Creamy Garlic Tomato Pasta: The Ultimate Weeknight Meal

Are you on the hunt for a dinner recipe that ticks every box? We know the feeling of seeking a meal that’s speedy enough for a busy weeknight, comforting enough to melt away the day’s stress, and yet special enough to feel like a genuine indulgence. We’ve all been there, gazing into the pantry and hoping for a flash of inspiration. Well, that search is officially over. Allow us to introduce you to a dish destined to become a firm favourite in your household: our wonderfully simple and utterly delicious Creamy Garlic Tomato Pasta.

This recipe is more than just a set of instructions; it’s a weeknight saviour. It’s the perfect answer when you’re short on time but craving something wholesome and satisfying. The beauty of this dish is in its elegant simplicity. We bring together the vibrant, sun-ripened flavour of tomatoes and the aromatic depth of garlic, swirled into a luxuriously smooth cream sauce that beautifully coats every single piece of pasta. It’s an easy pasta dinner that carries the charm of a rustic Italian kitchen, yet we assure you, it can be created in your own home in under 30 minutes.

Why You’ll Adore This Recipe

• On the Table in Under 30 Minutes: This is the definitive weeknight tomato pasta. From boiling the water to your first delicious bite, the entire process takes less than half an hour.
• Made with Cupboard Staples: You probably already have the key ingredients—like pasta, tinned tomatoes, and garlic—making this an ideal choice for a spontaneous, hassle-free meal.
• Exceptional, Restaurant-Style Flavour: The harmony of sautéed garlic, rich tomato, and decadent cream results in a sauce with a complex and deeply gratifying taste. Your family will be truly impressed!
• Wonderfully Adaptable: Think of this recipe as a brilliant starting point. Feel free to enhance it with proteins like chicken or prawns, or pack it with extra vegetables such as spinach or mushrooms.
• A Hit with the Whole Family: From the youngest to the oldest at the table, a great pasta dish is always a winner. This creamy, flavour-packed recipe is certain to please everyone.

Ingredients

• 400g dried pasta
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 (400g) tin of chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tsp sugar
• 200ml double cream
• 50g Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• A small bunch of fresh basil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

How to Make Creamy Garlic Tomato Pasta: A Step-by-Step Guide

Putting together this gorgeous meal is a remarkably simple affair. We’ve laid out the process in easy-to-follow steps to ensure you get a flawless result on every occasion. Let’s begin!

1. Cook the Pasta: First, bring a large pan of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add your pasta and cook it as directed on the packet until it’s al dente. Before you drain it, carefully set aside about one cup (240ml) of the starchy cooking water. Drain the pasta well and leave it to one side.
2. Sauté the Aromatics: As the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large, deep-sided frying pan or sauté pan over a medium heat. Add the chopped onion and gently cook for about 5–7 minutes, until it has softened and become translucent. Next, stir in the minced garlic, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes, cooking for one more minute until you can smell their wonderful aroma.
3. Build the Tomato Sauce: Tip the tinned tomatoes into the pan, followed by the tomato purée and a teaspoon of sugar to balance the acidity. Give everything a good stir and allow the sauce to come to a gentle simmer. Let it bubble away for around 10 minutes, stirring now and then, so the flavours can deepen and the sauce can reduce a little. Season it well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
4. Make It Creamy: Turn the heat down to low and gently pour in the double cream, stirring all the time until it is smoothly combined and the sauce takes on a lovely blush-pink hue. Now, add the grated Parmesan and continue to stir until it melts seamlessly into the mixture, creating a rich and velvety sauce. This is the secret to our perfect tomato cream sauce pasta.
5. Combine and Serve: Tip the cooked pasta into the pan with your beautiful sauce. Gently toss everything together, ensuring each piece of pasta is generously coated. If the sauce feels a bit too thick, add a small splash of the reserved pasta water to achieve your preferred consistency. Stir through the fresh basil, taste for a final seasoning check, and serve immediately with a little extra Parmesan grated over the top.

Tips for the Perfect Pasta Dish

A few small details can take your pasta from simply good to truly exceptional. We suggest keeping these pointers in mind.

• Always Salt Your Pasta Water: This is a crucial step for great flavour. Salting the water seasons the pasta from within as it cooks. As a guide, the water should have the saltiness of seawater.
• Pasta Water is Your Secret Ingredient: We can’t overstate the importance of this! The starchy water from cooking pasta is a fantastic emulsifier that helps the sauce adhere to the pasta for a silky, glossy finish. Never discard it all.
• Opt for Quality Tomatoes: As the hero of the sauce, using high-quality tinned tomatoes will significantly enhance the final taste. Plus, as noted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, tomatoes are a fantastic source of nutrients like lycopene, making this dish as nourishing as it is delicious.
• Freshness Makes a Difference: While dried herbs are convenient, adding fresh basil at the end provides a burst of fresh, aromatic flavour. The same applies to the Parmesan—grating it from a block offers a far superior taste and texture compared to pre-shredded options.

Customisations and Variations

What we love most about this recipe is its versatility. You can use this as a foundation for a personalised vegetarian pasta or add other ingredients to change things up.

Add Some Protein

For a heartier meal, incorporating a protein is an excellent choice. You could stir in some cooked, shredded chicken, pan-fried king prawns, or even a tin of rinsed chickpeas for a satisfying plant-based addition. Simply cook your chosen protein separately and fold it into the sauce along with the pasta.

Make a Healthier Tomato Pasta

If you’re aiming to increase your vegetable intake, this sauce welcomes them beautifully. Try wilting a generous handful of fresh spinach into the sauce just before you add the pasta. Sautéed mushrooms, courgettes, or roasted red peppers are also wonderful additions that provide extra nutrients, colour, and flavour, creating a truly healthy tomato pasta.

Adjust the Spice

We enjoy a gentle warmth in this dish, but you can easily tailor the heat to your preference. For those who like it fiery, add a finely chopped fresh red chilli along with the garlic. If you’d rather have no spice at all, simply leave out the red pepper flakes.

What to Serve With Your Pasta

While this Creamy Garlic Tomato Pasta is wonderfully complete on its own, it pairs perfectly with a few simple accompaniments. A crisp Classic House Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette provides a lovely, sharp contrast to the richness of the sauce. And, of course, a few slices of warm, crusty garlic bread are always a welcome addition for mopping up every last drop. If you’re a fan of creamy pasta and want another quick option, our Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta is another brilliant recipe to try, focusing on that classic garlic and cream pairing.

FAQ

Conclusion: Your New Go-To Comfort Meal

So, there we have it—a straightforward, elegant, and deeply satisfying pasta dish that we’re confident will become a staple in your meal rotation. This recipe is wonderful proof that you don’t require a long list of ingredients or hours of work to serve up a truly spectacular meal. It’s the ideal marriage of comfort and convenience, perfect for any busy evening.

We really hope you take this recipe and make it your own. Try it with different pasta shapes, throw in your favourite vegetables, or fine-tune the seasonings to perfectly suit your palate. The kitchen should be a space for creative fun, and this dish is the ideal canvas.

Ready to get cooking? We are sure you will fall in love with it. When you do make our Creamy Garlic Tomato Pasta, we would be delighted to hear how it went! Please leave a comment and rating below, or tag us in your pictures on social media. We look forward to seeing what you create!

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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 400g dried pasta
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 (400g) tin of chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 1 tsp sugar
• 200ml double cream
• 50g Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• A small bunch of fresh basil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Cook the Pasta: First, bring a large pan of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add your pasta and cook it as directed on the packet until it’s al dente. Before you drain it, carefully set aside about one cup (240ml) of the starchy cooking water. Drain the pasta well and leave it to one side.
2. Sauté the Aromatics: As the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large, deep-sided frying pan or sauté pan over a medium heat. Add the chopped onion and gently cook for about 5–7 minutes, until it has softened and become translucent. Next, stir in the minced garlic, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes, cooking for one more minute until you can smell their wonderful aroma.
3. Build the Tomato Sauce: Tip the tinned tomatoes into the pan, followed by the tomato purée and a teaspoon of sugar to balance the acidity. Give everything a good stir and allow the sauce to come to a gentle simmer. Let it bubble away for around 10 minutes, stirring now and then, so the flavours can deepen and the sauce can reduce a little. Season it well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
4. Make It Creamy: Turn the heat down to low and gently pour in the double cream, stirring all the time until it is smoothly combined and the sauce takes on a lovely blush-pink hue. Now, add the grated Parmesan and continue to stir until it melts seamlessly into the mixture, creating a rich and velvety sauce.
5. Combine and Serve: Tip the cooked pasta into the pan with your beautiful sauce. Gently toss everything together, ensuring each piece of pasta is generously coated. If the sauce feels a bit too thick, add a small splash of the reserved pasta water to achieve your preferred consistency. Stir through the fresh basil, taste for a final seasoning check, and serve immediately with a little extra Parmesan grated over the top.

Nutrition (per serving):
Calories: 680,
Carbs: 86 g,
Protein: 19 g,
Fat: 29 g