Description
This Creamy Tomato and Basil Penne Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender penne pasta tossed in a rich tomato and basil sauce made creamy with heavy cream and parmesan. It’s a perfect weeknight meal that combines simplicity with deliciousness, enhanced by fresh basil for a bright, aromatic finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 lb penne pasta
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, diced small
- 1 jar Bertolli Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce (about 24 oz)
- Dash of sugar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Garnish
- Fresh basil, for topping
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and garlic. Sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant and translucent, taking care not to burn the garlic.
- Simmer the Sauce: Pour in the jar of Bertolli Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce. Add a dash of sugar, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir well, then cook the sauce on low heat for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally to meld flavors and thicken the sauce.
- Cook the Pasta: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Finish Sauce with Cream and Cheese: Remove the sauce from heat. Stir in the heavy cream followed by the grated parmesan cheese. Adjust salt and pepper to taste, mixing until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained penne pasta to the sauce. Toss thoroughly to coat every piece. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water until reaching the desired consistency.
- Garnish and Serve: Top the pasta with freshly chopped basil and serve immediately while hot. Optionally, garnish with extra parmesan and basil for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency perfectly.
- Do not overcook garlic while sautéing to avoid bitterness.
- Simmering the sauce allows deeper flavor development.
- This recipe can be easily doubled for larger gatherings.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for the best flavor.
