Tomato Garlic Ricotta Penne With Basil (Printable)

Tender penne in garlicky tomato sauce with fresh ricotta and basil

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz penne pasta

→ Sauce

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
05 - 28 oz crushed tomatoes (2 cans)
06 - 1 tsp sugar
07 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Cheese & Herbs

09 - 7 oz ricotta cheese
10 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn (about 0.7 oz)
11 - 1.75 oz grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and onion; sauté 2–3 minutes until soft and fragrant.
03 - Stir in crushed tomatoes, sugar, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper. Simmer 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Add the drained penne to the sauce. Toss well, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed for a silky consistency.
05 - Gently fold in ricotta cheese, half the basil, and grated Parmesan. Cook 1–2 minutes until everything is heated through.
06 - Divide among serving plates. Top with remaining basil and extra Parmesan.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The ricotta creates these velvety pockets of creaminess that make every bite feel like a special occasion
  • It comes together in thirty minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
  • The fresh basil at the end wakes everything up and makes the whole house smell incredible
02 -
  • Reserving that pasta water is the difference between a sauce that coats beautifully and one that sits separately on the plate
  • Do not fully cook the ricotta into the sauce, those distinct pockets of cool creamy cheese are part of what makes this dish special
  • The sauce needs those ten minutes of simmering to develop from canned tomato taste into something rich and homemade
03 -
  • A splash of heavy cream stirred into the sauce before adding the ricotta makes it incredibly luxurious
  • Grating a little lemon zest over the top right before serving brightens everything in surprising ways

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