Creamy Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce (Printable)

A creamy, aromatic sauce featuring roasted garlic bulbs blended into a silky base with tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan for authentic Italian comfort.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables

01 - 3 large whole garlic bulbs
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
04 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped (plus extra for garnish)

→ Dairy

05 - 1/4 cup heavy cream
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
07 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)

→ Pantry

08 - 12 oz dried pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine)
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil (plus extra for drizzling)
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Slice the tops off the garlic bulbs to expose the cloves. Place each bulb on a piece of foil, drizzle with olive oil, and wrap tightly.
02 - Roast the garlic bulbs in the oven for 35-40 minutes until golden and soft. Allow to cool slightly.
03 - Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from their skins into a bowl and mash to a paste.
04 - Meanwhile, cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
05 - In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
06 - Stir in the mashed roasted garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
07 - Add the diced tomatoes, basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Simmer for 8-10 minutes to blend flavors.
08 - Stir in the butter and cream. Simmer for 2 minutes, then add the Parmesan cheese.
09 - Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed for creaminess.
10 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra basil and Parmesan.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Roasting mellows the garlic completely, turning it sweet and buttery instead of harsh.
  • The sauce comes together in under an hour but tastes like you simmered it all day.
  • Its comforting enough for a quiet dinner yet impressive enough when someone drops by unexpectedly.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day once the flavors have had time to settle in.
02 -
  • Don't skip wrapping the garlic tightly in foil, exposed cloves will burn and turn bitter instead of sweet.
  • Always reserve pasta water before draining, its the secret to making the sauce cling perfectly to every strand.
  • Let the roasted garlic cool before squeezing or you'll end up with burnt fingertips and regret.
03 -
  • Use the biggest garlic bulbs you can find, small ones dry out too quickly in the oven and don't yield enough paste.
  • If your sauce breaks or looks grainy, pull it off the heat and whisk in a tablespoon of cold butter to bring it back together.
  • Taste before serving and adjust the salt, Parmesan adds saltiness so you might need less than you think.
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