Tomato Pasta Sauce with Cream Cheese Recipe
This creamy and flavorful Tomato Pasta Sauce with Cream Cheese is a quick and easy recipe perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner. Combining tomato passata, cream cheese, and parmesan, this sauce delivers a rich, smooth texture with a hint of garlic and basil. Ready in just 10 minutes, it pairs beautifully with any pasta type.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 oz (225 grams) pasta (long or short pasta will work)
Sauce
- 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 (tomato puree)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil)
- ½ cup (120 grams) cream cheese (Philadelphia recommended)
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- ¼ cup (60 ml) reserved pasta water (from cooking pasta)
- 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 the package directions until al dente. A couple of minutes before draining, scoop out approximately 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: While the pasta cooks, heat butter or olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic, finely diced onion, and chili flakes if using. Cook gently for about 2 minutes until fragrant and the onion is softened.
- Add Tomato Base: Stir in the tomato passata and dried basil. Lower the heat and let the sauce simmer gently for 5 minutes to develop flavor.
- Incorporate Cream Cheese and Parmesan: Add the cream cheese, freshly grated parmesan, and ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water to the skillet. Stir quickly until the ingredients combine and the sauce emulsifies into a smooth and creamy consistency. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as desired.
- Toss Pasta in Sauce: Drain the cooked pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the sauce. Toss the pasta to coat evenly, using additional reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce, about 10 seconds.
- Serve: Turn off the heat and serve immediately. Optionally, garnish with extra freshly grated parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy your creamy tomato pasta!
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water before draining to help adjust sauce consistency and aid emulsification.
- You can substitute butter with olive oil for a dairy-free option, but cream cheese is essential for the creamy texture.
- Fresh basil can be used instead of dried for a brighter flavor.
- Adjust chili flakes according to heat preference or omit for a milder sauce.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for best flavor and melting results.
- Serve immediately as the sauce may thicken upon standing.
