Cheap Creamy Tomato Pasta

A silky, luxurious, and budget-friendly pasta dish using pantry staples. Tomato paste and cream create a deeply flavorful sauce in minutes.

Prep time: 5 mins · Cook time: 15 mins · Serves 4

Ingredients

• 12 oz Penne or rigatoni pasta
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1/2 Yellow onion, finely minced
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup Tomato paste
• 1/2 cup Heavy cream or whole milk
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/2 cup reserved Pasta water

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions.
2. Before draining the pasta, carefully scoop out and reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water.
3. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced onion and sauté until soft, about 3-4 minutes.
4. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Stir in the tomato paste. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes until the paste naturally darkens in color and caramelizes slightly.
6. Reduce the heat to low. Whisk in the heavy cream until a smooth, vibrant pink sauce forms.
7. Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with a splash of the reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously until the sauce evenly coats the noodles.
8. Stir in the parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add more pasta water if the sauce becomes too thick.