This Quick and Easy Pasta with Tomato Parmesan Sauce is fast enough to make on any busy weeknight with common pantry ingredients.
As a busy mom with two kids who have seemingly endless activities, I'm always looking for ways to save time at meals. This past spring was particularly busy, with kids' activities occupying ⅘ weeknights, sometimes more than one per night! On the days with activities, I need all the help I can get at mealtimes, and quick and easy meals can be a lifesaver.
Pasta is one of those meals that my family is generally happy with, and depending on the recipe, it can be as quick and easy as anything. This Quick and Easy Pasta with Tomato Parmesan Sauce just happens to be one of those recipes.
I tested this pasta recently a couple of times on some of those busy nights in the past few months, and I'm happy to report that it went over well with my family.
My daughter, who generally likes most pasta dishes, enjoyed it. My son, who typically doesn't like pasta unless the sauce is completely separate from the pasta, actually liked it too. And I definitely enjoyed how quick and easy it was.
How to make Quick and Easy Pasta with Parmesan Tomato Sauce
This easy but still delicious pasta can be on your table in just about 20 minutes. Start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. You will be cooking up a whole pound of pasta, so make sure you boil enough water (aim for about 4 liters or one gallon).
When the water starts to boil, salt it generously (about 1 Tablespoon) and add the pasta. Check the directions for the pasta and test it a few minutes before the directions say it should be al dente. You want to stop cooking the pasta BEFORE it's al dente, as it will continue to cook in the sauce. Make sure that you save some of the pasta water to add to the sauce (about a cup).
While you're waiting for the water to boil and the pasta is cooking, you can start making the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or saute pan. Add the garlic and cook until it's softened. Stir in the tomato puree and salt (and dried basil if using).
Stir in the drained pasta and some of the reserved pasta water and continue to cook until the sauce is thickened and the pasta is al dente. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can thin it out with some more of the pasta water.
Reduce the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and butter. Continue cooking and stirring until the butter and cheese have melted and incorporated into the sauce. Remove the pasta from heat and stir in the fresh basil (if using). Serve with additional grated Parmesan or basil if desired.
What if I forget to save the pasta water?
If you drain the pasta without saving the starchy and salty pasta water, don't worry - there's an easy substitution!
Fill a microwave-safe measuring cup with 1 cup of water. Stir in ¼ teaspoon of cornstarch and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Microwave it on high for 2 minutes, then take it out and stir. Microwave it for another 2 minutes, then it is ready to use in the recipe as needed.
Quick and Easy Pasta with Parmesan Tomato Sauce Ingredients
- Short pasta like penne, fusilli, or whatever else you happen to have on hand. You could also use whole wheat pasta if you like. Use your favorite gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Tomato puree - note that tomato puree and tomato sauce are two different things. Tomato sauce (in North America at least) often has sugar, and/or other seasonings added to it. Tomato puree is typically just tomatoes and maybe a little salt. Tomato puree may be available in cans or bottles where the other canned tomato products are sold. If you can't find it, you can use an equal amount of diced tomatoes, pureed using an immersion blender, blender, or food processor.
- Kosher salt or an equal amount of MSG-salt
- Grated Parmesan cheese - you'll definitely want real Parmesan cheese here, preferably freshly shredded using a box grater - not the kind from a plastic shaker.
- Unsalted butter
- Fresh basil - or use ⅓ the amount of dried basil
Want more Pasta recipes?
Quick and Easy Pasta with Parmesan Tomato Sauce Nutrition Notes
The nutrition information in the recipe below is for ⅙th of the recipe. The numbers will vary accordingly if your portion size is larger or smaller than this.
To make this pasta gluten-free, simply replace the pasta with your favorite gluten-free brand.
To make a complete meal, serve with a green side salad.
Quick and Easy Pasta with Parmesan Tomato Sauce
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Large skillet or saute pan
- Box Grater to grate the Parmesan cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound short pasta like fusilli or penne
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 22 ounces tomato puree
- ¾ teaspoons kosher salt or MSG-salt
- 1 ½ cups grated parmesan cheese 6 ounces
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter cut into small cubes
- 2 Tablespoons fresh basil minced or julienned (or 1 teaspoon dried basil, added with the tomato puree)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil. Salt the water with about 1 Tablespoon of salt, then add the pasta. Drain the pasta just before you think it's about to be al dente (it's ok if it's a little more on the underdone side - you will still be cooking it more later - cooking time varies depending on the pasta, so check the package for guidance). Make sure to save about a cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Meanwhile, add ¼ cup olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and cook until it is softened and just beginning to brown, about 5-8 minutes. Stir in 22 ounces tomato puree and ¾ teaspoons kosher salt and increase the temperature to medium-high (if using dried basil instead of fresh, add it now). Cook until the sauce begins to bubble.
- Stir in the cooked pasta and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and cook until the pasta is al dente and the sauce is thickened, about 3-5 minutes (add more cooking water 1-2 Tablespoons at a time if the sauce seems too thick). Reduce the heat to low, and stir in 1 ½ cups grated parmesan cheese and cubed butter. Stir until both the butter and the cheese have melted into the sauce. If using fresh basil, add it now.
- Serve immediately with additional fresh basil and/or Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition
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