Creamy Tomato Pasta
on May 10, 2026
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This creamy tomato pasta is the perfect cozy weeknight dinner that comes together with simple pantry staples in about 30 minutes. The smooth, creamy tomato sauce coats every bite of pasta perfectly, making it a cozy, kid-friendly meal that comes together fast on busy nights.
This creamy tomato pasta is one of my favorite busy weeknight dinners because it’s quick, easy, and always a hit with kids. The sauce is rich, creamy, and packed with tomato flavor while still being simple enough for picky eaters to love. It comes together with pantry staples in about 30 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when you need dinner on the table fast. Pair it with garlic bread, fruit, or a simple veggie side for an easy family-friendly dinner everyone will love.
If you’re looking for more easy kid-friendly dinners, you’ll also love these simple garlic butter steak bites, these mess-free cheeseburger bombs, or this sweet potato mac and cheese for another cozy pasta night option.
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need
Here is what you’ll need to make this creamy tomato pasta:
- Pasta: Use your favorite pasta shape, like penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti noodles.
- Butter: Helps create the base of the sauce.
- Onion: Finely diced onion cooks down and adds so much flavor to the sauce.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic gives the sauce that cozy homemade flavor.
- Tomato Paste: Adds richness and deep tomato flavor.
- Tomato Sauce: Creates the smooth tomato base for the sauce.
- Heavy Cream: Makes the sauce rich, creamy, and smooth.
- Italian Seasoning: Adds classic Italian-inspired flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan melts much more smoothly into the sauce than the shelf-stable Parmesan in the shaker containers. Fresh Parmesan also gives the sauce a creamier texture and richer flavor.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Recipe Substitutions & Additions
- Heavy Cream: You can swap with half-and-half for a lighter sauce.
- Parmesan Cheese: You can omit Parmesan and just add a little salt to taste.
- Protein Additions: This pasta pairs well with chicken, like grilled chicken or this crispy panko chicken. You can also pair it with shrimp, Italian sausage, or meatballs.
Step-by-step Instructions
STEP 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Save about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
STEP 2: While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook for about 4–5 minutes until softened and translucent (Image 1).
STEP 3: Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant (Image 2). Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes until it slightly deepens in color (Images 3 & 4).
STEP 4: Pour in the tomato sauce, and stir to combine (Images 5 & 6).
STEP 5: Lower the heat to medium-low. Stir in the heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Stir until smooth and combined, then let the sauce simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened (Images 7 & 8).
STEP 6: Stir in the grated parmesan cheese until melted and smooth (Image 9).
STEP 7: Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until fully coated (Image 10). If needed, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
Storage Instructions
Once cooled, store leftover creamy tomato pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of cream, milk, or broth to loosen the sauce as needed.
Tips For Success
- Use freshly grated Parmesan. It melts much more smoothly into the sauce than shelf-stable Parmesan.
- Make sure to cook down the tomato paste. This helps deepen the tomato flavor and removes any sharp tomato taste.
- Keep the heat low after adding the cream. High heat can cause the sauce to separate instead of staying smooth and creamy.
- Double the sauce if your family loves extra creamy pasta or if you want extra sauce to use as a dip for garlic bread.
Recipe FAQs
Penne, rigatoni, rotini, shells, and fettuccine all work great because the sauce clings really well to them.
You can, but cream-based sauces can separate slightly after thawing. For best results, freeze just the tomato sauce portion before adding the cream, then stir in the cream fresh when reheating.
Garlic bread, roasted broccoli, a simple side salad, or crispy chicken all pair really well with this creamy pasta!
Other Pasta Recipes You’ll Love
Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
Hulk Pasta (Spinach Pesto)
Mac And Cheese Muffins
Cheesy Beef Manicotti
If you tried this Creamy Tomato Pasta, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below! I love hearing from you!
Easy Creamy Tomato Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta
- 2 tbsp butter
- ½ onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ¼ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Save about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook for about 4–5 minutes until softened and translucent
- Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes until it slightly deepens in color. Pour in the tomato sauce, and stir to combine.
- Lower the heat to medium-low. Stir in the heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Stir until smooth and combined, then let the sauce simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
- Stir in the grated parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until fully coated. If needed, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan. It melts much more smoothly into the sauce than shelf-stable Parmesan.
- Make sure to cook down the tomato paste. This helps deepen the tomato flavor and removes any sharp tomato taste.
- Keep the heat low after adding the cream. High heat can cause the sauce to separate instead of staying smooth and creamy.
- Double the sauce if your family loves extra creamy pasta or if you want extra sauce to use as a dip for garlic bread.
