Let’s be honest, the question “What’s for dinner tonight?” can sometimes feel like the hardest one of the day. After a long day, you want something delicious and comforting. But you also want it to be simple. Well, you’ve come to the right place.
This creamy tomato garlic rigatoni is one of my favorite Easy Dinner Recipes. It’s rich, flavorful, and comes together with minimal fuss. It feels like a fancy restaurant meal but is totally achievable on a Tuesday night. Let’s get cooking!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
There are so many reasons to adore this pasta dish. First off, the flavor is just incredible. The sweet cherry tomatoes cook down with fragrant garlic to create a beautiful base. It’s a wonderful foundation for any meal.
Then comes the cream, which turns everything into a luxurious, silky sauce that clings to every piece of rigatoni. It’s pure comfort in a bowl. You get a little kick from the chili flakes, which you can totally adjust to your liking.
This is one of those fantastic Dinner Ideas Recipes that looks impressive but is secretly simple. It’s perfect for beginner cooks or anyone short on time. It is a true crowd pleaser for family dinners.
It’s also incredibly versatile. You can serve it as is for a satisfying vegetarian meal. Or you can add some protein to make it even heartier. It really is one of the best Easy Weeknight Dinners you can make.
Ingredients
The shopping list for this recipe is wonderfully simple. You probably have many of these items in your pantry already. Here is what you will need to gather.
- 8 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 3 cups Cherry Tomatoes, halved
- 4 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 cup Chicken Broth
- 1 teaspoon White Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Chili Flakes
- 2 tablespoon Tomato Paste
- 2 cups Heavy Cream or Alt milk
- 1 tablespoon Flour
- ½ cup Chopped Parsley
- 8 oz Rigatoni Pasta, cooked al dente
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Freshly Grated Parmesan, optional
Step-By-Step Instructions
Ready to make some magic happen? Follow these simple steps for one of the most delicious Easy Dinner Recipes you will ever try. Let’s walk through it together.
Step 1: Prep The Ingredients
First things first, let’s get everything ready. Mince your garlic cloves and slice the cherry tomatoes in half. Having everything prepped and ready to go makes the cooking process so much smoother.
Step 2: Sauté The Garlic
Grab a large pan and heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add your minced garlic and a little salt. Sauté it for about five minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when your kitchen smells amazing and the garlic is golden.
Step 3: Cook The Tomatoes
Now add the halved cherry tomatoes and another pinch of salt to the pan. Cook them for about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir them every now and then. You want them to soften up and release all their delicious juices.
This step is where the base of your sauce flavor really develops. Be patient and let the tomatoes do their thing. This is a key step for great Dinner Ideas Recipes.
Step 4: Deglaze The Pan
Pour in the chicken broth and let it simmer for about five minutes. Use your spoon to gently scrape any tasty browned bits from the bottom of the pan. That’s pure flavor right there. Stir in the chili flakes and tomato paste until it’s all mixed well.
Step 5: Add The Cream
Time to make it creamy. Pour in the heavy cream and give it a good stir. In a separate small bowl, whisk the flour with about two tablespoons of water. This little mixture is called a slurry, and it will help thicken our sauce.
Slowly pour the slurry into the pan while stirring constantly. Let the sauce cook for another 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. You will see it start to thicken up into a lovely, rich consistency.
Step 6: Season & Combine
Now for the finishing touches. Stir in the chopped parsley, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Add salt and pepper to taste. Finally, add your cooked rigatoni to the sauce. Make sure the pasta is cooked al dente, so it doesn’t get mushy.
This is an important part of making great Easy Weeknight Dinners. The pasta will absorb some of the sauce and finish cooking in the pan.
Step 7: Finish Cooking
Let the pasta and sauce simmer together for about five more minutes. This allows the pasta to soak up all that incredible flavor. Then, remove the pan from the heat, cover it with a lid, and let it rest for five minutes. This rest lets the flavors meld together beautifully.
Step 8: Serve
And you’re done! Serve your beautiful pasta garnished with some freshly grated Parmesan, a little extra parsley, and a sprinkle of black pepper. Enjoy your amazing homemade meal!
How To Store Leftovers
If you happen to have any leftovers, storing them is simple. Just let the pasta cool down to room temperature. Then, place it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to four days.
When you’re ready to eat, you can reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop. I suggest adding a splash of milk or cream when reheating on the stove to help loosen the sauce and bring back its creamy texture.
Tips
Want to make this dish even better? Here are a few tips to help you out. These little tricks can make your Easy Dinner Recipes even more delicious and fun to prepare.
First, don’t overcook your pasta. Cooking it al dente is key because it will continue to cook in the sauce. This prevents it from becoming too soft. Nobody likes mushy pasta, right?
Feel free to adjust the spice level. If you like it hot, add a few more chili flakes. If you’re making it for little ones, you might want to reduce the amount or leave them out. This makes it a very adaptable idea for Kid Friendly Dinners.
You can easily add some protein. Grilled chicken, sautéed shrimp, or even some Italian sausage would be fantastic additions. This is a great way to create new Dinner Ideas Recipes from one simple base.
Lastly, if you use an alternative milk instead of heavy cream, the sauce might be a little thinner. That’s perfectly fine! It will still be delicious. The flour slurry helps a lot with thickening no matter what you use.
Conclusion
And there you have it. A wonderfully creamy and flavorful pasta dish that is sure to become a new family favorite. It’s proof that Easy Dinner Recipes don’t have to be boring or complicated.
This dish is perfect for a cozy night in, a quick weeknight meal, or even for impressing guests. I hope you love making and eating this creamy tomato garlic rigatoni as much as I do. Happy cooking!
FAQ
Can I Use A Different Type Of Pasta?
Absolutely! While rigatoni is great because its ridges catch the sauce, other shapes work well too. Penne, ziti, or even fusilli would be excellent choices for these kinds of Easy Weeknight Dinners.
Can I Make This Dish Vegetarian?
Yes, it’s very easy to make this a vegetarian meal. Simply swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth. All the other ingredients are vegetarian friendly, making it a great option for everyone.
Is This Recipe Good For Meal Prep?
It sure is. You can make the sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge for a couple of days. When you’re ready to eat, just cook your pasta and heat up the sauce. It’s a great time saver for busy schedules.
What Can I Serve With This Pasta?
This dish is fantastic on its own. But if you want to round out the meal, a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette is a great companion. Some crusty garlic bread for dipping into the extra sauce is also highly recommended.
Creamy Tomato Garlic Rigatoni
This creamy tomato garlic rigatoni is a rich, flavorful, and comforting pasta dish that comes together with minimal fuss. It feels like a fancy restaurant meal but is totally achievable on a weeknight.
Requirements
Ingredients
Instructions
- First things first, let’s get everything ready. Mince your garlic cloves and slice the cherry tomatoes in half. Having everything prepped and ready to go makes the cooking process so much smoother.
- Grab a large pan and heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add your minced garlic and a little salt. Sauté it for about five minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when your kitchen smells amazing and the garlic is golden.
- Now add the halved cherry tomatoes and another pinch of salt to the pan. Cook them for about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir them every now and then. You want them to soften up and release all their delicious juices. This step is where the base of your sauce flavor really develops. Be patient and let the tomatoes do their thing. This is a key step for great Dinner Ideas Recipes.
- Pour in the chicken broth and let it simmer for about five minutes. Use your spoon to gently scrape any tasty browned bits from the bottom of the pan. That’s pure flavor right there. Stir in the chili flakes and tomato paste until it’s all mixed well.
- Time to make it creamy. Pour in the heavy cream and give it a good stir. In a separate small bowl, whisk the flour with about two tablespoons of water. This little mixture is called a slurry, and it will help thicken our sauce.
- Slowly pour the slurry into the pan while stirring constantly. Let the sauce cook for another 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. You will see it start to thicken up into a lovely, rich consistency.
- Now for the finishing touches. Stir in the chopped parsley, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Add salt and pepper to taste. Finally, add your cooked rigatoni to the sauce. Make sure the pasta is cooked al dente, so it doesn’t get mushy. This is an important part of making great Easy Weeknight Dinners. The pasta will absorb some of the sauce and finish cooking in the pan.
- Let the pasta and sauce simmer together for about five more minutes. This allows the pasta to soak up all that incredible flavor. Then, remove the pan from the heat, cover it with a lid, and let it rest for five minutes. This rest lets the flavors meld together beautifully.
- And you’re done! Serve your beautiful pasta garnished with some freshly grated Parmesan, a little extra parsley, and a sprinkle of black pepper. Enjoy your amazing homemade meal!
Notes
If you happen to have any leftovers, storing them is simple. Just let the pasta cool down to room temperature. Then, place it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to four days.
When you’re ready to eat, you can reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop. I suggest adding a splash of milk or cream when reheating on the stove to help loosen the sauce and bring back its creamy texture.
Don’t overcook your pasta. Cooking it al dente is key because it will continue to cook in the sauce. This prevents it from becoming too soft.
Feel free to adjust the spice level. If you like it hot, add a few more chili flakes. If you’re making it for little ones, you might want to reduce the amount or leave them out.
You can easily add some protein. Grilled chicken, sautéed shrimp, or even some Italian sausage would be fantastic additions.
If you use an alternative milk instead of heavy cream, the sauce might be a little thinner. That’s perfectly fine! The flour slurry helps a lot with thickening no matter what you use.
Nutrition
Calories
Sugar
Fat
Carbs
