This luscious Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe is a true weeknight wonder, delivering restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort, bathing perfectly cooked pasta in a rich, velvety sauce.
My love for a good Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe started back in my college days, when quick, comforting meals were a necessity. I was constantly looking for something that felt indulgent but wouldn’t break the bank or take hours to make after a long day of classes. I experimented endlessly with different proportions of tomatoes, garlic, and cream, trying to replicate the rich, garlicky sauces I adored in Italian restaurants. I learned so much about building flavor layers from my favorite online resources, like the in-depth guides on Serious Eats. This particular recipe became my signature, a dish that always brought a smile to my face and quickly became a staple in our household for busy evenings when we crave something deeply satisfying.
🟫 Why This Is So Good
- Explosion of Garlic & Tomato Flavor – This dish doesn’t hold back on the aromatics. Eight cloves of garlic and sweet cherry tomatoes create a vibrant, complex base.
- Luxuriously Creamy Texture – Heavy cream combined with a hint of flour creates a velvety, smooth sauce that clings beautifully to every piece of pasta, making it incredibly comforting.
- Quick & Easy Weeknight Meal – Despite its rich flavor, this pasta comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy evenings when you want something special without the fuss.
- Comforting & Indulgent – It’s the kind of dish that warms you from the inside out, offering a perfect blend of savory, sweet, and tangy notes that truly satisfies.
The first time I served this to Mark, he took a bite, then another, and then looked up at me with wide eyes. “Clare,” he said, “this is incredible. It tastes like it took hours, but you just whipped it up!” He couldn’t believe how much flavor was packed into such a quick meal. From then on, this Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe became our emergency comfort food, the dish we turn to when we need a little culinary hug. It’s truly a testament to how simple, quality ingredients can create something extraordinary. Mastering a quick pan sauce is a great kitchen skill; many resources offer tips on perfecting your pan sauces. For more advanced recipes, visit Bake Warely.
🟫 Getting Your Ingredients Right
- Garlic: Don’t be shy with the garlic! Eight cloves might seem like a lot, but they mellow beautifully when cooked and are essential for the robust flavor of this dish. Use fresh garlic, not pre-minced for the best taste.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Sweet cherry tomatoes burst and release their juices, creating a fresh, vibrant tomato base. Halving them helps them cook down faster and more evenly.
- Dry White Wine: A good quality dry white wine, like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, adds a wonderful layer of acidity and complexity to the sauce. If you prefer not to use wine, extra chicken or vegetable broth can be substituted.
- Heavy Cream: For the richest, most luxurious sauce, heavy cream is best. If you’re looking for a slightly lighter option, half-and-half works, but expect a slightly thinner sauce.
- Rigatoni Pasta: The broad tubes of rigatoni are perfect for catching and holding the creamy sauce, ensuring every bite is full of flavor. However, any short pasta shape like penne or cavatappi would also be excellent in this Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe.
🟫 Making It Step by Step
Sauté Aromatics & Build the Tomato Base
First, cook your rigatoni pasta according to package directions until it’s perfectly al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it. Add the halved cherry tomatoes, white sugar, and chili flakes. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, until the tomatoes have softened and burst, releasing their sweet juices. Use the back of your spoon to gently mash any stubborn tomatoes.
Create the Velvety Cream Sauce
Stir in the tomato paste, smoked paprika, and garlic powder, cooking for another minute to deepen the flavors. The aroma will be absolutely intoxicating. Slowly pour in the dry white wine and bring it to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to cook off the alcohol and reduce slightly. In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream (or alternative milk) with the tablespoon of flour until smooth. Gradually whisk this cream mixture into the tomato sauce in the skillet. Continue to simmer gently, stirring constantly, for 3-5 minutes, until the sauce thickens to a beautiful, velvety consistency. This is the heart of your Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe.
Combine & Serve
Add the cooked and drained rigatoni to the skillet with the creamy sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is completely coated. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. Stir in the chopped parsley and season generously with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle this glorious Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe into bowls and, if desired, garnish with a generous dusting of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately and savor every delicious bite.
🟫 Making Sure It Turns Out
- Don’t Burn the Garlic: Garlic can go from perfectly fragrant to bitter very quickly. Keep the heat medium and watch it closely; it only needs about a minute.
- Reserve Pasta Water: That starchy water is liquid gold! It helps the sauce emulsify and cling to the pasta, and you can use it to adjust the sauce’s consistency.
- Shred Cheese Fresh: If adding Parmesan, grate it fresh. Pre-grated cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can make it clump in hot sauces.
My biggest mishap with creamy pasta sauces used to be the cream curdling. It happened a few times early on when I added cold cream to a boiling sauce. It was such a disappointment! Now, I always make sure the sauce isn’t at a rolling boil when I add the cream, and I temper it by mixing the flour into the cream first. This ensures a beautifully smooth, un-curdled sauce every single time for my Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe.
🟫 Perfect Serving Ideas
This Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe is so rich and satisfying on its own, it really doesn’t need much else. A simple side salad with a light vinaigrette would be a perfect complement to cut through the richness. A basket of warm, crusty garlic bread is also an absolute must for soaking up every last drop of that incredible sauce. For a protein boost, grilled chicken or sautéed shrimp would be delicious additions.
🟫 Making It Different
Feel free to customize this delicious pasta. Add some fresh spinach or kale during the last few minutes of simmering for extra greens. If you like heat, increase the chili flakes or add a dash of red pepper paste. You could also stir in some sun-dried tomatoes for an intensified tomato flavor. For a vegan version, use a plant-based heavy cream substitute (like full-fat coconut milk or cashew cream) and ensure your pasta is egg-free.
🟫 Storage and Leftovers
Leftovers of this Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe are absolutely delicious. Store any remaining pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The sauce will thicken as it cools. To reheat, gently warm portions on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of milk or vegetable broth to loosen the sauce back to its creamy consistency. Microwaving also works but stir well.
🟫 Tips That Actually Help
- Prep Everything First: This pasta comes together quickly, so have all your ingredients measured, chopped, and ready to go before you start cooking.
- Cook Pasta Al Dente: The pasta will continue to cook slightly in the sauce, so aim for perfectly al dente to avoid mushy pasta.
- Taste as You Go: Always taste the sauce before adding the pasta and adjust salt, pepper, and chili flakes as needed.
My most valuable kitchen lesson, especially for quick pasta dishes, is the power of tasting as I go. I used to just follow the recipe exactly, but sometimes flavors need a little nudge. Now, I constantly taste and adjust—a pinch more salt, a little extra chili flake, maybe a squeeze of lemon at the end. It ensures that every single batch of my Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe is perfectly balanced and utterly delicious.
This Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe has been a beloved staple in my kitchen for years, a testament to how simple ingredients can create something truly extraordinary. It’s the kind of dish that feels like a warm, comforting hug after a long day, and it always gets rave reviews. I hope you try it and let it bring a little bit of that comfort and joy to your table too.
🟫 Frequently Asked Questions
→ Can I add protein to this pasta? Absolutely! Grilled chicken, sautéed shrimp, Italian sausage, or even white beans would be excellent additions.
→ What kind of dry white wine should I use? Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or even an unoaked Chardonnay are great choices. Use a wine you would enjoy drinking.
→ Can I make this a vegetarian dish? Yes, this recipe is already vegetarian if you omit Parmesan or use a vegetarian Parmesan alternative. Just ensure your pasta doesn’t contain eggs if strictly vegetarian.
→ My sauce is too thick/thin. How can I fix it? If too thick, add a tablespoon of reserved pasta water or milk at a time until desired consistency. If too thin, let it simmer gently for a few more minutes to reduce, or add a very small cornstarch slurry (1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp cold water).
→ Can I use canned tomatoes instead of fresh cherry tomatoes? Yes, for a deeper tomato flavor, you can use one 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes (undrained) or crushed tomatoes. Just make sure to adjust sugar if the canned tomatoes are very acidic.
→ Why did my sauce curdle? Cream can curdle if added directly to a very hot, rapidly boiling sauce. Ensure the heat is low when adding the cream, and whisk the flour into the cream first to stabilize it.
Print
Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A quick and luxurious Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe that’s perfect for a comforting weeknight meal.
Ingredients
→ For the Pasta & Sauce:
- 8 oz Rigatoni Pasta, cooked al dente
- 4 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 8 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 3 cups Cherry Tomatoes, halved
- 1 teaspoon White Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Chili Flakes
- 1 cup Dry White Wine
- 2 tablespoon Tomato Paste
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 2 cups Heavy Cream (or alt milk), with 1 tablespoon Flour whisked in
- ½ cup Chopped Parsley
- Salt & Pepper, to taste
- Reserved pasta water (about 1 cup)
- Freshly Grated Parmesan, optional
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook rigatoni according to package directions to al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic, cook 1 minute until fragrant. Add cherry tomatoes, 1 tsp white sugar, and chili flakes. Cook 5-7 minutes until tomatoes burst, mashing gently.
- Build Sauce Base: Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, and garlic powder; cook 1 minute. Pour in dry white wine, simmer 2-3 minutes, scraping up browned bits.
- Add Cream: Whisk the 1 tbsp flour into the heavy cream (or alt milk). Reduce heat to low. Slowly whisk the cream-flour mixture into the sauce. Simmer gently, stirring, for 3-5 minutes until thickened.
- Combine & Season: Add cooked rigatoni to the sauce. Toss to coat. Add reserved pasta water as needed for consistency. Stir in chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve: Serve your Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe hot, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Don’t Burn Garlic: Watch garlic closely; it should be fragrant, not brown.
- Reserved Pasta Water: Essential for adjusting sauce consistency and helping it cling to the pasta.
- Gentle Simmer for Cream: Keep heat low when adding cream to prevent curdling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Pasta
- Method: Sautéing, Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 680 kcal
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 22g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe
