Mission Inn-Inspired Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta with Parmesan

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender pasta tossed in a luscious tomato basil sauce enriched with cream and finished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs penne pasta, olive oil, minced garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 520 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz penne pasta and cook for 11 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Pour in 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes if using. Simmer for 10 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves, cooking for another 2 minutes until warmed through and creamy.
  5. Step 5: Add drained penne to the skillet along with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Toss to coat the pasta evenly in the sauce.
  6. Step 6: Remove from heat and stir in 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy. Serve garnished with extra basil if desired.

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