Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta

This creamy tomato basil pasta recipe is a simple and flavorful dish perfect for weeknight meals. It uses pantry staples and fresh ingredients to create a restaurant-worthy pasta dish at home.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Spinach Wilting 3

Total Time 33

Servings: 4 people

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Italian-American

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

For the Pasta

0.5 lb penne pasta

For the Creamy Tomato Sauce

1 yellow onion small dice
2 cloves garlic minced
1 Tbsp olive oil
14.5 oz diced tomatoes with juices
0.5 tsp dried oregano
0.5 tsp dried basil
0.125 tsp crushed red pepper
0.5 tsp salt
0.5 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
2 Tbsp tomato paste
0.5 cup water
2 oz cream cheese
0.25 cup grated Parmesan
4 oz fresh spinach

Equipment

Large pot
Colander
Large skillet
Whisk

Method

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the penne pasta and cook until tender, about 7-10 minutes. Drain the pasta.
While the pasta cooks, prepare the sauce. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Add the onion, garlic, and olive oil to a large skillet. Sauté over medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent, 3-5 minutes.
Add the diced tomatoes (with their juices), dried oregano, dried basil, crushed red pepper, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir to combine. Add the tomato paste and water, stirring until the tomato paste is incorporated.
Reduce the heat to low. Add the cream cheese to the skillet and whisk until it is fully melted and the sauce is creamy. Stir in the grated Parmesan until melted.
Add the fresh spinach to the skillet. Stir gently until the spinach has wilted, about 2-3 minutes. Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss until well coated in the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve warm.

Notes

This recipe is a great base for adding other vegetables or proteins. Feel free to adjust the spice level to your preference.

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