Looking for a quick and delicious meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights? This Creamy Tomato Pasta with Cheese is the answer! It’s one of the easiest and tastiest dishes you can make, and it’s ready in under 30 minutes. The sauce is made with just a few simple ingredients: canned tomatoes, cream, and cheese. Add in some herbs, spices, and a touch of tomato paste, and you’ve got a flavorful sauce that’s sure to please everyone.
I love quick and easy dinner ideas, and pasta dishes are at the top of my list. This creamy tomato pasta is a family favorite. You can use any type of pasta you like – this recipe is very versatile. I decided to try something different and used shell pasta. Shell pasta is usually used for stuffed dishes, but it also works great with meat sauces. Give it a try! I hope you enjoy it!
First, watch this video for the recipe for creamy tomato pasta and see how easy it is to make!
Creamy Tomato Pasta Ingredient Checklist
Canned Tomatoes: The star of the show! Choose high-quality canned tomatoes from a reputable brand. I often use Mutti’s diced tomatoes and highly recommend them for this dish. Avoid whole canned tomatoes! Go for diced or, even better, finely chopped tomatoes.
Tomato Paste: I only used two tablespoons of tomato paste, but I think it’s essential to enhance the tomato flavor of the sauce.
Cream: Cream is key. I love the rich and velvety texture it adds.
Cheese: Use a hard, aged cheese for this dish. I usually use Grana Padano because it’s readily available in Polish stores. But other aged cheeses like the famous Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, or Gran Moravia would also be perfect.
Other Ingredients: Butter, garlic, salt and pepper, oregano, and dried basil.
Creamy Tomato Pasta: A Step-by-Step Guide
STEP 1.
Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside. In a skillet, melt the butter. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
Tips: ♥ Al dente means “to the tooth” in Italian. This refers to pasta that is cooked until it is firm to the bite. ♥ If you don’t have a garlic press, you can mince the garlic by hand. ♥ Be careful not to burn the garlic. It should only be cooked for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
STEP 2.
Then add tomato paste and mix it into the melted butter and garlic. Sauté it for about half a minute, then add canned tomatoes, cream, oregano or basil, salt, and pepper. Once the tomatoes come to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Cook the sauce for about 5 minutes.
STEP 3.
Meanwhile, grate half of the cheese and add it to the sauce. Mix well to combine everything. The sauce will melt quickly. Once the sauce is melted, add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss it together. Finally, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Serve immediately.
How to store leftovers from dinner?
To store leftover pasta in tomato sauce with added cream, it’s best to place them in a tightly sealed container or food bag and store them in the refrigerator. You can store pasta in sauce in the fridge for 2-3 days. Before reheating in the microwave or on the stove, you may want to add a bit of water or cream to restore the creamy consistency of the sauce.
I have some other delicious recipes for a quick dinner with pasta for you. Definitely check them out:
Pasta with Chicken and Mozzarella in Creamy Tomato Sauce. – Pasta Mama Cooks
Creamy chicken zucchini pasta! – Pasta Mama Cooks
Creamy Mushroom Chicken Pasta – Pasta Mama Cooks
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Cheese – A Quick and Easy Fix for Busy Weeknights! Printable Recipe!
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Cheese
Ingredients
- 10.5 oz / 300 g uncooked pasta
- 50 g / 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 can diced or finely chopped tomatoes
- 2 heaping teaspoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil – optional you can use fresh basil
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup / 100 g Parmesan or Grana Padano cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside. In a skillet, melt the butter. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.Tips: ♥ Al dente means "to the tooth" in Italian. This refers to pasta that is cooked until it is firm to the bite. ♥ If you don't have a garlic press, you can mince the garlic by hand. ♥ Be careful not to burn the garlic. It should only be cooked for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
- Then add tomato paste and mix it into the melted butter and garlic. Sauté it for about half a minute, then add canned tomatoes, cream, oregano or basil, salt, and pepper. Once the tomatoes come to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Cook the sauce for about 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, grate half of the cheese and add it to the sauce. Mix well to combine everything. The sauce will melt quickly. Once the sauce is melted, add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss it together. Finally, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Serve immediately.
Video
