Tomato Garlic Ricotta Penne (Print View)

Creamy penne with tomato garlic sauce, fresh ricotta, and 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
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 - 1.75 ounces grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

# Method:

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 water, then drain.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and onion; sauté for 2–3 minutes until soft and fragrant.
03 - Stir in crushed tomatoes, sugar, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop flavor.
04 - Add drained penne to the sauce. Toss thoroughly, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to achieve silky consistency.
05 - Gently fold in ricotta cheese, half the basil, and grated Parmesan. Cook for 1–2 minutes until everything is heated through.
06 - Divide among serving plates. Top with remaining basil leaves and additional Parmesan cheese.

# Insider Tips:

01 -
  • The ricotta creates these velvety pockets of creaminess throughout the sauce without making it overwhelmingly rich
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something that simmered all afternoon
  • The fresh basil at the end brightens everything up perfectly
02 -
  • Do not fully incorporate the ricotta leave some visible white clouds in the sauce for the best texture
  • The pasta water trick is nonnegotiable for that restaurant quality silky consistency
03 -
  • Reserve more pasta water than you think you need it is better to have too much than too little
  • Let the ricotta come to room temperature before adding so it melts more evenly

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