Description
A rich and creamy tomato basil pasta dish featuring a luscious homemade sauce made with crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, garlic, and fresh basil. This quick and flavorful meal comes together in just 20 minutes, perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 tbsp butter
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Romano cheese, grated
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
Pasta
- 16 oz penne pasta
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Prepare the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking just about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Tomatoes and Cream: Stir in the crushed tomatoes and heavy cream, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Incorporate Cheese and Seasonings: Add the grated Romano cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Immediately reduce heat to low and stir continuously until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes smooth.
- Add Basil and Wilt: Stir in the chopped fresh basil and allow it to wilt in the sauce for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Remove the sauce from heat and toss the cooked pasta in it until fully coated.
- Serve: Garnish with additional grated Romano cheese and fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute Romano cheese with Parmesan if preferred.
- For a lighter sauce, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- If fresh basil is unavailable, dried basil can be used but add earlier to the sauce.
- Make sure not to burn the garlic; cook it briefly to release flavor without bitterness.
- Reserve some pasta water to thin the sauce if it becomes too thick.
