Description
A quick, 20-minute weeknight dinner featuring penne pasta in a rich, garlicky sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese. It’s pantry-friendly, delicious, and perfect for busy evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound penne or rigatoni pasta
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups fresh spinach (optional)
- 2 cups grilled chicken, sliced (optional)
Instructions
- Chop sun-dried tomatoes, mince garlic, grate Parmesan, and measure cream and broth.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, reserving 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute.
- Add garlic and red pepper flakes; cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes to deglaze the pan.
- Add heavy cream and Italian seasoning; simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Remove skillet from heat. Gradually stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. Add pasta water as needed to adjust consistency.
- Stir in spinach if using, allowing it to wilt from residual heat.
- Serve immediately topped with extra Parmesan, black pepper, and sun-dried tomato oil.
Notes
Save the starchy pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. Always remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent it from becoming grainy. Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce. For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 16
Keywords: pasta, creamy garlic, sun-dried tomato, quick dinner, weeknight meal, easy recipe, Italian pasta