Name: Cozy Creamy Tomato Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 8 ounces uncooked pasta (penne is wonderful, but use whatever shape makes you smile); 2 tablespoons butter (the real stuff, for proper richness); 2–3 cloves garlic, minced (fresh cloves make all the difference); 2 tablespoons tomato paste (your flavor booster); 1 can (14 ounces) tomato sauce (the smooth, liquid base); 3/4 cup heavy cream or whipping cream (essential for that luxurious texture—don’t swap this out!); 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning (dried herbs that bring everything together); Salt and pepper to taste; Freshly grated parmesan cheese for serving (pile it on generously!)

Description

Quick and easy weeknight creamy tomato pasta recipe featuring butter, garlic, tomato paste, tomato sauce, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese. This comforting dinner is ready in 20 minutes using simple pantry staples to create restaurant-quality pink sauce that families adore.

Ingredients

For the pasta:

8 ounces uncooked pasta (penne is wonderful, but use whatever shape makes you smile)

For the dreamy sauce:

2 tablespoons butter (the real stuff, for proper richness)
2–3 cloves garlic, minced (fresh cloves make all the difference)
2 tablespoons tomato paste (your flavor booster)
1 can (14 ounces) tomato sauce (the smooth, liquid base)
3/4 cup heavy cream or whipping cream (essential for that luxurious texture—don’t swap this out!)
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning (dried herbs that bring everything together)
Salt and pepper to taste
Freshly grated parmesan cheese for serving (pile it on generously!)

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Instructions

Step 1: Get That Pasta Going

Fill your large pot with generously salted water and bring it to a vigorous boil. Add your pasta and cook following package timing until it reaches that perfect al dente texture, tender with just a slight firmness when you bite into it. Before draining, scoop out about a cup of that cloudy pasta water; it’s starchy gold for perfecting your sauce consistency later.

Step 2: Create Your Aromatic Base

While pasta bubbles merrily away, melt butter in your large skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted and shimmering, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Step 3: Mix Your Sauce Together

Pour in the tomato paste, tomato sauce, heavy cream, and Italian seasoning. Stir everything together thoroughly until you have a completely smooth, unified sauce with no white streaks or red clumps, just beautiful, even peachy-pink perfection.

Step 4: Simmer to Perfection

Allow your sauce to cook gently for about 5 minutes, bubbling lazily while it thickens and the flavors meld beautifully together. Keep it at a gentle simmer rather than a rolling boil, reduce heat if needed.

Step 5: Taste and Season

Give your sauce a taste and season liberally with salt and pepper until it sings. If it seems a bit sharp or tart (some tomato brands are more acidic), add just a small pinch of sugar to round out the flavors.

Step 6: Bring It All Together

Drain your perfectly cooked pasta and add it straight into the skillet with your gorgeous sauce. Toss everything together until every single piece is beautifully coated. If the sauce seems thick, add small splashes of that reserved pasta water until you reach ideal consistency.

Notes

Skip rinsing pasta after draining; that starchy coating helps sauce adhere beautifully
Grate parmesan fresh instead of using pre-shredded varieties—it melts smoother and tastes incomparably better
Double your sauce batch and freeze half for an even easier meal next week
Taste throughout cooking—every ingredient brand differs slightly, so adjust seasonings to match your family’s preferences
Revive leftovers with a splash of cream or pasta water when reheating to restore silky texture

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American