Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta

Some nights you want something elaborate. Layers of flavor. Maybe a long simmer.

And other nights? You want pasta. Fast. Creamy. Garlicky. Comforting in that quiet, uncomplicated way.

This Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta is exactly that. It takes basic pantry ingredients — pasta, tomatoes, cream, garlic — and turns them into something that tastes far more indulgent than it should for a 25-minute recipe. The sauce is silky without being heavy, bright from the tomatoes, mellow from the cream, and finished with fresh basil that pulls everything together.

It’s simple. Maybe even deceptively simple. But it works.

And sometimes that’s all you need.

Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta

Ingredients

• 8 oz spaghetti or fettuccine
• 1 cup ripe tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Optional: freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving

How to Make Creamy Tomato Garlic Past

1. Cook the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti or fettuccine according to package instructions until al dente — tender but still with a slight bite.

Drain and set aside. Reserve about 1/4 cup of pasta water, just in case you need to loosen the sauce later.

2. Sauté the Garlic

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

Add the minced garlic and cook until lightly golden and fragrant. This happens quickly — don’t walk away. Garlic can go from perfect to bitter in seconds.

3. Add the Tomatoe

Stir in the diced tomatoes along with salt and pepper.

Let them simmer for about 5 minutes, just until they soften and release their juices. The mixture should look slightly saucy but not watery.

4. Make It Creamy

Lower the heat and slowly stir in the heavy cream.

Let everything simmer gently for a few minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and turns a soft blush color. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

If the sauce feels too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.

5. Combine and Finish

Add the cooked pasta directly into the skillet.

Toss until every strand is coated in that creamy tomato garlic sauce. Let it cook together for a minute so the flavors meld.

Remove from heat and sprinkle with fresh chopped basil.

Serve immediately, topped with grated Parmesan if desired.

Simple. Creamy. Comforting.

And somehow, even better than you expected it to be.