Description
Indulge in the creamy goodness of this Tomato Pasta Sauce with Cream Cheese recipe. A luscious blend of tomatoes, cream cheese, and herbs creates a velvety sauce that coats your favorite pasta beautifully. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a cozy meal with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Finishing Touches:
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup pasta water (reserved from cooked pasta)
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, sauté the onion in olive oil until soft. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Cook Sauce: Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Melt Cream Cheese: Reduce heat, add cream cheese, and stir until melted and smooth.
- Finish Sauce: Stir in Parmesan cheese. Adjust consistency with pasta water if needed.
- Serve: Toss sauce with cooked pasta. Garnish with herbs if desired.
Notes
- This sauce complements penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine.
- Enhance with protein like chicken or shrimp, or veggies like sautéed spinach.
- For a creamy texture, opt for full-fat cream cheese.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: about 1/2 cup sauce
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
