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!
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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."
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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
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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
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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.
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One Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta
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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 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cut in cubes, at room temperature
- 2 cups arugula leaves
- 1/4 cup sliced fresh basil leaves
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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!