One Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta makes it’s own velvety tomato sauce and gets it’s creaminess from a secret ingredient!
One Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta makes it's own velvety tomato sauce and gets it's creaminess from a secret ingredient....cream cheese!
Jump to:
Tomato Basil Pasta Recipe
After a busy day everyone deserves a nourishing meal in just minutes.
One Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta is an easy recipe that will soon be a family favorite.
The ease of cooking everything in just one pot and having dinner on the table in a quick minute can't be beat!
Just stir the ingredients together in one pot, bring to a boil and cook until the pasta is al dente.
Stir in arugula, basil and the secret ingredient cream cheese, and you’ll have a creamy tomato pasta on the table in no time!
I know you love my One Pot recipes and I really do too! A one pot pasta is the way to go for a busy weeknight dinner.
But wait, you have to admit that it's also impressive enough for entertaining and Sunday dinner too!
For our tomato basil pasta, just stir the ingredients together in one pot, bring to a boil and cook until the pasta is al dente. Stir in the cream cheese, arugula and basil and serve!
Pour yourself a glass of wine, butter that crusty bread and relax at the end of your beautiful day with a bowl of Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta!
Looking for a heartier dinner? Make it a tomato basil pasta with chicken dinner by topping each bowl of pasta with sliced cooked chicken!
Check out this 5-star review from Kristina! "This is one of my favorite weeknight recipes. It has easy ingredients that I usually have, so it's my default when I can't decide on a dinner. It always gets devoured."
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Be sure to visit the Swirls of Flavor Amazon Storefront for GG's personal kitchen recommendations!
Hungry for more? Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter for my latest recipes.
How to make creamy tomato pasta
Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below
- In a skillet with tall sides, preferably non-stick, combine pasta, water, diced tomatoes with their juices, tomato sauce, garlic and kosher salt.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Boil 10 minutes or until pasta is just al dente.
- Reduce heat to medium and add cream cheese, stirring until a creamy sauce has formed.
- Remove from heat and stir in arugula and basil.
Swirls of Flavor Recipe Tips
- Be sure to use a pot with deep sides
- Add cooked chicken
- Also delicious with cooked shrimp on top
Substitutions
- You can substitute baby spinach for the arugula
Equipment
Ingredients
These simple ingredients are all you will need to make tomato basil pasta:
- orecchiette pasta
- water
- diced tomatoes with basil and oregano
- tomato sauce
- garlic
- kosher salt
- cream cheese
- arugula
- fresh basil
One Pot Recipes
You'll want to make these quick, easy and delicious one pot recipes too! A life saver on those busy evenings, one pot recipes will become your go-to way to get dinner
on the table in a hurry without sacrificing flavor
One of my favorite go-to recipes, One Pot Penne Pomodoro, is a pasta that’s flavored in a light buttery tomato broth with garlic, onion and lots of tomatoes. As the penne cooks it forms it’s own sauce, all in one pot! It doesn’t get better or easier than one pot recipes folks!
Travel to Greece with One Pot Greek Lemon Dill Pasta, pasta flavored with capers, olives and red onion in a buttery tomato broth. Cook everything together in the pot, sprinkle with fresh dill, lemon and feta cheese. Perfect for Meatless Monday or top with cooked sliced chicken.
One Pot Mexicali Bowtie Pasta is seasoned with salsa, chili powder and cumin, giving it a Mexican flair. Top it with melty cheese and fresh scallion and all you’ll need is cornbread and a salad and you’re all set for a Mexican fiesta!
One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta is an easy recipe bursting with all the flavors of Chicken Parmesan. Seasoned chicken, tomato sauce, cheese, and even penne pasta cook up all together for a quick weeknight dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes!
One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is an easy dinner recipe that combines two all time comfort food favorites, mac and cheese and chili. This one pot recipe is filled with cheesy saucy goodness, and yes, it’s made in just one pot! Kids, and grownups, will love when this tasty chili mac and cheese recipe is on the menu!
One Pot Fettuccine Bolognese is an easy recipe brimming with beef, carrots, celery and onions and forms a sauce with diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, red wine and seasonings as it cooks with the pasta in the same pot. Perfect pasta and sauce recipe for a busy weeknight dinner and great to serve when entertaining too!
One Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked orecchiette pasta, about 2 1/4 cups
- 2 1/4 cups water
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with basil and oregano
- 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cut in cubes, at room temperature
- 2 cups arugula leaves
- 1/4 cup sliced fresh basil leaves
I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
- In skillet with tall sides, preferably non-stick, combine pasta, water, diced tomatoes with their juices, tomato sauce, garlic and kosher salt.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Boil 10 minutes or until pasta is just al dente.
- Reduce heat to medium and add cream cheese, stirring until a creamy sauce has formed.
- Remove from heat and stir in arugula and basil.
Can you use cream instead of cream cheese?
The cream cheese helps to thicken the sauce and adds a bit of a tang. I haven’t tried making this recipe with heavy cream but I’m sure if you add a little at a time until you get the consistency that you want it will still work and taste good too!
This is one of my favorite weeknight recipes. It has easy ingredients that I usually have, so it's my default when I can't decide on a dinner. It always gets devoured.
Hi Kristina, this makes me so happy! Thank you for taking the time to stop by and let me know. Happy Cooking, Gwynn
I can never have enough one pot recipes. This one is delicious!
Love that this recipe uses cream cheese. It gives it such a nice creamy consistency and delicious, rich flavor. This recipe is simple to make and everyone loved it. There were no leftovers!