Creamy Red Sauce Pasta: Quick Comforting Weeknight Dinner

By Olivia HayesAug 22, 2026

This creamy red sauce pasta combines convenience with rich homemade flavors, making it ideal for busy weeknights. The silky, comforting sauce clings beautifully to your pasta, creating a satisfying dish that even picky eaters will love. Ready in under 30 minutes, it's a perfect solution for families or anyone in need of a quick, delicious meal. With pantry staples and easy preparation, this recipe will quickly become a go-to for your dinner rotation.

Instructions

Fill a large pot with water, salt generously, bring to a boil, add pasta and cook until al dente per package directions.

Reserve about 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.

While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and melt the butter.

Add minced garlic to the melted butter and stir constantly about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.

Stir in the tomato paste and cook 1 minute, stirring to deepen the flavor.

Pour in the canned tomato sauce and heavy cream, stirring until smooth and evenly combined.

Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.

Taste and season the sauce with the herb seasoning, salt and pepper; add a tiny pinch of sugar if the sauce tastes too acidic.

Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if the sauce is too thick.

Plate the pasta and finish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Creamy Red Sauce Pasta: Quick Comforting Weeknight Dinner

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Dinner Quick Meals One Pot

Creamy Red Sauce Pasta: Quick Comforting Weeknight Dinner

By Olivia HayesAug 22, 2026

Servings

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Ingredients

Servings4

•8 ounces uncooked pasta
•2 tablespoons butter
•2 cloves garlic (minced, 2-3)
•2 tablespoons tomato paste
•1 14 ounce can tomato sauce
•3.75 ounces heavy/whipping cream (3/4 cup)
•0.25 teaspoon seasoning
•salt (to taste)
•pepper (to taste)
•Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1
Fill a large pot with water, salt generously, bring to a boil, add pasta and cook until al dente per package directions.
2
Reserve about 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
3
While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and melt the butter.
4
Add minced garlic to the melted butter and stir constantly about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
5
Stir in the tomato paste and cook 1 minute, stirring to deepen the flavor.
6
Pour in the canned tomato sauce and heavy cream, stirring until smooth and evenly combined.
7
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
8
Taste and season the sauce with the herb seasoning, salt and pepper; add a tiny pinch of sugar if the sauce tastes too acidic.
9
Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if the sauce is too thick.
10
Plate the pasta and finish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.