Are you ready for a meal that’s both simple and bursting with flavor? This One Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Delight is just what you need! With easy steps and tasty ingredients, you’ll whip up a comforting dish in no time. Imagine creamy tomatoes, fresh basil, and perfectly cooked pasta all in one pot. Let me guide you through this delicious journey. Your weeknight dinners will never be the same!

$- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne or fusilli works well) - 2 tablespoons olive oil - 1 medium onion, diced - 4 cloves garlic, minced - 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes - 3 cups vegetable broth - 1 cup heavy cream or coconut milk - 1 teaspoon dried oregano - 1 teaspoon sugar - Salt and pepper to taste - 1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn - Grated Parmesan cheese (optional for serving) This recipe shines with its simple yet flavorful ingredients. You can choose between penne or fusilli pasta. Both types work well and soak up the sauce nicely. The fresh onion and garlic add depth and aroma, giving the dish a comforting base. The crushed tomatoes bring a rich, tangy flavor. I love using vegetable broth for a lighter touch, but feel free to use chicken broth if you prefer. The cream is what makes this dish creamy and dreamy. You can choose heavy cream for richness or coconut milk for a dairy-free twist. Don’t forget the dried oregano for that lovely herbal note. A dash of sugar balances the tomatoes' acidity, while fresh basil adds brightness just before serving. If you like cheese, sprinkle some grated Parmesan on top for an extra umami kick. Gather these ingredients, and you're ready to create a delicious meal in just one pot! {{ingredient_image_1}} 1. Sautéing the onion and garlic Start by heating the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion. Cook it for about 4-5 minutes. You want it to turn soft and clear. Next, add the minced garlic. Stir it for about a minute. You will smell a great aroma. Be sure to stir often to avoid burning. 2. Combining liquids and spices Now, pour in the crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth. Add the dried oregano and sugar. Give everything a good stir to mix well. This base will be rich and tasty. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. 3. Cooking the pasta and incorporating cream Add the uncooked pasta to the pot. Make sure the pasta is fully submerged in the liquid. Cover the pot and cook for 10-12 minutes. Stir occasionally. You want the pasta to be al dente and soak up the flavors. Once it is cooked, reduce the heat to low. Pour in the heavy cream or coconut milk. Stir until everything is mixed well. Heat it for another 2-3 minutes. Finally, season with salt and pepper. Fold in the fresh basil leaves and serve hot. - Ensuring perfect pasta texture: Cook pasta until it is al dente, which means firm but not hard. Stir it occasionally to keep it from sticking together. The pasta will continue to cook in the sauce, so don’t overdo it! - Adjusting seasoning to taste: Start with a light hand on salt and pepper. You can always add more later. Taste the sauce before serving. Each tomato brand may vary in flavor, so adjust as needed. - Preventing sticking or burning: Keep the heat at medium to avoid burning the garlic and onion. Stir often, especially when adding the pasta. Cover the pot while cooking, but lift the lid to stir every few minutes. - Garnishing options: Serve your pasta with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese on top. It adds a nice salty flavor and makes the dish look fancy. Fresh basil leaves also add a lovely touch and bright color. - Pairing with complementary dishes: This creamy tomato basil pasta goes well with a fresh salad or garlic bread. You can also serve it with roasted vegetables or a light protein, like grilled chicken or shrimp, for a complete meal. Pro Tips Use Fresh Basil: Fresh basil adds a vibrant flavor to the dish, enhancing the overall taste. Add it at the end to retain its fresh aroma. Adjust Creaminess: For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or use a combination of both to balance flavors. Perfect Pasta Cooking: Stir the pasta occasionally while it cooks to prevent it from sticking together and ensure even cooking. Custom Seasoning: Feel free to customize the seasoning with red pepper flakes for a spicy kick or add your favorite herbs for extra depth. {{image_2}} You can change the protein in this dish to fit your tastes. Try diced chicken for a heartier meal. Shrimp adds a nice twist and cooks fast. If you want a plant-based option, use tofu. Just cube it and sauté until golden. You can also mix in different veggies. Spinach or kale adds color and nutrients. Bell peppers give sweetness, while mushrooms add a nice earthy flavor. Feel free to get creative with what you have on hand! If you want to go vegan or dairy-free, swap heavy cream for coconut milk. Coconut milk gives a rich flavor without dairy. You can leave out the cheese or use a vegan alternative. For gluten-free options, choose gluten-free pasta. Many brands now offer tasty gluten-free penne or fusilli. Just make sure to follow the cooking time on the package, as it may vary from regular pasta. To keep your creamy tomato basil pasta fresh, use an airtight container. Glass or BPA-free plastic containers work best. Make sure it cools down before sealing. You can store it in the fridge for up to three days. If you want to keep it longer, freezing is a good option. Place the pasta in a freezer-safe container. Leave some space at the top, as the pasta will expand when frozen. It will last in the freezer for about three months. When you’re ready to enjoy the leftovers, reheating is easy. For the best results, use a stove. Put the pasta in a pot and add a splash of water or broth. Heat it over low to medium heat. Stir it often to keep it from sticking. You can also microwave it, but be cautious. Place the pasta in a microwave-safe bowl. Add a bit of water and cover it, leaving a vent for steam. Heat it in short bursts, stirring in between. This helps keep the texture and flavor nice. Yes, you can use many types of pasta. Penne and fusilli work great. You can also try rotini or farfalle. Just make sure the pasta cooks well in the sauce. Adjust the cooking time if needed. This pasta dish lasts about 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Store it in an airtight container. Make sure it cools down before you put it away. This keeps it fresh and tasty for your next meal. Yes, you can prepare this dish ahead of time. Cook it and let it cool. Then, store it in the fridge. When you are ready, just reheat it on the stove. Add a little water or broth to keep it creamy. This blog post guides you in making a delicious pasta dish. We covered the main ingredients, from pasta to fresh herbs. You learned step-by-step how to cook it right. I shared essential tips for the best results, plus ideas for serving and ingredient swaps. Remember, you can tweak this dish to fit your tastes. You can store leftovers for later enjoyment. Have fun cooking and exploring different flavors! Enjoy your meal!$

Why I Love This Recipe

Easy to Make: This one-pot dish requires minimal effort and cleanup, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Rich and Creamy: The addition of heavy cream or coconut milk gives the pasta a luscious texture that’s hard to resist.
Flavorful Ingredients: With fresh basil, garlic, and crushed tomatoes, this pasta is packed with vibrant flavors.
Customizable: You can easily add your favorite vegetables or protein to make it even more satisfying.

Ingredients

List of Required Ingredients

12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne or fusilli works well)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
3 cups vegetable broth
1 cup heavy cream or coconut milk
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional for serving)

This recipe shines with its simple yet flavorful ingredients. You can choose between penne or fusilli pasta. Both types work well and soak up the sauce nicely. The fresh onion and garlic add depth and aroma, giving the dish a comforting base. The crushed tomatoes bring a rich, tangy flavor.

I love using vegetable broth for a lighter touch, but feel free to use chicken broth if you prefer. The cream is what makes this dish creamy and dreamy. You can choose heavy cream for richness or coconut milk for a dairy-free twist.

Don’t forget the dried oregano for that lovely herbal note. A dash of sugar balances the tomatoes' acidity, while fresh basil adds brightness just before serving. If you like cheese, sprinkle some grated Parmesan on top for an extra umami kick.

Gather these ingredients, and you're ready to create a delicious meal in just one pot!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Detailed Cooking Process

1. Sautéing the onion and garlic

Start by heating the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion. Cook it for about 4-5 minutes. You want it to turn soft and clear. Next, add the minced garlic. Stir it for about a minute. You will smell a great aroma. Be sure to stir often to avoid burning.

2. Combining liquids and spices

Now, pour in the crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth. Add the dried oregano and sugar. Give everything a good stir to mix well. This base will be rich and tasty. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

3. Cooking the pasta and incorporating cream

Add the uncooked pasta to the pot. Make sure the pasta is fully submerged in the liquid. Cover the pot and cook for 10-12 minutes. Stir occasionally. You want the pasta to be al dente and soak up the flavors. Once it is cooked, reduce the heat to low. Pour in the heavy cream or coconut milk. Stir until everything is mixed well. Heat it for another 2-3 minutes. Finally, season with salt and pepper. Fold in the fresh basil leaves and serve hot.

Tips & Tricks

Best Practices for Cooking

Ensuring perfect pasta texture: Cook pasta until it is al dente, which means firm but not hard. Stir it occasionally to keep it from sticking together. The pasta will continue to cook in the sauce, so don’t overdo it!
Adjusting seasoning to taste: Start with a light hand on salt and pepper. You can always add more later. Taste the sauce before serving. Each tomato brand may vary in flavor, so adjust as needed.
Preventing sticking or burning: Keep the heat at medium to avoid burning the garlic and onion. Stir often, especially when adding the pasta. Cover the pot while cooking, but lift the lid to stir every few minutes.

Serving Suggestions

Garnishing options: Serve your pasta with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese on top. It adds a nice salty flavor and makes the dish look fancy. Fresh basil leaves also add a lovely touch and bright color.
Pairing with complementary dishes: This creamy tomato basil pasta goes well with a fresh salad or garlic bread. You can also serve it with roasted vegetables or a light protein, like grilled chicken or shrimp, for a complete meal.

Pro Tips

Use Fresh Basil: Fresh basil adds a vibrant flavor to the dish, enhancing the overall taste. Add it at the end to retain its fresh aroma.
Adjust Creaminess: For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or use a combination of both to balance flavors.
Perfect Pasta Cooking: Stir the pasta occasionally while it cooks to prevent it from sticking together and ensure even cooking.
Custom Seasoning: Feel free to customize the seasoning with red pepper flakes for a spicy kick or add your favorite herbs for extra depth.

Variations

Ingredient Swaps

You can change the protein in this dish to fit your tastes. Try diced chicken for a heartier meal. Shrimp adds a nice twist and cooks fast. If you want a plant-based option, use tofu. Just cube it and sauté until golden.

You can also mix in different veggies. Spinach or kale adds color and nutrients. Bell peppers give sweetness, while mushrooms add a nice earthy flavor. Feel free to get creative with what you have on hand!

Dietary Preferences

If you want to go vegan or dairy-free, swap heavy cream for coconut milk. Coconut milk gives a rich flavor without dairy. You can leave out the cheese or use a vegan alternative.

For gluten-free options, choose gluten-free pasta. Many brands now offer tasty gluten-free penne or fusilli. Just make sure to follow the cooking time on the package, as it may vary from regular pasta.

Storage Info

How to Store Leftovers

To keep your creamy tomato basil pasta fresh, use an airtight container. Glass or BPA-free plastic containers work best. Make sure it cools down before sealing. You can store it in the fridge for up to three days.

If you want to keep it longer, freezing is a good option. Place the pasta in a freezer-safe container. Leave some space at the top, as the pasta will expand when frozen. It will last in the freezer for about three months.

Reheating Instructions

When you’re ready to enjoy the leftovers, reheating is easy. For the best results, use a stove. Put the pasta in a pot and add a splash of water or broth. Heat it over low to medium heat. Stir it often to keep it from sticking.

You can also microwave it, but be cautious. Place the pasta in a microwave-safe bowl. Add a bit of water and cover it, leaving a vent for steam. Heat it in short bursts, stirring in between. This helps keep the texture and flavor nice.

FAQs

Can I use different types of pasta?

Yes, you can use many types of pasta. Penne and fusilli work great. You can also try rotini or farfalle. Just make sure the pasta cooks well in the sauce. Adjust the cooking time if needed.

How long does the dish last in the fridge?

This pasta dish lasts about 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Store it in an airtight container. Make sure it cools down before you put it away. This keeps it fresh and tasty for your next meal.

Can I prepare it ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare this dish ahead of time. Cook it and let it cool. Then, store it in the fridge. When you are ready, just reheat it on the stove. Add a little water or broth to keep it creamy.

This blog post guides you in making a delicious pasta dish. We covered the main ingredients, from pasta to fresh herbs. You learned step-by-step how to cook it right. I shared essential tips for the best results, plus ideas for serving and ingredient swaps.

Remember, you can tweak this dish to fit your tastes. You can store leftovers for later enjoyment. Have fun cooking and exploring different flavors! Enjoy your mea