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Tomato Pasta Sauce with Cream Cheese

A creamy and rich tomato pasta sauce that is quick to prepare and perfect for busy weeknights or leisurely weekends.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Sauces
  • 8 oz 8oz (225 grams) Pasta (long or short) Use your favorite type of pasta.
  • ¾ cup ¾ cup (200 ml) tomato passata (aka tomato puree) Choose a good quality passata for best flavor.
  • ½ cup ½ cup (120 grams) cream cheese Cream cheese adds creaminess to the sauce.
  • ¼ cup ¼ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated For serving or mixing into the sauce.
Flavorings
  • 1 tablespoon 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil For sautéing.
  • 2 or 3 cloves 2 or 3 garlic cloves, minced Garlic enhances the flavor of the sauce.
  • ½ medium ½ brown or white onion, finely diced Onion adds sweetness and depth.
  • ¼ teaspoon ¼ teaspoon chili flakes (optional) Adjust based on heat preference.
  • 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tbsp of chopped fresh basil) Basil pairs well with tomato.
  • ¼ teaspoon ¼ teaspoon fine salt, or to taste Seasoning to taste.
  • ⅛ teaspoon ⅛ black pepper, plus more to serve Freshly ground for best flavor.
Cooking Water
  • ¼ cup ¼ cup (60 ml) reserved pasta water Used to adjust sauce consistency.

Method
 

Cooking the Pasta
  1. Cook your pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Follow the package instructions for timing, but remember to scoop out approximately 1 cup of the pasta cooking water a couple of minutes before draining.
Preparing the Sauce
  1. While the pasta cooks, melt the butter (or olive oil) in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic, diced onion, and chili flakes (if using). Cook gently for about 2 minutes, or until the onions are translucent and fragrant.
  2. Stir in the tomato passata and dried basil, then lower the heat. Allow it to simmer for about 5 minutes, letting those flavors meld.
  3. Mix in the cream cheese, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir until everything is well combined and creamy. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
Combining
  1. Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet, tossing it in the sauce until well coated—this only takes about 10 seconds!
  2. Turn off the heat and serve immediately, garnished with more grated parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

For added nutrition, toss in some chopped spinach or zucchini when you sauté the garlic and onion. Feel free to switch up the cheese: mozzarella or ricotta would also work well in this sauce. Tasting your sauce is essential; adjust the seasoning to your preference before serving.