Description
This Easy and Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta is a cozy, one-pot meal full of rich tomato flavor, creamy sauce, and aromatic garlic. It’s quick to make with pantry staples and fresh ingredients—perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- 3–4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1 tsp white sugar
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup heavy cream (or milk alternative)
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp water (for slurry)
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta, cooked al dente
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Freshly grated Parmesan (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Mince the garlic and halve the cherry tomatoes.
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté garlic with a pinch of salt until golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Add the cherry tomatoes with another pinch of salt. Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and juicy.
- Deglaze the pan with white wine and let simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in chili flakes and tomato paste until well mixed.
- Add heavy cream and stir. Mix flour and water in a small bowl to make a slurry, then slowly add it to the sauce.
- Simmer for 5-10 minutes until the sauce thickens. Add smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and chopped parsley.
- Stir in cooked rigatoni pasta and simmer for 5 more minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Serve topped with grated Parmesan, extra parsley, and black pepper.
Notes
- Use canned diced tomatoes if fresh cherry tomatoes aren’t available.
- Shallots or onions can substitute for garlic for a different flavor.
- Replace white wine with broth or a mix of white grape juice and vinegar for a non-alcoholic version.
- Make it dairy-free with plant cream and nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.
- Add spinach, mushrooms, or cooked chicken for more texture and protein.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat with a splash of cream or water to revive the sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
