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This Creamy Tomato One Pot Pasta is the perfect dinner idea for busy weeknights! Simply throw all your ingredients into one pot, and dinner will be ready in just 20 minutes!
You know it’s a good week when I’m talking about pasta TWICE. And it’s about to get even better because this dish does all its work in the same pot at the same time.
A few weeks ago, I made this creamy lemon pasta for lunch. I ate almost all of it and loved it! But then, I started thinking about my husband, the pastaholic, who is obsessed with tomato sauce. He’d probably bathe in tomato sauce if he could. So, I began experimenting. Throwing tomatoes into the boiling water wasn’t my brightest idea, but stirring in cream cheese and tomato sauce? BRILLIANT!
This is my ultimate Friday food! If you had protein oatmeal this morning, you can definitely indulge in all of this! Let’s dive in! We’re tossing almost everything into the pot and stirring in your favorite pasta and tomato sauce.
What You’ll Need
- Whole Grain Fettuccine or Linguine: This provides the hearty base for the dish. Whole grain pasta adds a nutty flavor and extra fiber. You can substitute with regular fettuccine or linguine if preferred.
- Low Sodium Vegetable Broth: You can use chicken broth or just more water as a substitute.
- Onion: Yellow or white onions work best, but you can mix in shallots for a milder flavor.
- Fresh Basil Leaves: Fresh herbs add an aromatic flavor that pairs nicely with the tomato sauce. If you don’t have fresh basil, dried basil can be used instead.
- Garlic: I use fresh garlic almost always, but garlic powder will also work.
- Salt and Black Pepper: For seasoning and enhancing the flavors of the ingredients.
- Low-Fat Cream Cheese (or Neufschatel Cheese): Adds creaminess and a slight tang to the sauce. Regular cream cheese can be used.
- Pasta Sauce: Use your favorite store-bought or homemade tomato sauce. Marinara sauce is a great alternative.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, umami flavor that ties everything together. Pecorino Romano or Asiago cheese can be used as substitutes.
How To Make One Pot Pasta
- Combine the ingredients: In a stockpot, mix together the pasta, water, vegetable broth, onions, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Boil: Cover the pot, cook over medium-high heat, and bring to a boil.
- Cook the pasta: Once boiling, remove the cover and continue cooking for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Add creaminess: Remove the pot from heat, then stir in the cream cheese and pasta sauce until well combined.
- Finish: Mix in the grated Parmesan cheese, adjust seasonings to taste, and serve immediately.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Adjust the creaminess and tomato flavor: If you prefer less cream cheese and more tomato sauce, go ahead and add as much or as little as you want. Start with 3 ounces of cream cheese and 1-1/2 cups of tomato sauce, then adjust to taste.
- Add chicken: For an extra protein boost, add cooked chicken or shrimp to the pasta. Stir them in at the end with the cream cheese and tomato sauce.
- Veggie add-ins: Add vegetables like spinach, diced bell peppers, or diced zucchini. These can be added during the last few minutes of cooking the pasta or sauteed for a few minutes in a skillet.
- Make it spicy: If you like a bit of heat, add some red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce when stirring in the tomato sauce and cream cheese.
Serving Suggestions
This creamy tomato pasta pairs well with a variety of sides to create a complete meal. A fresh Mediterranean salad with a tangy vinaigrette can balance the richness of the pasta, while crusty garlic breadsticks are great for soaking up the delicious sauce.
For a heartier option, serve this one pot pasta alongside baked lobster tails or grilled scallops. Steamed or roasted vegetables like broccoli or sauteed broccolini also complement the flavors beautifully. Don’t forget a glass of chilled Chardonnay or your favorite white wine to round out the meal!
Proper Storage
This pasta reheats well. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth or water to loosen it up if needed.
Easy Pasta Recipes To Try
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One Pot Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 ounces whole grain fettuccine or linguine
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 1 large yellow or white onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 ounces low fat cream cheese, or Neufschatel Cheese or regular cream cheese
- 1½ cups pasta sauce
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese, or to taste
Instructions
- In a stockpot, combine the pasta with water, vegetable broth, onions, basil leaves, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Cover and cook over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
- Remove the cover and continue to cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked and almost all liquid is absorbed; stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and stir in the cream cheese and tomato sauce; continue to mix until completely combined.
- Stir in the grated parmesan cheese; taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Made this dish tonight, but I ended up with 2 pots as I browned Italian sausage and added it at the end of the cooking process. It was amazing!
Everyone loved it and it’s now a must have with our kids!
I just made the Creamy Tomato One Pot Pasta, and it was a real winner! This is certainly a keeper. I made a mistake and put the tomato sauce in with the ingredients at the beginning. It still came out perfect. I only had macaroni on hand and used that instead of spaghetti, and it was a very nice result. Thank you Katarina.
This was insanely delicious! Thank you so much for a quick, easy, and full of flavor recipe. I normally don’t have cream cheese but had some left over as my husband likes it with banana bread and I recently made some. This was just perfect! I’ll definitely be adding it to my regular rotation. Thank you.
Do you just use tomato sauce or a spaghetti sauce???
Hi Amy!! I know that can be a bit confusing, but some people call it spaghetti sauce, others call it tomato sauce and then there’s also others that call it just pasta sauce. 😀 For that reason I put “tomato/pasta sauce”.
But, yes, you can use spaghetti sauce, and please don’t forget the basil – it’s what makes the dish pop. 😀 I hope you’ll get a chance to try it!
I am a newlywed, and not a very good cook! So I’m always on the lookout for a recipe I hope my husband will love…and honestly, this was a knockout!! I will definitely be adding it into my meal plan rotation! I was skeptical about the onions (shouldn’t I sauteé them first???) Lol but I just followed the recipe. I bought the basil “paste” in a tube, and oh yes it adds tons of flavor! We love this, thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
I thought this looked really tasty and easy, so I gave it a try. I didn’t have any basil to use, which probably would have helped it, but it just wasn’t a good dish in my opinion. There’s something odd about it that I can’t quite describe. It tastes a bit like Campbell’s tomato soup on top of pasta, with sort of a weird aftertaste. In the words of my sister, the dish is “almost delicious” in that it had potential, but it just didn’t turn out the way I expected it to. I will say that is is very simple – but perhaps it was a bit TOO simple to be good. (I should probably give this one star except for the weird fact that it’s ALMOST good… so I’m giving it two).
Hi Leanna! I wouldn’t like anything that tasted like Campbell’s soup on top of pasta, either. hahaha 🙂
I’m sorry you didn’t like it – I guess I can’t win ’em all. Damn! hehe 😀 The basil adds a lot to this, so by leaving it out, I can definitely agree that it probably didn’t taste as it should have. 1/2-cup of basil is a lot of missing flavor.
One pot pastas are definitely the best thing ever – and this creamy tomato one is clearly no exception. Looks very comforting & delicious!
This is what perfection looks like! I have been dying to try the one pot pasta phenomena and this looks like the perfect way to start!
Your recipe sounds delish. I’m Greek Orthodox so can relate with Easter. Great dish for those who are fasting as well. Definitely on the list for this week
I always love your one pot pastas!! This looks like a winner already 🙂