If you want to eat healthy without giving up your favorite dishes, this easy and delicious Creamy Tomato Pasta is for you!
I am a carb lover through and through. I’m Italian, after all! My diet relies heavily on pasta, bread, and cheese. But there’s always room for improvement when it comes to eating a healthy and balanced diet, so I’ve been trying to swap my basic butter noodle lunches for more fulfilling dishes lately. That’s how I discovered this creamy tomato pasta—and I can’t get enough of it!
Whether you’re new to pasta making, or you’re simply trying to find ways to eat healthier, this dish is a great starting point. You can customize it with proteins, veggies, and other ingredients, but it’s as simple as can be to throw together. Even picky eaters and little ones love this creamy tomato pasta.
All you need to do to achieve this pasta dish is take a quick trip to the grocery store for tomato sauce, tomato paste, cream, and some staples like white onions, garlic, oregano, and basil—which you might even have on hand already! The good news is that this ingredient list serves as the base for most pasta dishes, so if you can make this, you can advance to the next dish in your saved posts.
This tomato pasta tastes how it sounds—creamy, with a slightly sweet and herby tomato flavor. I like to load up on garlic and Parmesan cheese, then add some red pepper flakes for spice. Make it your own! It’s a classic Italian dish that’s easy to personalize—and hard to screw up.
Is This Creamy Tomato Pasta Healthy?
This recipe is a slightly healthier alternative to other rich Italian dishes. The whole wheat pasta adds fiber, the tomatoes provide vitamins and minerals (especially lycopene!), and the olive oil adds healthy fats. The cream and Parmesan cheese add saturated fat. Additionally, they are not suitable for dairy-free or vegan diets. You could, however, use plant-based alternatives. There are plenty of great options available these days. Sub in gluten-free pasta to accommodate diners with a sensitivity to gluten—or use spiralized veggies like zucchini for a low-carb option that amps up the fiber content.
How To Make Your Own Fresh Tomato Sauce
While the simplicity of this recipe comes from using accessible, store-bought ingredients, you can just as easily make your own tomato sauce for a personal touch. In fact, a classic tomato sauce recipe uses a lot of the same ingredients this dish calls for! Instead of tomato sauce and paste from the store, add real tomatoes (canned is fine) and their juices to your olive oil, onion, and garlic mixture. Add the seasonings, then bring your sauce to a simmer and cook for about 25 minutes, until it has thickened. You can store your sauce in tightly-sealed glass jars in the fridge for up to five days.
FAQs & Tips
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Once cooled, store your creamy tomato pasta leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. For longer storage, allow your pasta to cool before storing it in a freezer-safe container and freezing for up to 3 months.
Add Meat To Your Sauce
You can easily beef up your creamy tomato pasta with your meat of choice. Italian sausage, ground beef, and meatballs all pair nicely with a tomato sauce like this one. You can also choose a leaner meat, like chicken, to suit your diet and taste.
Can I Use Fresh Herbs?
Sure! You can also use fresh oregano and basil instead of dried herbs, if you’d like. I grow my own herbs in my backyard, so I know they’re fresh!
Serving Suggestions
If you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner, start with a fresh salad, like an antipasto or a classic Italian Salad. Serve your pasta alongside warm Garlic Toast with fresh Parmesan, cracked pepper, and salt available on the table. This creamy tomato pasta is also good with the addition of a protein, like these garlicky Ricotta Meatballs. You can even serve this pasta sauce with a different base, like Butternut Squash Noodles.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces whole-wheat pasta penne, rigatoni, or fusilli
- 1 small onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 can tomato sauce 15 ounces
- 1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3/4 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Boil salted water in a large pot and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain it and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring.
- Add tomato sauce and paste. Stir in oregano and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to low. Add half-and-half and cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add pasta to sauce. Toss to coat. Cook for 1-2 minutes until heated through.
- Serve warm. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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