Easy Penne Pomodoro Recipe
This is the best penne pomodoro recipe! This quick and easy dinner is perfect for busy weeknights and it has so much flavor that it’s hard to believe that it’s ready in just 30 minutes. This sauce uses high quality ingredients and lets the classic Italian flavors shine in the best way possible.
If you love pasta as much as we do, be sure to try my orecchiette with sausage, bucatini cacio e pepe, or scallop linguine next time. Like this dish, they are all made with simple ingredients that let the true flavors shine.
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
What is Penne Pomodoro?
Pomodoro is a very simple sauce made with olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil, and sea salt.
What You’ll Love About Pasta Penne Pomodoro
- Classic tomato sauce with bright, fresh, and delicious flavors
- Classic Italian flavors
- Easy enough to make for a busy weeknight dinner
- Made with just 5 simple ingredients (plus Parmesan!)
- Just 5 minutes prep time
- Just 25 minutes total cook time
- Naturally vegetarian and vegan
Ingredients
- Garlic – Fresh garlic is a must, remember each ingredient shines so it’s important to use fresh!
- Canned tomatoes – I recommend using San Marzano tomatoes or another high-quality Italian tomato. Look for peeled, whole tomatoes.
- Olive oil – Again, use high quality olive oil.
- Basil – Use fresh basil leaves. You can remove it from the pan after you let the sauce simmer, so I leave them whole.
- Sea salt – Be sure to salt both the sauce AND the pasta water.
- Penne – Technically you can use many different types of pasta, but since this is a penne al pomodoro recipe, penne noodles are the way to go.
- Parmesan cheese – I recommend serving the pasta with freshly grated Parmesan, or your favorite vegan Parm for a totally vegan meal.
How to Make Penne with Pomodoro
This is an overview on how to make penne with pomodoro, the detailed instructions can be found below in the recipe card.
TIP: This is slightly different than many pomodoro recipes, that cook tomatoes and garlic FIRST, then blend. I think it’s easier to blend before cooking so you don’t need to let the sauce cool enough to safely blend. You could however, cook the garlic and tomatoes and then use an immersion blender to blend everything together until smooth.
TIP: Reserve 2 cups of the pomodoro sauce before you add pasta to sauce mixture.
FAQs
What is the meaning of pomodoro sauce?
Pomodoro, by definition is “tomato” in Italian. “Pomodoro is an Italian food typically prepared with pasta, olive oil, fresh tomatoes, basil, and various other fresh ingredients. It is intended to be a quick and light dish, rather than a dish in a heavy sauce.” – source
What’s the difference between pomodoro and arrabiata?
Pomodoro is a very simple pasta sauce (see ingredients above) and arrabiata is a spicier dish that is also a simple tomato sauce, but also includes red pepper flakes, giving it some spice.
How many calories in penne pomodoro?
The calories in penne pomodoro will vary based on specific recipe, ingredients, and serving size. This specific recipe has an estimated 579 calories per serving.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
How to reheat
Reheat pasta in a skillet (covered) over medium-low heat until hot or reheat in the microwave.
What to Serve with Penne Pomodoro Pasta
All this penne pomodoro pasta needs is an easy salad or veggie side:
How to Feed Penne Pomodoro to the Whole Family
I get it, feeding kids can be tough! But following the Division of Responsibility and knowing your job and your child’s job makes it SO much more enjoyable. You’ll be able to feed your kids any meal, which will help ensure that they are eating a variety of nutritious foods – with plenty of play food sprinkled in.
I would recommend serving the penne pasta pomodoro in a pinch bowl (taster bowl) if it’s a new or learning-to-like it food. Serve the meal with a few items you know your kids will eat, like fruit, milk, and/or bread and butter if they don’t do pasta.
If your kids are still learning to like red sauce, you could leave some pasta plain for them instead of tossing it all with the sauce. You can also really use any type of pasta you like.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
If you like this pasta al pomodoro recipe, you might also like some of these easy pasta recipes:
- Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli
- Udon Stir Fry Noodles with Vegetables
- Scallop Linguine
- Bucatini Cacio e Pepe
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Easy Penne Pomodoro Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This simple penne pomodoro recipe is made with just 5 basic ingredients and is an easy dinner that you won’t believe is ready in 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 6 cloves garlic
- 2–28 oz. can peeled San Marzano tomatoes
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1/4 oz. fresh basil (about 1/2 cup leaves)
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 16 oz. penne
- Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Blend garlic and tomatoes (with their juices) until smooth in a blender or food processor. (You may need to do this in batches.)
- Heat olive oil in a large sauce pot or dutch oven over medium heat and carefully pour in blended tomato garlic mixture.
- Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer. Add basil and sea salt to sauce and let simmer for at least 20 minutes. Remove about 2 cups of sauce to set aside before tossing with pasta.
- Meanwhile cook penne pasta according to package instructions.
- Drain and add to pomodoro sauce. Toss to coat pasta and serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Calories are an estimate and do not include Parmesan cheese.
Food styling and photography by Loren Runion.
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