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    Home » Recipes » Pasta » Penne Pomodoro

    Penne Pomodoro

    Published: Sep 9, 2022 · Updated: Oct 3, 2022 Written by Alicia · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Jump to Recipe

    In this Penne Pomodoro, al dente penne pasta is coated in a homemade tomato and basil sauce for a quick and easy meal everyone will love.

    Penne pomodoro in a casserole dish with basil leaves and spoons.

    Penne Pomodoro is an easy, no-fuss weeknight dinner that will satisfy the whole family.

    Serve these Crispy Oven-Fried Zucchini Chips as an appetizer or this Crusty Dutch Oven Bread to soak up all the yummy sauce.

    Jump to:
    • What You'll Love!
    • Ingredients
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Step By Step Instructions
    • Tips & Tricks
    • Substitutions & Variations
    • Storage & Reheating
    • More Recipes You'll Love!
    • 📖 Recipe

    What You'll Love!

    • Pomodoro sauce is an easy homemade sauce that uses mainly pantry staples so you can whip it up at the last minute
    • The pasta boils while the sauce simmers then it's all combined together for an easy 30-minute meal
    • Makes a great family-style meal

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for pasta pomodoro labeled on a board.

    Ingredient Notes

    Penne - Penne pasta, and other tube noodles, are great for tomato sauce because they hold onto the sauce really well. You can also use spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine noodles.

    Tomatoes - I highly recommend using canned San Marzano-style tomatoes for this recipe. They're sweeter than other tomatoes which will taste better in this quick-cooking sauce.

    Olive Oil- Since this sauce is relying on the olive oil for some of its flavor, I prefer to use high-quality extra virgin olive oil.

    Onion & Garlic - These aromatics add a lot of flavor to the sauce.

    Basil - Fresh basil adds a nice herby taste to the sauce.

    Step By Step Instructions

    Note: Full list of ingredients, their amounts, and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

    Step 1:

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

    Step 2:

    Two part image showing onion and garlic sautéing in olive oil and then crushed tomatoes added in.

    Meanwhile, add the olive oil, diced onion, and minced garlic to a large pan. Heat the pan over medium heat, cooking the onions and garlic until they are softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.

    Step 3:

    Pour in the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.

    Step 4:

    Meanwhile, boil the pasta according to the package directions. When there is about 1 minute left, use a measuring cup to reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water before draining.

    Step 5:

    Simmered tomato sauce in a dish and then sliced basil added to it.

    Turn the heat off the sauce and add the basil and salt. Stir to combine.

    Step 6:

    Two part image showing penne added to the tomato sauce and then the pasta water being poured in.

    Add the cooked pasta and toss until the pasta is well coated.

    Step 7:

    Add some of the pasta water, if needed. The sauce shouldn't be runny but it should have a nice "saucy" consistency.

    Penne pomodoro in a white casserole dish with basil leaves and spoons.

    Tips & Tricks

    • Taste the tomatoes as they cook. If they taste too acidic, add a teaspoon or so of sugar to the sauce. This will help reduce the acidity without making the sauce sweet

    Substitutions & Variations

    • You can swap out the penne noodles with any pasta you like
    • If you don't like basil, use parsley instead
    • Serve it with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

    Storage & Reheating

    Keep the pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    Reheat in the microwave, covered with a damp paper towel, in 30-second bursts until warmed through.

    To reheat on the stove, place pasta and a tablespoon of water in a pot and heat over medium-low until warmed through.

    More Recipes You'll Love!

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    Spaghetti Alfredo with Crispy Prosciutto and Peas

    Creamy Mushroom and Asparagus Pasta

    Vegetarian Peanut Noodles

    Spinach Artichoke Pasta Bake

    Did you make this recipe?

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    📖 Recipe

    Pasta pomodoro in a large round casserole dish with basil leaves.

    Penne Pomodoro

    Alicia
    In this Penne Pomodoro, al dente penne pasta is coated in a homemade tomato and basil sauce for a quick and easy meal everyone will love.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Course Main Course, Pasta, Vegetarian
    Servings 6 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 16 ounces penne pasta
    • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • ⅓ cup sweet onion finely diced
    • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
    • 28 ounces crushed San Marzano-style tomatoes
    • 8-10 basil leaves thinly sliced
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt plus more for the pasta water

    Instructions
     

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
    • Meanwhile, add the olive oil, onion, and garlic to a large pan. Turn on the heat to medium. Sauté the onions and garlic until they are softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
    • Add the crushed tomatoes and stir until well combined.
    • Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes.
    • While the sauce is simmering, boil the pasta according to the package directions. When there is about 1 minute of cook time remaining, scoop out ½ cup of the pasta water and set it aside. Drain the pasta.
    • Turn the heat off the sauce and stir in the basil and salt.
    • Add the pasta and toss to coat. If the sauce became too thick while simmering, add some of the reserved pasta water. (see note)

    Notes

    1. The sauce should be "saucy" but not runny. Add a splash at a time until the sauce is a nice consistency.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 401kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 13gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 572mgPotassium: 711mgFiber: 7gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 324IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 184mgIron: 8mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @ThisHomeKitchen or tag #thishomekitchen so I can see your photos!

    More Pasta

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    Hi! I'm Alicia. I'm the recipe developer behind This Home Kitchen. Here, you'll find easy, cozy, family-pleasing recipes to help you bring your loved ones around the table.

    More about me →

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