Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta (View Print Version)

Luxuriously creamy pasta coated in tangy sun-dried tomato sauce with garlic, Parmesan, and basil.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or rigatoni
02 - Salt, for pasta water

→ Sauce

03 - 2 tbsp olive oil (preferably from sun-dried tomato jar)
04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
06 - 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
07 - 3/4 cup heavy cream
08 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1/4 cup reserved pasta cooking water
10 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
11 - Salt, to taste

→ Garnish

12 - 1 handful fresh basil leaves, torn
13 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese

# Method:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water before draining.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in drained sun-dried tomatoes and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Sauté for 2-3 minutes to develop flavors.
04 - Lower heat and add heavy cream, stirring to combine. Let simmer for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
05 - Add cooked pasta and reserved pasta water to skillet. Toss thoroughly to coat pasta evenly with sauce.
06 - Sprinkle in grated Parmesan cheese and toss again until sauce is creamy and clings to pasta.
07 - Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
08 - Plate immediately and garnish with torn fresh basil leaves and extra grated Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 25 minutes flat, which means weeknight cravings actually get satisfied.
  • The sauce tastes like you've been simmering it for hours, but the secret is just sun-dried tomatoes doing the heavy lifting.
  • One skillet, mostly hands-off once the pasta goes in, which means less cleanup to regret later.
02 -
  • The pasta water is not optional—it's what transforms this from a heavy, clumpy dish into something silky and elegant, so don't skip reserving it.
  • Sun-dried tomatoes vary wildly in how salty and intense they are, so taste as you go and don't oversalt before the end.
03 -
  • If your sauce breaks or looks separated, add a splash more pasta water and toss gently off the heat until it comes back together.
  • Don't let the cream simmer too long before adding the pasta or it can separate—keep the heat moderate and the time brief.
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