Creamy Tomato Pasta Skillet is a creamy, comforting dinner that will be on your table in less than 30 minutes! This easy meal is delicious and it is a great option to add to your weekly dinner rotation.
Original post: September 2018 | Updated: January 2021
One of the most stressful parts of my day is when I realize I don’t have a dinner plan. Isn’t that the worst? I start frantically tossing things around in my fridge like a crazy woman.
WHY I LOVE CREAMY TOMATO PASTA SKILLET FOR DINNER
I couldn’t feel more accomplished than I do when I manage to pull off a last-minute dinner. My boys need to eat and this delicious pasta skillet with creamy tomato sauce, is one that can easily be thrown together at the last minute. Plus, it’s likely you already have the ingredients in your kitchen!
This is a great option to add to your weekly dinner rotation because it’s easy, and I’m talking SO EASY taking less than 30 minutes from start to finish! The flavor is out of this world. It is also filling, has spinach hidden in the sauce, is comforting and packs in a variety of yummy textures.
HOW TO MAKE THIS PASTA SKILLET WITH CREAMY TOMATO SAUCE
STEP 1
Bring a large saucepan filled halfway with water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and spinach.
Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until spinach begins to wilt and the garlic and onions are fragrant.
Add the tomatoes, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper.
Cook, stirring for 3 minutes.
STEP 2
Add the heavy cream (or half and half), mozzarella and sour cream and cook until cheese has melted.
Add the cooked pasta and cook for an additional 3 minutes, or until ingredients are completely warmed through. Serve immediately and top with Parmesan, if desired.
OTHER EASY AND DELICIOUS DINNER RECIPES
RECIPE NOTES
- Replace the marinara sauce with spaghetti sauce or an extra can of diced tomatoes, if desired (if that’s all you have on hand).
- Replace the medium shells with another variety of pasta that is similar in size (penne, elbow macaroni, bowtie, etc)
- I use heavy whipping cream for this recipe, but half and half or whole milk are suitable replacements.
- A 10-oz. package of frozen spinach (thawed) can replace the fresh spinach in this recipe.
Creamy Tomato Pasta Skillet Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz medium pasta shells
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 4 handfuls fresh spinach
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half (whole milk can be used as a replacement)
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese shaved, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large saucepan filled halfway with water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and spinach. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until spinach begins to wilt and the garlic and onions are fragrant.
- Add the tomatoes, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring for 3 minutes. Add the heavy cream (or half and half), mozzarella and sour cream and cook until cheese has melted.
- Add the cooked pasta and cook for an additional 3 minutes, or until ingredients are completely warmed through. Serve immediately and top with Parmesan, if desired.
Notes
- Replace the marinara sauce with spaghetti sauce or an extra can of diced tomatoes, if desired (if that’s all you have on hand).
- Replace the medium shells with another variety of pasta that is similar in size (penne, elbow macaroni, bowtie, etc)
- I use heavy whipping cream for this recipe, but half and half or whole milk are suitable replacements.
- A 10-oz. package of frozen spinach (thawed) can replace the fresh spinach in this recipe.
I made this as written, perfect, very much enjoyed by the family. This will be a regular now.
So glad you tried it and the family enjoyed it. Success!