Creamy Tomato Pasta Sauce with Garlic and Parmesan Recipe
A creamy and flavorful tomato pasta sauce made with garlic, onion, and tangy cream cheese, perfect for tossing with your favorite pasta. This easy-to-make sauce blends the richness of cream cheese and parmesan with the freshness of basil and a hint of chili flakes for a delightful meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8oz (225 grams) pasta (long or short pasta will work)
Tomato Pasta Sauce with Cream Cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- 2 or 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ brown or white onion, finely diced
- ¼ teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
- ¾ cup (200 ml) tomato passata (aka tomato puree)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tbsp of chopped fresh basil)
- ½ cup (120 grams) cream cheese (Philadelphia recommended)
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- ¼ cup (60 ml) reserved pasta water
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt, or to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, plus more to serve
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup (60 ml) of pasta water before draining.
- Prepare the Sauce Base: In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and finely diced onion, cooking until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Seasonings and Tomato: Stir in ¼ teaspoon chili flakes (if using) and 1 teaspoon dried basil. Pour in ¾ cup (200 ml) tomato passata and let simmer for 5-7 minutes to meld flavors.
- Incorporate Cream Cheese and Parmesan: Lower the heat and add ½ cup (120 grams) of cream cheese in small chunks, stirring until it melts into the sauce creating a creamy texture. Then stir in ¼ cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: Gradually add the reserved ¼ cup (60 ml) pasta water to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency, stirring continuously.
- Season to Taste: Season the sauce with ¼ teaspoon fine salt and ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, adjusting seasoning as needed.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss thoroughly until well coated with the creamy tomato sauce.
- Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with additional black pepper and parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Use fresh basil if available for a brighter flavor.
- Adjust chili flakes to control spiciness to your liking.
- Reserve pasta water is essential for adjusting the sauce consistency without thinning its flavor.
- For a dairy-free twist, substitute cream cheese and parmesan with vegan alternatives.
- Use butter for a richer taste or olive oil for a lighter, heart-healthy option.
Keywords: tomato pasta sauce, cream cheese pasta sauce, easy pasta sauce, creamy tomato sauce, vegetarian pasta sauce