Creamy Tomato and Basil Penne Pasta

This Tomato Basil Penne Pasta is the perfect comfort food recipe! This tomato penne pasta is sure to be a family favorite weeknight or weekend meal.

Speaking of simple pasta dishes, be sure to check out my Dill Pickle Pasta Salad and my Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta as well. When it comes to main entrees or side dishes, you can’t go wrong with any of these.

Creamy Tomato and Basil Penne Pasta

Family dinner time around the table is important to our family. Even when the kids were little, we’d all sit down together as much as possible. It was a great time to catch up on the day and things to come. As the kids have gotten older, we have less nights we’re all together at the same time because of school activities and sports practices.

But, when we are all home, we make sure to sit down together. We don’t always have a big meal and may have something like quesadillas, pizza or chicken and rice. But, when we have time, I try to make something we all like and enjoy.

It just makes my mom heart happy to see my family happy and enjoy my food. One of their favorites is my Creamy Tomato Basil Penne Pasta. It’s a little like my Instant Pot Penne Alfredo, but with tomato sauce. It’s always a hit!

I make this dish for new parents, sick friends and even for birthdays. It’s just a comforting vegetarian dinner. Pair the creamy tomato pasta with a salad and bread – and you have a delicious meal! I always make it from scratch – but have recently found that Bertolli has a sauce that makes it just right!

If I can use a quality product that allows me to save time – I’m all for it!

I decided to use Bertolli Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce the last time I made this dish and it turned out great! My family raved about how delicious it was and never knew it wasn’t made from scratch. I’d call that a dinner WIN!

Ingredients to Make Creamy Tomato Penne Pasta

• pasta sauce
• onion
• garlic
• olive oil
• sugar
• salt & pepper
• parmesan
• fresh basil – Here’s How To Store Fresh Herbs to make sure your basil is fresh!
• penne pasta
• heavy cream

How To Make Tomato Penne Pasta

Step One: Add butter

Heat butter and oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for a minute or so. Pour in tomato sauce and add salt, pepper, and sugar to taste. Stir and cook over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step Two: Cook pasta

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.

Step Three: Remove sauce

Remove sauce from heat and stir in cream. Add parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Stir well.

Step Four: Combine

Add pasta to sauce and top with chopped basil

Serve immediately. (Thin with pasta water before adding basil if needed.)

FAQs

What does basil do to tomato sauce?

It just gives it a light and fresh flavor! Fresh basil is always a great addition!

Is tomato basil sauce the same as marinara?

They’re not the same. Marinara is typically used as a dipping sauce while tomato basil sauce is often mixed in with noodles or other pasta.

How do you store leftover pasta?

Just let the pasta recipe cool down all the way and then store it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge.

If you’re looking for more pasta recipes…try these next!

• Ricotta Stuffed Shells
• One-Skillet Creamy Tomato Italian Sausage Pasta
• Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta With Chicken
• Creamy Tomato and Basil Penne Pasta
• One-Skillet Pasta Primavera with Meatballs
• Bow Tie Pasta Salad

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Bertolli®. The opinions and text are all mine.