Easy Creamy Pasta Recipe with Garlic & Tomato
This Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta is a fast, flavorful dinner that comes together in just 20 minutes. It’s rich, garlicky, and perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekend meals.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
12 oz pasta (penne or fusilli)
2 tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1½ cups crushed tomatoes
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
½ cup heavy cream
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Optional: red pepper flakes, fresh basil, extra Parmesan
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté 1–2 minutes.
- Add crushed tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat and stir in heavy cream. Simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Add Parmesan and stir until melted.
- Toss in drained pasta and mix to coat.
- Adjust thickness with pasta water if needed.
- Garnish with basil or chili flakes, if desired.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor. For a dairy-free version, substitute with coconut milk and nutritional yeast.