Creamy Tomato Orichette
Creamy Tomato Orecchiette is a 30-minute pasta made with canned tomatoes, cream cheese, a splash of cream, stock, and basil for a silky, restaurant-style sauce.
Servings: 4 people
Cost: 10
Ingredients
- 12 oz orecchiette or any short pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil optional, but helpful
- 2 cloves garlic minced (optional but highly recommended)
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (or whole tomatoes, crushed by hand)
- ½ –1 tsp kosher salt to taste
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes optional
- 4 oz cream cheese cubed/softened
- ⅓ –1/2 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup stock chicken or vegetable (plus more as needed)
- ½ cup fresh basil torn (plus more for serving)
- Parmesan for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Boil pasta in well-salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Start the sauce: In a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat, add olive oil (and garlic if using). Cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add tomatoes + simmer: Stir in canned tomatoes, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Simmer 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Make it creamy: Lower heat to medium-low. Stir in stock, then add cream cheese. Whisk or stir until fully melted and smooth.
- Finish with cream: Stir in heavy cream and simmer 2–3 minutes until glossy.
- Toss pasta: Add drained pasta and toss to coat. Add a splash of reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and help it cling.
- Add basil: Turn off heat and stir in torn basil.
- Serve: Top with more basil and Parmesan, if desired.
Notes
Too thick? Add stock or pasta water 1–2 tbsp at a time until silky.
Too tangy? Add an extra 1–2 tbsp cream or a small knob more cream cheese.
Make it heartier: Add cooked chicken, Italian sausage, shrimp, or a handful of spinach at the end.
Best tomatoes: Crushed tomatoes give the smoothest sauce fast; whole tomatoes add a fresher texture when crushed by hand.
Nutrition
Calories: 452kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 217mg | Potassium: 251mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 679IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 1mg
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