This easy recipe for Creamy Tomato Penne Pasta is a great way to empty out your pantry! It’s made with canned tomatoes, red bell pepper (or whatever veggie you have on hand), cream cheese, tomato paste, chicken broth and spices. Perfect for meatless Mondays!
After a quick trip to the mountains, my family arrived home late Monday evening, tired and hangry, to a mostly empty refrigerator. Thankfully I had a few stapless on hand – canned tomatoes, pasta, cream cheese and some veggies from the week before. All I needed to whip up this quick, easy and Creamy Tomato Penne Pasta!
Creamy Tomato Penne Pasta
Prep Time: 5 minutes // Cook Time: 20 minutes // Serves: 6
Ingredients
- 1 lb. penne pasta
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15) oz. can diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 3 tbsp. tomato paste
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 oz. softened cream cheese
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally. Drain. Set cooked pasta aside.
- Add the onion and red bell pepper to a heavy duty dutch oven over medium heat and sauté until translucent and soft, about five minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about one minute more.
- Pour in tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, tomato paste and chicken broth and cook until the tomato paste is mixed in.
- Turn the heat down to low and add the softened cream cheese. Whisk to incorporate. Stir in parmesan cheese.
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce. Garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.
[…] Sunday, January 24th | Quick and Creamy Tomato Penne Pasta | Total Time | 25 minutes | I created this simple & quick pasta dish with a bare fridge and pantry in mind. You can sub whatever veggies you have on hand or omit them completely if your family will riot. I used a red bell pepper because it sort of camouflages itself in the sauce!! […]