Name: Creamy Penne with Tomatoes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 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)

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!

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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.

Creamy Penne with Tomatoes

5 from 2 Ratings

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.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings: 5 people

Ingredients

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.

Nutrition

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.

Other Notes

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: penne with tomatoes

Overhead view of a bowl of penne with tomatoes

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

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Creamy Penne with Tomatoes

Helpful Tips & Variations