Creamy TikTok Summer Pasta (Print View)
Creamy pasta with tomatoes and basil—quick, comforting, and ideal for hot summer nights.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 -
8 ounces dried pasta such as penne, fusilli, or rigatoni
→ Dairy
02 -
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
03 -
1/2 cup heavy cream
04 -
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
→ Produce
05 -
2 cloves garlic, minced
06 -
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 -
1 handful fresh basil, roughly chopped
08 -
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
→ Pantry
09 -
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
10 -
Salt, to taste
11 -
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
12 -
Red pepper flakes, a pinch, optional
# Directions:
01 -
Bring a large pot of well-salted water (about 4 quarts) to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 9 to 11 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain the pasta and reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Set aside.
02 -
While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes, or until fragrant but not browned.
03 -
Reduce the heat to low and add softened cream cheese to the skillet. Stir constantly until melted, then slowly pour in heavy cream while continuing to stir, forming a smooth sauce. If needed, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to loosen the sauce.
04 -
Stir in grated Parmesan until fully melted and integrated. Add lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and if desired, a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat.
05 -
Add the drained pasta and halved cherry tomatoes to the sauce. Toss gently over low heat until pasta is evenly coated and the tomatoes are just warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes.
06 -
Remove from heat and gently fold in the chopped fresh basil.
07 -
Plate the pasta, garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh basil leaves, and finish with a drizzle of olive oil if desired. Serve at once.
# Notes:
01 -
Reserve some pasta cooking water to help adjust the sauce consistency without diluting flavor.