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A close-up shot of spaghetti coated in a vibrant, creamy tomato sauce, garnished with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs. The texture of the rich sauce is clearly visible.

Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce: The Ultimate 20-Minute Recipe

Create a restaurant-quality sun-dried tomato cream sauce in just 20 minutes! This rich, velvety, and deeply flavorful sauce is perfect for pasta, chicken, and more. An easy and impressive weeknight meal.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Sauce
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 550
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Components
  • 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil chopped, reserve 2 tbsp of the oil
  • 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1.5 cups heavy cream
  • 0.75 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.25 cup fresh basil chopped
  • 0.5 tsp red pepper flakes or to taste
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 16 oz pasta of your choice cooked according to package directions
  • 0.5 cup reserved pasta water as needed

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet
  • 1 Cutting Board
  • 1 Knife

Instructions
 

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of reserved oil from the sun-dried tomato jar in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
  2. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  3. Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and dried oregano. Cook for 1-2 minutes to allow the flavors to bloom.
  4. Reduce the heat to low and pour in the heavy cream. Stir until the sauce comes to a gentle simmer. Do not boil.
  5. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until fully melted and smooth.
  6. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet along with a splash of reserved pasta water. Toss to combine, adding more pasta water as needed to reach your desired consistency.
  7. Stir in the fresh basil and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste. Serve immediately.

Notes

For the best flavor, use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil with herbs.
Always use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the smoothest sauce.
Adjust the red pepper flakes to your preferred level of spice.
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