Description
This Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta features perfectly cooked pasta tossed in a rich, velvety cream sauce loaded with tangy sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Parmesan, and fresh basil. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s an easy weeknight dinner that tastes like restaurant-quality Italian cuisine!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta:
- 12 oz penne pasta (or pasta of choice)
- Salt for pasta water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for pasta water, optional)
For the Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or oil from sun-dried tomatoes)
- 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed), drained and chopped
- ¼ cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped (plus more for garnish)
- Additional Parmesan for serving
Instructions
For the Pasta:
- 12 oz penne pasta (or pasta of choice)
- Salt for pasta water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for pasta water, optional)
For the Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or oil from sun-dried tomatoes)
- 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed), drained and chopped
- ¼ cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped (plus more for garnish)
- Additional Parmesan for serving
Notes
- Pasta Water is Gold: Don’t skip reserving pasta water! The starch in it helps the sauce cling to the pasta and can thin the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- Cheese Quality Matters: Always use freshly grated Parmesan from a block. Pre-shredded cheese won’t melt as smoothly and can make the sauce grainy.
- Adjusting Thickness: If sauce is too thick, add pasta water. If too thin, simmer longer or add more Parmesan.
- Wine Substitute: If not using wine, replace with equal parts chicken or vegetable broth plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice for acidity.
- Make it Gluten-Free: Simply use your favorite gluten-free pasta and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 2 cups (¼ of recipe)
- Calories: 625
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 685mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 21g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 105mg