Description
A comforting and creamy pasta dish with a rich tomato and garlic sauce, perfect for busy nights and beginners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz penne or fettuccine pasta
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Reserved pasta water
- Optional: Fresh basil or parsley, red pepper flakes, small onion, spinach or kale, cooked chicken or shrimp
Instructions
- Prep everything first: Gather and chop all ingredients.
- Boil the pasta in salty water until al dente; reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water and drain.
- Gently cook the garlic in olive oil over medium heat until fragrant and lightly golden.
- Add the diced tomatoes and let simmer for 4-5 minutes.
- Stir in the heavy cream and cook gently without boiling.
- Add Parmesan and adjust seasoning; mix in reserved pasta water to achieve desired sauce consistency.
- Combine the pasta with the sauce over low heat, tossing to coat.
- Serve garnished with fresh herbs, extra Parmesan, and red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
For a lighter version, consider using half-and-half or incorporating more vegetables like spinach.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: creamy pasta, tomato garlic pasta, easy pasta recipe