Marry Me Pasta with Cream (Printable)

Creamy penne tossed with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and parmesan for a rich, comforting four-serving pasta.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 350 g (12 oz) pasta (such as penne or rigatoni)

→ Sauce

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 120 g (1/2 cup) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
05 - 250 ml (1 cup) heavy cream
06 - 60 ml (1/4 cup) vegetable broth
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1 tsp dried basil
09 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
10 - 50 g (1/2 cup) freshly grated parmesan cheese
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh basil leaves, for serving
13 - Extra parmesan, for serving

# How to Prepare:

01 - Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain and set aside.
02 - Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes.
04 - Pour in the heavy cream and vegetable broth, then add the oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer.
05 - Add the parmesan cheese and stir until completely melted and the sauce thickens slightly, about 2–3 minutes.
06 - Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
07 - Add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss well to coat, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
08 - Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil and extra parmesan.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce gets so creamy and decadent, you’ll want to sneak a spoonful before serving.
  • The sun-dried tomatoes give it this bold, bright punch that takes plain pasta somewhere totally new.
02 -
  • Once I let the garlic go a few seconds too long and the whole dish tasted off—low and slow wins here.
  • Adding the pasta water is a game-changer for getting that glossy restaurant-style sauce instead of something clumpy.
03 -
  • If your sauce separates or gets too thick, whisk in a splash more hot pasta water to fix it on the spot.
  • Use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil—their deep flavor really makes the dish sing compared to the dry kind.
Go Back