Tomato Garlic Ricotta Penne (Print View)

Creamy penne with garlicky tomato sauce, fresh ricotta, and fragrant basil.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 ounces penne pasta

→ Sauce

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
05 - 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (2 cans)
06 - 1 teaspoon sugar
07 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Cheese & Herbs

09 - 7 ounces ricotta cheese
10 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
11 - 2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and onion; sauté 2–3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
03 - Stir in crushed tomatoes, sugar, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper. Simmer 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Add drained penne to the sauce and toss thoroughly. Add splash of reserved pasta water if needed for silky consistency.
05 - Gently fold in ricotta cheese, half the basil, and grated Parmesan. Cook 1–2 minutes until everything is heated through.
06 - Divide among serving plates. Top with remaining basil and extra Parmesan.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The way cool ricotta meets warm sauce creates these incredible creamy pockets throughout every bite
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
  • The fresh basil at the end wakes everything up with this bright aromatic finish
02 -
  • The pasta water is liquid gold so do not skip reserving it before draining
  • Add ricotta off the heat to prevent it from breaking and becoming grainy
  • Tear basil by hand instead of cutting it to avoid bruising and darkening
03 -
  • San Marzano tomatoes make a noticeably better sauce if you can find them
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of buying pre grated for better melting

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