Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce: 20-Minute Pasta Sauce Recipe
A quick, silky sun-dried tomato cream sauce that coats your favorite pasta in about 20 minutes. Made with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, broth, cream, Parmesan, and fresh basil, it’s flexible enough to pair with penne, fettuccine, or gnocchi and can be boosted with spinach or proteins if desired.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil from the sun-dried tomato jar
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
- ¼ cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- Handful fresh spinach (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oil and garlic: Heat the sun-dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the tomatoes: Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 more minute to bloom their flavor.
- Deglaze: Pour in the broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the pan bottom.
- Reduce the broth: Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it reduce by half to concentrate the flavors.
- Add cream and season: Lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream and Italian seasoning.
- Simmer to thicken: Gently heat the sauce for 2–3 minutes without boiling, until it thickens slightly.
- Finish with cheese: Remove from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan until smooth and melted.
- Add greens: If using, stir in the fresh spinach until wilted.
- Finish with basil and season: Stir in the fresh basil, season with salt and black pepper to taste, and serve immediately.
Notes
- This sauce benefits from preparing ahead and refrigerating; reheat gently on the stove.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute an unsweetened almond or cashew cream and omit Parmesan or use a vegan alternative.
- Pair with penne, fettuccine, tortellini, or gnocchi for best results.
- Spinach adds color and nutrition but is optional; sauté until just wilted.
Keywords: sun-dried tomato cream sauce, pasta sauce, quick pasta, garlic, Parmesan, basil, 20-minute sauce
