Dinner › 20 Minute Meal

Creamy Penne with Tomatoes

By Amy Flanigan

Published Apr 24, 2025

Read 4 Reviews

Prep 10 minutes mins

Cook 10 minutes mins

Servings 5 people

By Amy Flanigan

Published Apr 24, 2025

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Despite being so quick and easy to make with a short ingredient list, this 20-minute Creamy Penne with Tomatoes is loaded with flavor. The sauce is made from canned diced tomatoes, white wine, and heavy cream plus a few seasonings. So simple, yet so good and a fantastic easy dinner to always have in your back pocket!

This creamy penne with tomatoes is my go-to when I can’t decide what to make for dinner or I need something quick and easy. I always have all of the ingredients on hand and it takes just 20 minutes to prepare. Add some garlic bread and/or a side salad and you have a restaurant-worthy pasta dinner ready to go!

Helpful Tips & Variations

• Don’t overcook the pasta. Al dente pasta is the way to go for this creamy penne recipe. It’ll vary based on the exact pasta, so pay attention to the package directions.
• Reserve some pasta water. I always like to reserve a bit of pasta water when making most pasta dishes. If the sauce is too thick at the end, a splash of pasta water helps to thin it out while still maintaining a smooth, creamy texture.
• Good quality parmesan. A quality block of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese or similar is the way to go here. Avoid the pre-grated cheeses as they won’t melt as nicely (or taste as good).
• Use a different pasta. It won’t technically be penne with tomatoes if you use another type of pasta, but this recipe totally works with any similar size pasta, like rotini, farfalle, or rigatoni.
• Omit the wine. All the alcohol cooks off leaving the sauce with great depth of flavor, but the wine can be omitted for those who don’t want to use it – nothing needs to be added in its place. However, if the sauce seems too thick, you can add just a little extra pasta water (or broth) to help get it to the right consistency.

5 from 4

Creamy Penne with Tomatoes

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Total: 20 minutes mins

Servings: 5 people

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Simple doesn't mean boring! This Creamy Penne with Tomatoes recipe is a quick, easy dinner that's ready in just 20 minutes but loaded with flavor.

Ingredients 

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• ▢ 1 pound dry penne pasta
• ▢ 1/3 cup olive oil
• ▢ 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, , undrained
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic, , minced
• ▢ 1/4 cup dry white wine
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• ▢ 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• ▢ pinch cracked red pepper flakes
• ▢ 1/2 cup heavy cream
• ▢ 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, , plus more for serving
• ▢ freshly chopped parsley, , for garnish
• ▢ garlic bread, , for serving, optional

Instructions 

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil, then cook 1 pound penne pasta al dente, according to package directions (about 10 minutes.) Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
  
• In the meantime, in a large nonstick saucepan over medium heat, warm 1/3 cup olive oil. Add a 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes including its liquid and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Add in 3 cloves minced garlic and cook until fragrant, 20 seconds.
  
• Bump up the heat to medium-high and add 1/4 cup dry white wine; cook until reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes.
  
• Add 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
  
• Reduce the heat to medium again, then add 1/2 cup heavy cream. Stir to combine and simmer at a gentle bubble for about 2 minutes to thicken.
  
• Stir 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese until melted and incorporated.
  
• Add the pasta to the cream sauce; toss to thoroughly coat. (If the sauce is too thick, you can add in some of the pasta water.)
  
• Serve portions in bowls, garnish with the parsley, and pass some freshly grated Parmesan cheese at the table.
  

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 579kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 559mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 397IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 106mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

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Serving Suggestions

Creamy penne with tomatoes is such a simple weeknight dinner. I love to garnish the bowls with some fresh parsley and then pass some additional freshly grated parmesan at the table. For sides, some garlic bread or breadsticks are all you need! I’ll also whip up a simple side salad or caesar salad to go with it sometimes as well.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

• Fridge. Store leftover creamy penne with tomatoes in an airtight container in the fridge. Leftovers will stay good for 3-4 days.
• Reheat. Leftovers can be reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave. The penne does tend to absorb the sauce so I sometimes add a splash of water, broth, or heavy cream to prevent it from drying out.

More Easy Pasta Recipes

• Baked Tomato Sausage Rigatoni
• Boursin Cheese Pasta
• Baked Feta Pasta
• Chicken Tetrazzini
• Mushroom and Zucchini Pasta
• Chicken Pot Pie Noodles

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!