Name: Creamy Bucatini Pasta Sauce (15 Minute Recipe!)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 16 ounces bucatini (or your favorite pasta); 3 tablespoons salted butter; ½ medium yellow onion (diced); 1 tablespoon garlic (freshly minced); 1 tablespoon olive oil; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper (freshly cracked); ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning; 6 ounces tomato paste; 1½ cups heavy cream; 1½ cups reserved pasta water; 1 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated, plus more for topping); Fresh basil leaves (for garnish); Black pepper (freshly cracked); Parmesan cheese (or asiago)

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My creamy bucatini pasta sauce tastes like an Italian restaurant meal but comes together in just 15 minutes! It’s made with pasta sauce with tomato paste and plenty of garlic and parmesan cheesy. It’s perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, but I’m not going to lie, it feels really fancy to eat!

Watch how to make this easy creamy pasta sauce—ready in 15 minutes…

Table of Contents

WHY YOU’LL LOVE MY CREAMY BUCATINI PASTA SAUCE

I threw this together when I was craving a trip to Italy—as a subtle message to my husband. Unfortunately, it tastes so good I don’t think he sees the need to book the flight anymore.

It looks and tastes like something you’d order at a fancy Italian restaurant—but it’s easy enough for a Tuesday night. And it would be great to serve guests with this Prosciutto and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breast recipe.

Try this easy pasta dinner with chicken.

INGREDIENTS

For the pasta and creamy sauce

16 ounces bucatini (or your favorite pasta)
3 tablespoons salted butter
½ yellow onion, diced
1 tablespoon garlic, freshly minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
6 ounces tomato paste
1.5 cups heavy cream
1 to 1½ cups reserved pasta water
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping

For garnish

Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
black pepper, freshly cracked
Parmesan cheese, or asiago

This creamy tomato and onion pasta is one of my favorite easy weeknight pasta recipes to whip up when I’m short on time.

POPULAR SUBSTITUTIONS & ADDITIONS

Pasta swap – No bucatini? Use spaghetti, fettuccine, rigatoni, or whatever you’ve got on hand.
Add protein – Serve topped with smoked chicken breast, shrimp, or Italian sausage.
Switch up the cheese – Parmesan is classic, but Asiago, Pecorino Romano, or even a little cream cheese is a great substitute.
Herb it up – Fresh basil is amazing in this dish, but you could also finish with chopped parsley or a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat.
Have wine in the fridge? Stir in a little white wine when you add the tomato paste.

Also try my delicious and easy-to-make basil pesto.

See my homemade pasta recipe.

HOW TO MAKE A CREAMY BUCATINI PASTA SAUCE

**Step 1 – Boil the pasta.** Start the water pot while making the sauce. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the bucatini until al dente. Reserve 1½ cups of pasta water before draining.

**Step 2 – Sauté the onions.** In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent (about 3–4 minutes).

**Step 3 – Add garlic + olive oil.** Stir in the minced garlic and olive oil. Cook for 1–2 more minutes, stirring frequently. Reduce the heat to medium-low before the ingredients brown.

**Step 4 – Season.** Sprinkle in salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir for about a minute.

**Step 5 – Add tomato paste.** Stir for 2 minutes until it deepens in color and mixes well with the veggies.

**Step 6 – Pour in the heavy cream.** Stir everything together and let the sauce gently simmer on low for a couple minutes. Have faith while the color comes together.

**Step 7 – Add pasta water + cheese.** Slowly add pasta water—start with 2 tablespoons at a time—until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. Stir in the grated Parmesan until smooth and cheesy. Turn off the heat.

**Step 8 – Toss with cooked bucatini until evenly coated.** Add a little more pasta water if needed to loosen things up. If you want everything extra warm and silky, you may want to turn the heat to low and toss for a minute or two longer.

Step 9 – Sprinkle with extra Parmesan (or Asiago for a bit stronger flavor) and garnish with fresh basil leaves and fresh cracked black pepper.

De-licious!

Next, try this creamy tomato mozzarella sauce for another easy weeknight dinner.

Also see how to make homemade pizza.

TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST CREAMY BUCATINI PASTA SAUCE

Let the onion and garlic soften—not brown—for the best flavor base.
Use freshly minced garlic (PLEASE!!)
Use tomato paste, not sauce. Tomato paste gives this dish depth and richness that sauce just can’t match.
Save that pasta water! It’s the secret to adjusting the sauce to your liking and evenly coating the pasta, so don’t skip it.

Try these easy NY strip steak dinner.

Can’t wait to hear what you think!

I’d love to know how your version turned out! Drop a rating and leave a comment below to help the Sip Bite Go community. And if you snapped any photos, tag me on Instagram—I love sharing reader pics in my Stories!

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Creamy Bucatini Pasta Sauce