Modern American Cuisine
One-pot creamy tomato pasta
One-pot creamy tomato pasta is the perfect example of the American approach to a weeknight dinner: minimal effort, one pot, and maximum comfort. The pasta cooks directly in a rich tomato-cream sauce, absorbing all the flavors of herbs and garlic, making it incredibly tender and infused. Adding fresh spinach at the very end gives the dish a pleasant brightness and balanced freshness, turning ordinary macaroni into a restaurant-quality meal in minutes. This recipe is a lifesaver on busy days, allowing you to prepare a hearty, warming, and homey dinner without a mountain of dirty dishes.
Dishday
Recipe overview
- Total time
- 20 min
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cooking
- 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Cuisine
- Modern American Cuisine
Nutrition
per serving
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Protein
- 14 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Carbs
- 70 g
- Fiber
- 4 g
Step by step
Method
- 01
Heat the olive oil in a large pot and lightly sauté the finel…
Heat the olive oil in a large pot and lightly sauté the finely chopped garlic until fragrant. This creates the base for the sauce.
- 02
Add the dry pasta, tomatoes with their juices, and pour in th…
Add the dry pasta, tomatoes with their juices, and pour in the broth. The liquid should almost completely cover the macaroni so they cook evenly.
- 03
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer…
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- 04
Stir in the cream and add the fresh spinach
Stir in the cream and add the fresh spinach. Continue to stir for a couple of minutes until the spinach wilts and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- 05
Remove from the heat, taste for salt, and add the dried basil
Remove from the heat, taste for salt, and add the dried basil. Let the pasta sit covered for a minute so the flavors fully meld before serving.
Dishday
Useful advice
Cooking tip
If the sauce seems too thick, just add a little hot water or broth at the end—this will help achieve the perfect creamy consistency.
How to serve
Serve with grated parmesan and fresh basil leaves for a complete aroma.
How to store
Store in a closed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When reheating, add a couple of spoonfuls of water to restore the creamy texture of the sauce.
Note
You can use any short pasta shapes, such as penne or fusilli—they hold the sauce best.
