Table of Contents
- Why This Simple Dinner Saves My Week
- Your Pasta Game Changer
- A Bowl of Hugs
- The Secret Sauce is Simplicity
- Make It Your Own: Easy Recipes for Dinner
- The Shopping Game Plan
- Cooking Together Kitchen Magic
- Key Takeaways
- Easy One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta Recipe
- Notes & Tips
Key Takeaways
This Easy One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta is the ultimate solution for busy weeknights, delivering a delicious and family-friendly meal in just 30 minutes. With everything cooked in a single pot, cleanup is a breeze. It’s a versatile base recipe that’s perfect for anyone looking for healthy and simple dinner ideas that don’t compromise on flavor.
Why This Simple Dinner Saves My Week
Hey there, it’s Betty from Betty Cooks. Can I tell you a secret? Most days, by 5 PM, my culinary inspiration is at an all-time low. The last thing I want to do is face a sink full of dishes after wrestling with a complicated recipe. That’s where this easy recipe for dinner comes in. It’s my go-to, my lifesaver, my “everyone’s happy” weeknight hero. This isn’t just another quick and easy dinner recipe; it’s the one that lets you actually sit down, relax, and enjoy the meal with your family. Because let’s be real, a great pasta easy recipe is worth its weight in gold.
Your Pasta Game Changer
Remember when “creamy” and “easy” felt like opposites in the kitchen? Me too. That’s why I’m obsessed with this method. Forget boiling a separate pot of water and juggling multiple pans. Here, the pasta cooks right in the sauce. It soaks up all that incredible tomato flavor and releases its starch, which naturally thickens the sauce into something luxuriously silky. You get an incredible depth of flavor with a fraction of the effort. It’s the kind of simple dinner that feels fancy enough for company but is totally doable on a tired Tuesday.
A Bowl of Hugs
There’s a reason creamy tomato pasta is a classic. It’s pure comfort in a bowl. The rich, velvety sauce clinging to every noodle, the tangy-sweet kiss of tomatoes, the savory hint of Parmesan… it’s the food equivalent of a cozy blanket. It’s the meal that makes everyone at the table lean in a little closer, ask for seconds, and leave with full, happy bellies. And the best part? This recipe delivers that classic comfort without keeping you in the kitchen for hours. It’s the perfect healthy easy recipe for when you need that warm, satisfying feeling without the fuss.
The Secret Sauce is Simplicity
I believe the best recipes don’t hide behind complexity. They shine because of their straightforward, quality ingredients. A can of good crushed tomatoes, a splash of broth, a little cream, and a handful of pantry staples are all you need to create magic. This is a fantastic foundation for an easy dinner. The simplicity means less stress and more time for the things that really matter. It’s a reminder that you don’t need a dozen exotic ingredients to put a truly delicious meal on the table.
Make It Your Own: Easy Recipes for Dinner
The beauty of a great easy recipe for dinner like this is how adaptable it is. Think of the recipe below as your perfect canvas. Want to bump up the protein? Toss in some cooked Italian sausage, shredded rotisserie chicken, or a can of rinsed chickpeas for a vegetarian twist. Craving more veggies? Stir in a couple of handfuls of fresh spinach or chopped kale in the last few minutes of cooking, or sauté some sliced mushrooms with the onions. Looking for a creamy pasta easy recipe that’s dairy-free? Swap the heavy cream for your favorite unsweetened plant-based creamer and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan. This is your kitchen, your rules!
The Shopping Game Plan
Nothing derails a great dinner idea faster than missing a key ingredient. To make this one pot pasta easy recipe foolproof, here’s a quick checklist to run through before you start. You’ll need a large pot or Dutch oven, a can of crushed tomatoes (fire-roasted add a lovely smoky note), your favorite short pasta shape like penne or rigatoni, some vegetable or chicken broth, a little heavy cream (or a lighter alternative), an onion, garlic, basic dried herbs, and Parmesan cheese. Having these staples on hand means you’re always just 30 minutes away from an amazing homemade meal. It’s one of my favorite quick dinner recipes for good reason.
Cooking Together Kitchen Magic
Some of my favorite kitchen memories aren’t of the fanciest meals I’ve made, but of the simple ones I’ve shared. This pasta is perfect for that. It’s a wonderful recipe to make with a partner, a friend, or even older kids. One person can chop the aromatics while another measures the liquids. It’s active, engaging, and the payoff is almost immediate. The scent of garlic and tomatoes simmering together is its own kind of therapy. Then, you get to sit down together and enjoy the delicious results of your teamwork. That’s the real magic of a simple, shared easy dinner.
Easy One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta Recipe
Find the full, detailed recipe card below for ingredients, step-by-step instructions, and nutrition information.
Notes & Tips
Storing Leftovers: This pasta keeps beautifully! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce.
Pasta Shape: Short, sturdy pasta shapes like penne, rigatoni, fusilli, or shells work best as they hold the creamy sauce perfectly. Avoid very thin pasta like angel hair.
Adjusting Consistency: If the sauce seems too thick before the pasta is done, simply add a little more broth or water, a quarter cup at a time. If it’s too thin after cooking, let it sit off the heat for 5 minutes; it will continue to thicken.
Make it Vegan: For a plant-based version, use a rich unsweetened plant cream (like oat or cashew) and substitute the Parmesan with 3-4 tablespoons of nutritional yeast, adding it at the end.
Easy One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
- 12 ounces pasta (like penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth. Add the uncooked pasta directly to the pot. Stir well to ensure the pasta is submerged in the liquid.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce has thickened.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until the cheese is melted and the sauce is creamy and smooth.
- Season generously with salt and black pepper to taste. Let the pasta sit for a couple of minutes to allow the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil and extra Parmesan cheese.
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