One-Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta is the ultimate busy weeknight meal that’s made with marinara sauce, cream, mozzarella cheese, and baby spinach! This easy recipe has a delicious homemade dinner on the table in just 30 minutes!
Slide more ease into your weeknights by planning another one-pot meal such as this One-Pot Taco Mac and Cheese into your menu for the week! Garnish yours with sour cream, corn chips, and diced tomatoes!
Save yourself time in the kitchen this week (or any week!) by making this One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta! Don’t worry; saved time doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor, either!
Instead, this dish is packed full of pleasing flavor that your family will happily devour! And then you’ll be happy that you only have to clean up one pot, a true win-win situation for all!
What It’s Like To Enjoy This Creamy Tomato Pasta
Taste: Ingredients such as marinara sauce, chicken broth, garlic, and heavy cream combine to create a flavor-packed tomato-based sauce! The pasta dish is then served with fresh basil leaves and grated parmesan!
Texture: Since the sauce is made with heavy cream, it has a creamy consistency that gives you that pure comfort food experience! The creamy sauce covers perfectly cooked al dente penne and tender baby spinach, creating a pasta dish that has the best texture!
Marinara Sauce
To keep this one-pot meal busy family-friendly, I opted to make the creamy tomato sauce with storebought marinara sauce. This allows for a dump-and-go meal instead of making homemade marinara sauce from scratch.
Another bonus is that you can grab a jar of marinara sauce that you already know your family loves and enjoys. This takes the guesswork out of wondering if your family will like the new recipe since it’s made with a family favorite!
We love using Rao’s Homemade Marinara sauce. However, if you have the extra time, go ahead and make this dish with your favorite homemade marinara sauce.
After all, the homemade taste of anything is hard to beat!
Helpful Recipe Tips When Making Creamy Tomato Pasta
- Cooking – During the pasta cooking stage, extra water can be added if necessary. Just be careful not to add an excessive amount, or the sauce could turn out to be too watery.
- Garlic – It’s best to use fresh garlic in this recipe; however, if needed, this can be swapped out for minced jar garlic. You will just need one teaspoon of minced garlic to replace each garlic clove.
- Cheeses – You’ll notice that this pasta dish calls for two types of cheese, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese. I find that freshly grated cheese tastes better as well as incorporates into the dish nicely. Though for ease and convenience, pre-shredded and pre-grated cheeses can be used!
- Heavy Cream – For the best creamy texture, you want to use full-fat heavy cream! This will ensure that the sauce turns out with the most satisfying texture possible! However, if necessary, you can use a lower-fat version of cream, but it may alter the final texture.
- Garnish – Though the basil and parmesan are both completely optional, they do add a nice finishing touch to the dish. Both in flavor and appearance!
Avoid a case of dinner-time dreads by making more quick and delicious meals that will please everyone as much as this Creamy Tomato Pasta dish does! My family also eats up this Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta without hesitation.
We also love this Ritz Cracker Chicken and Frito Chili Pie as well!
Storage Instructions
Leftover creamy tomato pasta needs to be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge. Leftovers can then be enjoyed for up to 3 days.
How To Reheat These Leftovers
Creamy tomato pasta is best reheated in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop. Regardless of which method you choose to heat your leftovers, I recommend adding a splash of water to them first. That way, it will help loosen the sauce up!
Does This Pasta Recipe Freeze Well?
Yes, this pasta meal freezes well! To freeze, transfer the cooled pasta into an airtight container, or Ziploc bag with the excess air squeezed out of it.
Then store it in the freezer and thaw it in the fridge overnight. Then reheat when ready to enjoy.
Can I Use A Pasta Other Then Penne When Making This Recipe?
Yes, another dried short pasta will work when making this recipe. Pastas such as ziti, rigatoni, and cavatappi would all be good choices.
What If I Don’t Have Chicken Broth?
If you don’t have chicken broth, you can replace it with water though the dish will lose out on flavor. The chicken broth just really gives the pasta a nice subtle burst of flavor!
One Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta
EQUIPMENT
- Large skillet or saucepan with lid
INGREDIENTS
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves finely chopped or minced
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1½ cups marinara sauce
- 2½ cups chicken broth
- 3 cups baby spinach leaves loosely packed
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- ¼ cup chopped basil for garnishing
- ¼ cup grated parmesan for garnishing
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 1 yellow onion (diced) and cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes or until softened. Add 3 garlic cloves (minced) and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, so it doesn't burn.
- Add 1 pound penne pasta, 1½ cups marinara sauce, and 2½ cups chicken broth to the pan. Stir to combine, then bring to a simmer. Cover with a lid and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes or until the pasta is al dente. Add extra water during the cooking process if looking a little dry.
- Add 3 cups baby spinach leaves, ½ cup heavy cream, and ½ cup shredded mozzarella. Stir until the spinach has wilted and the mozzarella has melted. Season to taste with salt and ground black pepper.
- Add in ¼ cup chopped basil and ¼ cup grated parmesan and serve.
NOTES
- Storage Instructions: Leftover creamy tomato pasta needs to be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge. Leftovers can then be enjoyed for up to 3 days.
- How To Reheat These Leftovers: Creamy tomato pasta is best reheated in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop. Regardless of which method you use to heat your leftovers, I recommend adding a splash of water to them first. That way, it will help loosen the sauce up!
- Does This Pasta Recipe Freeze Well? Yes, this pasta meal freezes well! To freeze, transfer the cooled pasta into an airtight container, or Ziploc bag with the excess air squeezed out of it. Then store it in the freezer and thaw it in the fridge overnight when ready to enjoy.
- Can I Use A Pasta Other Then Penne When Making This Recipe? Yes, another dried short pasta will work when making this recipe. Pastas such as ziti, rigatoni, and cavatappi would all be good choices.
- What If I Don’t Have Chicken Broth? If you don’t have chicken broth, you can replace it with water though the dish will lose out on flavor. The chicken broth gives the pasta a nice subtle burst of flavor.
Delicious and super easy!! Love the one pot clean up!