Marry Me Pasta Sun-Dried Tomatoes (Printer-friendly)

Silky sun-dried tomato and cream pasta with garlic and parmesan—ready in 30 minutes for a cozy dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz dried pasta (penne or rigatoni)

→ Sauce

02 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
03 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and thinly sliced
05 - 1 cup heavy cream
06 - 1/4 cup vegetable broth
07 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
10 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh basil leaves
13 - Additional grated Parmesan, for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions; reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta.
02 - Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
03 - Stir in the sliced sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1–2 minutes to release their flavor into the oil.
04 - Pour in the heavy cream and vegetable broth, then stir in oregano, basil and red pepper flakes; bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
05 - Add the grated Parmesan and cook, stirring, until fully incorporated and the sauce has thickened slightly, about 2–3 minutes.
06 - Season the sauce with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, tasting and adjusting the balance as needed.
07 - Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss thoroughly to coat; if the sauce is too thick, loosen with a splash of the reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
08 - Transfer to warmed bowls, garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan, and serve immediately.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • This is the kind of pasta you make to impress yourself as much as anyone across the table—creamy, indulgent, secretly simple.
  • Sun-dried tomatoes bring that mysterious burst of flavor that makes everyone ask how you did it.
02 -
  • I learned quickly that letting the garlic brown too much brings bitterness you just can’t hide.
  • Reserving some pasta water right before draining became my ultimate fix for sauce that looked too thick—don’t skip this step.
03 -
  • Using freshly grated parmesan (never pre-shredded) always results in a smoother, silkier sauce.
  • Letting everyone add extra parmesan and pepper at the table turns a weeknight dinner into an occasion.
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