This easy creamy tomato pasta recipe is the perfect easy dinner. Silky, chewy pasta cooked in a creamy tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes, basil and garlic. This one-pot pasta is a 30-minute dinner that your family will love.
If you love this recipe but only have tinned tomatoes, then try my pasta tomato and mascarpone recipe. Or this 30-minute rose pasta sauce. Try this creamy chicken and bacon pasta and my favourite sun-dried tomato and spinach pasta for more one-pot pasta recipes. Or check out my top 10 pasta recipes.
Jump to:
- ⭐️ Reasons why this one pot creamy tomato pasta is a must-try this week
- 🧾 Essential ingredients for creamy tomato pasta
- 👩🏻🍳 Easy 30-Minute Creamy Tomato Pasta: Overview
- Step-by-step guide
- 📖 Variations and pasta add-ins
- 🍯 Storage
- 💡 Chef's pro tips for recipe success
- ❓Recipe FAQ's
- More incredible pasta recipes
- Easy One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta
- Meet the Chef!
⭐️ Reasons why this one pot creamy tomato pasta is a must-try this week
- Quick & Easy: Whip up a delicious meal in no time with our one-pot method — perfect for busy evenings and easy clean-ups.
- Customisable: Easily tailor this versatile recipe to your taste — great for all dietary preferences.
- Gourmet Comfort: Indulge in the luxury of creamy pasta that combines homestyle comfort with a gourmet feel.
- Budget-Friendly: Enjoy a sumptuous meal without stretching your budget, using simple, affordable ingredients.
🧾 Essential ingredients for creamy tomato pasta
- Fresh Tomatoes: These are the heart of your sauce, bringing freshness and a natural sweetness. Perfect for using up any leftover tomatoes.
- Olive Oil: Adds richness and helps to sauté the garlic and onion, enhancing their flavours.
- Fresh Garlic: Garlic adds a depth of flavour, making the dish aromatic and savoury.
- Onion: The onion provides a subtle sweetness and complexity to the sauce.
- Chicken or Vegetable Stock: Using stock instead of water enriches the dish with more flavour. A stock cube is a convenient option.
- Uncooked Spaghetti: The staple of the dish, it absorbs the flavours of the sauce for a cohesive taste.
- Double Cream: Adds a luxurious, creamy texture and richness to the pasta, balancing the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Bunch Basil: Fresh basil brings a fragrant, herby freshness, enhancing the overall flavour profile.
- Fresh Spinach: A great way to add extra nutrition and colour. It wilts nicely into the pasta, complementing the other flavours.
👩🏻🍳 Easy 30-Minute Creamy Tomato Pasta: Overview
- Simple Creamy Sauce:
- Fresh tomatoes are ideal, but tinned tomatoes work well too (see recipe notes for details).
- No need to deseed fresh tomatoes; they blend seamlessly into the sauce.
- Flexible Ingredients:
- Substitute vegetable stock with chicken stock or water if necessary, adjusting seasoning accordingly.
- Swap cream for milk with a bit of butter to maintain a rich, creamy texture.
- Red, yellow, or brown onions are all suitable for this recipe.
- One-Pot Pasta Cooking:
- One-pot pasta simplifies cooking: sauce, pasta, and veggies all in one pot.
- Use a ratio of 750ml liquid for every 250g of pasta.
- Keep the lid on to retain liquid. If needed, add water in 100ml increments.
- If the sauce is too thin, remove the lid and simmer to reduce the liquid.
Step-by-step guide
- Heat & Sauté: Warm olive oil, then sauté onion and garlic until fragrant.
- Add Tomatoes: Mix in fresh or tinned tomatoes.
- Pour Stock & Pasta: Add stock and spaghetti, ensuring pasta is covered.
- Simmer: Cook covered, stirring occasionally. Add water if needed.
- Reduce Sauce: If too thin, simmer uncovered to thicken.
- Cream & Basil: Stir in double cream and basil once pasta is al dente.
- Optional Spinach: Add spinach at the end, if using.
- Season & Serve: Adjust seasoning and serve hot.
📖 Variations and pasta add-ins
This pasta can take a lot of extras, but it's also perfect when left simple with just some spinach. If you've got picky eaters, then you can absolutely skip the spinach if you need to.
- Chicken- Similar to this tomato chicken pasta recipe.
- Turkey
- Bell Peppers
- Prawns/Shrimp- similar to my tomato prawn pasta recipe.
- Sweet Corn (frozen)
- Peas
- Mushrooms
- Snow Peas
- Parmesan
- Mozzarella
🍯 Storage
- Fridge Storage:
- Cool Down: Allow the pasta to cool to room temperature before storing.
- Airtight Container: Transfer the pasta into an airtight container.
- Refrigeration Time: Store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating:
- Microwave: Place a portion in a microwave-safe dish, cover lightly, and heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through. Add a splash of water or cream if it seems dry.
- Stovetop: Reheat gently in a saucepan over medium heat, adding a little water or cream to loosen the sauce if needed. Stir frequently to avoid sticking.
- Freezing:
- Not Recommended: Due to the cream in the sauce, freezing is not advised as it may cause separation and texture changes upon thawing.
💡 Chef's pro tips for recipe success
Leveraging years of experience in Michelin-starred kitchens and Cordon Bleu training, I offer straightforward, effective tips to ensure your culinary success.
- Pasta Al Dente: Cooking pasta to 'al dente' is crucial. It should be tender but still firm to the bite. This ensures that the pasta maintains its texture and doesn't become mushy.
- Balancing Flavours: Achieving the right balance between acidity from the tomatoes and richness from the cream is essential. If your sauce is too acidic, a pinch of sugar can help balance it. Conversely, if it's too rich, a splash of lemon juice can add the needed acidity.
- Herbs: When using fresh herbs like basil, add them at the end of the cooking process to preserve their vibrant colour and fresh flavour. Overcooking herbs can lead to bitterness and loss of aroma.
- Sauce Consistency: The consistency of your sauce is key. Don't hesitate to thin it with a bit of water if it's too thick.
- Seasoning in Layers: Season your dish in layers, starting with sautéing onions and garlic, then when adding tomatoes, and finally, after adding the pasta. This layering builds depth of flavour.
❓Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can use dried herbs if fresh aren't available. However, fresh herbs like basil add a more vibrant flavour. Use a smaller quantity of dried herbs as they are more concentrated.
To make this gluten-free, simply substitute regular spaghetti with your favorite gluten-free pasta. Ensure other ingredients like stock are also gluten-free.
Chicken, shrimp, or tofu definitely make great additions for added protein. Just cook your protein choice separately and add it to the pasta at the end.
If your sauce is too thin, let it simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes to reduce and thicken. Alternatively, you can mix a small amount of cornstarch with water and add it to the sauce for a quicker thickening effect.
Easy One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta
Ingredients
- 250 g Uncooked Spaghetti
- 500 g Fresh Tomatoes, chopped *Or use 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 Onion, finely chopped
- 500 ml Chicken or Vegetable Stock, use stock cube for convenience
- 150 ml Double Cream
- ½ bunch Basil, fresh
Optional Extras:
- 200 g Spinach, fresh
- Cooked Chicken, shredded (as desired)
- Prawns, add last, see notes
- 200 g Sweetcorn, fresh or frozen
Instructions
- In a medium, high-sided skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat for 2 minutes.
- Add chopped onion and garlic; gently sauté until soft, fragrant, and translucent.
- Stir in chopped tomatoes and cook until they start to caramelise slightly.
- Pour in the stock and add the spaghetti, ensuring it’s fully submerged.
- Let it cook for about 15 minutes or until the pasta is al dente. If adding sweetcorn, include it at the 8-minute mark.
- Gently stir in the double cream, fresh basil, and spinach (if using). Let it sit for a couple of minutes to allow the spinach to wilt.
- Serve hot, garnished with additional basil if desired.
Notes
- Prawns Addition: If using prawns, add them in the last 2-3 minutes of cooking to avoid overcooking.
- Stock Selection: Choose stock that complements your additional protein (chicken stock for chicken, vegetable for a vegetarian option).
- Cream Alternatives: For a lighter version, single cream (half-and-half) or a milk and butter mixture can be used instead of double cream.
Nutrition
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You can also find more comfort food recipes using everyday ingredients over on our sister site Salted Mint.
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