make a hearty meal.
- Add in some extra veggies to add extra nutrition to the dish. I personally prefer spinach or even zucchini.
- Turn this into a baked ziti with ricotta mixed in then topping with shredded mozzarella. Bake it for 30 minutes, uncovered, or until the mozzarella is melted!
- Serve with a nice arugula salad or some garlic bread to pick up that comforting sauce with.
TikTok
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Recipe
Creamy Tomato-Basil Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz penne or rigatoni
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic cloves, about 3-4
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced (1/2 med onion)
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ¼ cup basil, julienned
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Boil the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain the rest. Set aside.
- In a large saucepot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 2 minutes, then add in the garlic, red pepper flakes, if using, and Italian seasoning, then cook for 30 seconds more until aromatic.
- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, paste, and basil. Stir to combine. Cover the pot and bring to a rapid simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low to maintain a steady simmer—season with salt & pepper to your liking. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Uncover the pot, sprinkle in the parmesan cheese, and pour in the heavy cream. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Toss the sauce in the pasta and serve with extra basil and parmesan cheese.
Notes
Storage: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, but keep in mind that the pasta may soak up the sauce a bit, resulting in it becoming a tad bit soggy. It still tastes amazing!
- Reheat: You can reheat this over the stovetop with a splash of milk or broth to help the sauce thicken up a bit, “reviving” it in a sense.
Variations:
- Add some protein such as grilled chicken or shrimp, or even meatballs to make a hearty meal.
- Add in some extra veggies to add extra nutrition to the dish. I personally prefer spinach or even zucchini.
- Turn this into a baked ziti with ricotta mixed in then topping with shredded mozzarella. Bake it for 30 minutes, uncovered, or until the mozzarella is melted!
- Serve with a nice arugula salad or some garlic bread to pick up that comforting sauce.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
425.01Fat (grams)
18.42 gSat. Fat (grams)
9.92 gCarbs (grams)
55.62 gFiber (grams)
4.97 gSugar (grams)
9.09 gProtein (grams)
11.52 gSodium (milligrams)
251.54 mgCholesterol (grams)
46.27 mgThe nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and the brands of ingredients used.
Miss Raven's Kitchen 
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