This Trader Joe’s Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce is a creamy and easy recipe, which is made with rich tomato paste and Parmesan cheese. It’s the perfect 30-minute meal, ready in about 20 minutes.
Jump to RecipeTrader Joe’s Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 30 grams butter (2 tablespoons)
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, finely diced
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 70 grams tomato paste (¼ cup)
- ¾ cup cream
- 40 grams parmesan, finely grated
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt to taste
- 200 grams dried pasta or 300 grams fresh
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
How To Make Trader Joe’s Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook your pasta according to the package directions, timing it so it will be ready when the sauce is finished. Before draining, be sure to reserve a mugful of the starchy pasta water.
- Sauté the aromatics: Heat the olive oil and butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and, once sizzling, lower the heat and cook for 4-5 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and black pepper and cook for another minute until fragrant, ensuring nothing browns.
- Build the sauce: Add the tomato paste to the pan, whisk to combine, and cook for one to two minutes. With the heat on low-medium, slowly pour in the cream and whisk until evenly combined.
- Finish and combine: Stir in the lemon juice. Add the finely grated Parmesan in three separate additions, whisking well after each to ensure it melts smoothly into the sauce. Add the cooked pasta directly to the sauce with a splash (about ¼ cup) of the reserved pasta water. Let it bubble gently for a minute or two to thicken. Taste and add salt as needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and fresh basil.
Recipe Tips
- How to get the smoothest sauce? The key is to add the cream slowly over low heat and to add the grated Parmesan in batches, whisking continuously. This prevents the sauce from breaking or the cheese from clumping.
- Can I add protein? Absolutely. This sauce is a perfect base for protein. Sliced grilled chicken, sautéed shrimp, or even some browned Italian sausage would be delicious additions.
- How to make it spicier? For a little kick of heat, add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the pan along with the garlic.
- Why use pasta water? The starchy water that the pasta cooked in is a secret weapon. It helps to emulsify the sauce, making it extra creamy and helping it cling perfectly to the pasta.
What To Serve With Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta
This rich and satisfying pasta dish is a meal in itself, but it pairs wonderfully with:
- Warm, crusty garlic bread
- A simple Caesar salad or an iceberg wedge salad
- Roasted broccoli or asparagus
- A glass of crisp white wine, like Pinot Grigio
How To Store Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
- Refrigerate: Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It’s best to store the sauce and pasta separately if possible.
- Freeze: The sauce freezes well for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely before storing in a freezer-safe container.
Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Fat: 30g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Protein: 15g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Yes, this sauce works well with almost any pasta shape. Fettuccine, penne, or rigatoni would all be excellent choices.
This can happen if the cream gets too hot and comes to a rapid boil. It’s important to keep the sauce at a very gentle simmer over low heat after the cream has been added.
You can try substituting the butter with a dairy-free alternative, the cream with full-fat coconut cream or a cashew cream, and the Parmesan with a nutritional yeast-based substitute. The flavor and texture will be different but can still be delicious.
Trader Joe’s Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce Recipe
Course: DinnerCuisine: Italian InspiredDifficulty: Easy3
servings5
minutes15
minutes550
kcalA quick, easy, and incredibly luscious pasta sauce that tastes like it’s from a restaurant, featuring a rich tomato and Parmesan cream sauce.
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
½ onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely diced
½ tsp black pepper
¼ cup tomato paste
¾ cup cream
40g Parmesan, finely grated
1 tbsp lemon juice
Salt to taste
200g dried pasta
Directions
- Start boiling your pasta in heavily salted water.
- In a large pan, sauté the onion in olive oil and butter until soft. Add the garlic and pepper and cook for one more minute.
- Whisk in the tomato paste and cook for another minute.
- Slowly whisk in the cream, keeping the sauce at a very gentle simmer.
- Stir in the lemon juice, then whisk in the Parmesan cheese in three batches until melted and smooth.
- Add the cooked pasta directly to the sauce with a splash of pasta water.
- Toss to combine, season with salt, and serve garnished with fresh basil.
Notes
- Reserving a mug of the starchy pasta water before you drain the pasta is a key step for a perfect sauce.
- For the best flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese from a block, not the pre-shredded kind.
- The sauce will seem very “saucy” at first, but the pasta will quickly absorb it. It’s better to have too much sauce than too little!
- Don’t let the cream come to a hard boil, as this can cause it to separate.
