Meta Description: This tomato basil ricotta pasta is the perfect weeknight meal. With a creamy, no-cook sauce and fresh ingredients, it’s a simple, elegant, and delicious dinner ready in minutes.
I’ve always loved pasta, but my go-to sauces were a little… predictable. I would either make a classic red sauce from a jar or a simple garlic and olive oil mixture. While both are delicious, I found myself craving something that felt a little more special, a little more luxurious, but without all the fuss. I wanted a pasta dish that was light and fresh but still had a creamy, comforting texture. One summer, I was feeling particularly uninspired in the kitchen. It was too hot to stand over a stove for a long time, and I had a container of ricotta cheese and a bunch of beautiful, ripe cherry tomatoes that were begging to be used. I had heard of no-cook sauces before, and I decided to try my hand at one. I simply mixed the ricotta with some olive oil, garlic, and fresh basil, and a few other simple seasonings. I tossed it with hot pasta, and the heat from the pasta was just enough to melt the ricotta into a luscious, creamy sauce. The final touch was a handful of juicy, burst cherry tomatoes and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. The first bite was a revelation. It was so simple, yet the flavors were so bright and vibrant. The creamy ricotta perfectly balanced the acidic tomatoes and the aromatic basil. It was a dish that was both elegant and comforting, and it took almost no time to make. This tomato basil ricotta pasta has since become my go-to recipe for a fast, delicious, and deeply satisfying meal. It’s a dish that proves that a little bit of creativity and a few simple ingredients can create something truly magical.
🌟 Why This Pasta is a Game-Changer
This tomato basil ricotta pasta is a complete weeknight hero. What makes this recipe so special is the fact that the sauce is no-cook. This means you don’t have to stand over a hot stove simmering a sauce for hours. Instead, you simply whisk together a few ingredients, and the heat from the freshly cooked pasta does all the work for you, melting the ricotta into a creamy, luxurious sauce that clings to every noodle. This is what sets it apart from traditional pasta dishes and makes it so incredibly convenient. The use of fresh cherry tomatoes and basil gives the dish a vibrant, summery flavor that is both light and refreshing. The creamy ricotta, with its mild, slightly sweet flavor, is the perfect canvas for these bright ingredients.
Beyond the convenience and flavor, this is also a surprisingly versatile dish. It works beautifully as a quick lunch, a satisfying dinner, or a vibrant side dish for a get-together. It’s a fantastic recipe for using up fresh herbs and tomatoes from your garden or from the farmers market. The fact that it’s ready in about the time it takes to boil a pot of water for the pasta is a total lifesaver on busy days. This is a recipe that proves that healthy, delicious, and elegant meals can be simple and quick to prepare. It’s a testament to the power of a few fresh, high-quality ingredients.
✅ Ingredients
This recipe is built on a foundation of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Using a good-quality pasta and fresh produce will make a big difference in the final flavor.
- 1 lb short pasta (rigatoni, penne, or fusilli)
- 1 ½ cups whole milk ricotta cheese
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Balsamic glaze (optional, for a finishing touch)
⏰ Total Time
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 10-12 minutes
- Total time: 20-22 minutes
🍽️ Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for a perfectly cooked pasta and a creamy, flavorful sauce. This is a simple recipe, but timing is everything!
- Boil the Pasta: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until it’s al dente. While the pasta is cooking, you’ll prepare the sauce.
- Prepare the Sauce Base: In a large bowl, whisk together the ricotta cheese, minced garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. The mixture will be thick.
- Toss with Pasta: Once the pasta is cooked, drain it immediately, reserving about a cup of the starchy pasta water. Add the hot, drained pasta directly to the bowl with the ricotta mixture. The heat from the pasta will start to melt the ricotta and create a creamy sauce. Stir vigorously until the pasta is evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water to thin it out to your desired consistency.
- Add the Fresh Ingredients: Stir in the halved cherry tomatoes, chopped fresh basil, and the grated Parmesan cheese. Gently toss everything together until the ingredients are well combined. The tomatoes will soften slightly from the heat of the pasta, releasing their juices and adding a wonderful burst of flavor.
- Serve: Divide the pasta among bowls. Garnish with an extra sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese, a few fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze if you’re using it. Serve immediately and enjoy every delicious, creamy bite!
👩🍳 Recipe Variations
This tomato basil ricotta pasta is a great starting point for creativity. You can easily adapt it to suit your tastes or whatever ingredients you have on hand.
- Add a Protein: For a more substantial meal, add grilled chicken, roasted shrimp, or a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas for a boost of fiber and protein.
- Different Vegetables: You can add other fresh vegetables to this dish. Sautéed spinach, roasted bell peppers, or even grilled zucchini would all work wonderfully.
- Make it a Garnish Bar: Set up a garnish bar for a fun dinner! Offer toppings like toasted pine nuts, red pepper flakes for a little kick, or a few shavings of Pecorino Romano cheese.
- Make it a Baked Pasta: You can turn this into a baked dish! Just follow the recipe up until the serving step. Transfer the pasta to a baking dish, top with a little more cheese, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.
- Add a Nutty Twist: Toasted pine nuts or walnuts would add a fantastic crunch and a nutty depth of flavor that complements the creamy ricotta.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use low-fat ricotta cheese? While you can, it’s not recommended. Whole milk ricotta will give you a much creamier, richer sauce. Low-fat ricotta has a higher water content and can sometimes become grainy when heated.
- What kind of pasta works best? Short pasta shapes with lots of nooks and crannies, like rigatoni, penne, or fusilli, are perfect for this recipe. They hold onto the creamy sauce and bits of tomato beautifully.
- How do I prevent the tomatoes from becoming soggy? The key is to add them at the very end. The heat from the pasta will warm them just enough to release their juices without making them mushy.
- Is this a good option for meal prep? While this dish is best served fresh, you can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The pasta will absorb the sauce as it sits, so you may want to add a splash of olive oil or a little water when you reheat it.
- What’s the difference between ricotta and cottage cheese? While both are fresh cheeses, ricotta has a smoother, finer texture than cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is more curd-like and won’t melt into the same smooth sauce as ricotta.
✅ Nutritional Information
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Protein: 15g
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Note: Nutritional values are estimates and may vary based on specific ingredients and brands used.
Conclusion
This tomato basil ricotta pasta is so much more than a simple meal; it’s a bowl of pure, unadulterated comfort and freshness. It’s a testament to the fact that you can create a truly special dish with just a little time and a few humble ingredients. The creamy, luxurious texture of the ricotta and the bright, vibrant flavors of the tomatoes and basil come together in a way that is both elegant and deeply satisfying. It’s the kind of pasta that makes you feel taken care of, a perfect antidote to a long day.
I truly hope you give this recipe a try and discover for yourself the magic of this delicious pasta. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and the perfect way to bring a little bit of goodness to your table. I’d love to hear how your pasta turned out and if you added any of your own creative twists! Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. Happy cooking! 😋
