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🍅 Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta 🧄🍝 recipe card

Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta (Skillet)

Cozy, easy dinner pasta with a creamy tomato garlic sauce finished with Parmesan and basil.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 1 skillet pasta
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: European
Calories: 480
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 can 14 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 8 oz pasta penne, fettuccine, or spaghetti
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil or parsley
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, then reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook 3 minutes until softened.
  3. Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer 9 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
  5. Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and simmer 2 minutes.
  6. Add Parmesan and stir until melted and smooth.
  7. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat. Stir in reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
  8. Remove from heat, top with basil or parsley, and serve immediately.

Notes

- Keep heat low when adding cream and Parmesan to prevent curdling and clumping.
- Reserve pasta water before draining; it helps the sauce cling and turn silky.