• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • Meal Plans
  • About
  • Shop
  • Subscribe

BeeyondCereal logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • Meal Plans
  • About
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Resources
    • Meal Plans
    • About
    • Shop
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Pasta Recipes

    Published: Sep 5, 2021 Modified: Oct 17, 2023 by Nicole Durham This post may contain affiliate links.

    Creamy Roasted Garlic and Tomato Pasta

    Jump to Recipe

    This creamy roasted garlic and tomato pasta is an "almost" one-pan dish that is sure to delight. It tastes high class, but it's made with affordable ingredients and with just a few steps. The perfect dinner does exist.

    a plate filled with roasted tomato pasta and a side of green beans with lemon.

    This sheet pan pasta sauce is a wonderful addition to your meal because it packs all the wonderful flavors of roasted garlic and tomatoes into every creamy bite.

    Pasta with roasted garlic and cherry tomatoes is a flavorful meal like you'd expect from a restaurant but made in the convenience of your own home.

    Sheet pan meals are a great way to make a simple meal without a lot of work. For more sheet pan dinners, check out my Sheet Pan Sausages and Brussel Sprouts, Sheet Pan Chicken Drumsticks and Potatoes, and Sheet Pan Chicken Dinner.

    Jump to:
    • 🍯 Why This Recipe Works
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 💭 FAQs
    • ❤️ More Delicious Pasta Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍯 Why This Recipe Works

    1. One pan, one mess. While the pan might get a bit messy in the process, this is one recipe worth the clean-up after. Most of the mess stays contained to a single baking sheet to, so line it with foil and make cleanup a breeze.
    2. It tastes great meatless too. This roasted garlic tomato pasta recipe is perfect for your family meal with or without chicken breasts. I personally prefer this as a meatless meal option, but roasted tomato and garlic pasta sauce go well with chicken, and I'm outnumbered in a house of meat-eaters, haha.
    3. Simple ingredients. We just need a few basic ingredients to make this simple yet tasty meal. Some of the ingredients may be things you already have in your home.

    🥘 Ingredients

    labeled ingredients needed to make Creamy Roasted Garlic and Tomato Pasta

    Ingredient Notes:

    Cherry tomatoes- Cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes will add an acidic taste and become sweeter when roasted.

    Fresh spinach leaves- These will wilt down, but they're great for added flavor.

    Garlic cloves- Use fresh garlic for the best results. As they roast whole, they will make an incredible flavor profile.

    Cream cheese- Use a brick of cream cheese to make the sauce rich and creamy. You do not need to soften the cream cheese beforehand.

    Cooked penne pasta- Cook the pasta according to the package directions in a pot on the stove.

    Reserved pasta water- Make sure to reserve some of the used pasta water before draining the pasta. This can be used to thin down the pasta's sauce.

    Chicken breasts- This is an optional ingredient that can be used if you want meat with your meal.

    For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.

    🔪 Instructions

    Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

    Step 2: In a 9x13 baking dish or large baking sheet (lined with foil or well-greased) mix together the cherry tomatoes, garlic cloves, onion, and half of the olive oil.

    garlic onions and cherry tomatoes on a baking sheet.

    Step 3: Toss together until well coated and then push them off to the side of the pan to allow space in the middle.

    chicken breasts and cream cheese added to baking sheet with tomatoes, garlic and onions.

    Step 4: In the middle of the pan, place your brick of cream cheese (unwrapped). Lay a chicken breast on each side (if using).

    seasoning added to the tops of chicken breasts and cream cheese on a baking sheet with garlic, tomatos and onions.

    Step 5: Coat the top of the breasts and cream cheese with the remaining olive oil and seasonings.

    baked cream cheese and tomatoes on a darkened baking sheet.

    Step 6: Bake in the oven for 25 minutes and check the internal temp of the chicken. If the chicken has reached 165 degrees F, then remove and place it on a plate and cover it with foil. Return pan to oven.

    Step 7: Continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes or until the cream cheese looks cracked and falling apart.

    Step 8: While the pan is roasting in the oven, cook your noodles according to the package instructions. Reserve one cup of pasta water before draining. Return pasta to the pot.

    the back of a spoon, pressing into a tomato.

    Step 9: Remove the pan from the oven and use the back of a spoon to press down on the tomatoes.

    a spoon mixed all of the smushed tomatoes and cream cheese together on a baking sheet.

    Step 10: Bring the loose roasted garlic cloves, tomatoes, and onions to the cream cheese in the center of the pan and mix them well with your spoon.

    cream cheese tomato mixture added to pot of cooked penne pasta on a wooden cutting board.

    Step 11: Add to the pot of drained cooked pasta.

    spinach added to pot of pasta and creamy tomato mixture.

    Step 12: Stir in the cut spinach leaves and reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until the pasta no longer looks dry.

    Step 13: Taste. Add salt and pepper as needed.

    Step 14: Serve warm with sliced cooked chicken.

    a wooden spoon stirring cream cheese mixture and spinach into cooked pasta in pot.

    🍴 Recipe Tips

    Easier cleanup

    I highly recommend laying a piece of foil down on the baking sheet to help with cleanup, but if you omit this, you can simply allow the pan to soak for a bit before scrubbing.

    Convenience

    The ingredients for this pasta with garlic and tomatoes are all mixed together in the pan, so there is no need for a mixing bowl, making it a little easier.

    The chicken cooks the fastest

    If you choose to cook chicken breasts on the baking sheet with everything else, keep in mind that the chicken will finish cooking before everything else and that the chicken juices will make the pan have more of that "charcoal" color. Set chicken aside on a foiled-covered plate to remain warm and juicy, then add in at the end.

    How to combine

    When you scrape together everything from the pan for the sauce, don't scrape so hard that you actually pull up all of the charcoal-roasted pieces. You just want the stuff that's easily slideable on the pan. Move it all up to where the cream cheese brick is and mash it all together.

    Then scrape everything into your pot of drained noodles and mix to combine, adding in the pasta water if it's too thick.

    💭 FAQs

    Can I use frozen spinach?

    You can use some frozen spinach if you warm it up, drain the liquid and then store it into the sauce and pasta at the end.

    Can I use a different pasta?

    Yes, you can use any pasta variety of choice, but I prefer the noodles that are shorter in length versus a full length spaghetti or linguine noodle.

    Can I replace the cream cheese?

    Yes, you can use a brick of feta cheese in place of the cream cheese if you want. This will change the flavor profile, but if you like feta cheese, it's a great option!

    a plate of pasta with a fork holding a bite of pasta in front out of focua.

    ❤️ More Delicious Pasta Recipes

    • a bowl of lemon garlic butter pasta garnished with parsley.
      Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta
    • a bowl filled with cheddar bacon ranch pasta salad.
      Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
    • two halved of mac and cheese stuffed quesadilla with salad.
      Mac and Cheese Quesadilla
    • tuna noodle casserole next to a fork.
      Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole

    If you tried this Creamy Roasted Garlic and Tomato Pasta, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!

    📖 Recipe

    roasted garlic and tomato pasta with chicken and a pile of green beans and lemon slice in back.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Creamy Roasted Garlic and Tomato Pasta

    This creamy roasted garlic and tomato pasta is an "almost" one pan dish that is sure to delight. It tastes high class but it's made with affordable ingredients and with just a few steps. The perfect dinner does exist.
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 515kcal
    Cost Recipe $11.11 / Serving $1.39
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Baking Sheet
    • Measuring Cups
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Large Pot
    • Colander

    Ingredients

    • 1-2 pints Red cherry tomatoes ($1.48)
    • 1 ounce Spinach leaves, chopped ($1.32)
    • 4 Whole garlic cloves ($0.20)
    • ½ Onion, diced ($0.35)
    • ¼ cup Olive oil ($0.52)
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning ($0.10)
    • 2 teaspoons Salt ($0.20)
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder ($0.10)
    • 1 teaspoon Onion powder ($0.10)
    • 1 brick (8 ounce) Cream cheese ($1.98)
    • 16 ounces Penne noodles, cooked ($0.78)
    • 1 cup Reserved pasta water ($0.00)
    • 2 Medium sized chicken breasts *optional ($3.98)
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
    • In a 9x13 baking dish or large baking sheet (lined with foil or well greased) mix together the cherry tomatoes, garlic cloves, onion, and half of the olive oil.
    • Toss together until well coated and then push them off to the side of the pan to allow space in the middle.
    • In the middle of the pan place your brick of cream cheese (unwrapped). Lay a chicken breast on each side (if using).
    • Coat the top of the breasts and cream cheese with the remaining olive oil and seasonings.
    • Bake in the oven for 25 minutes and check internal temp of the chicken. If the chicken has reached 165 degrees F then remove and place on a plate and cover with foil. Return pan to oven.
    • Continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes or until the cream cheese looks cracked and falling apart.
    • While the pan is roasting in the oven cook your noodles according to package instructions. Reserve one cup of pasta water before draining. Return pasta to the pot.
    • Remove pan from oven and use the back of a spoon to press down on the tomatoes.
    • Bring the loose roasted garlic cloves, tomatoes, and onions to the cream cheese in the center of the pan and mix them well with your spoon. Add to the pot of drained cooked pasta.
    • Stir in the cut spinach leaves and reserved pasta water, a little at a time until the pasta no longer looks dry.
    • Taste. Add salt and pepper as needed.
    • Serve warm with sliced cooked chicken.

    Notes

    Recipe Tips:
    • Line the baking sheet with foil for easier cleanup. If not, soak the pan before cleaning.
    • No need for a mixing bowl; all ingredients are combined in the pan for simplicity.
    • When cooking chicken on the sheet, remember it'll finish early; set it aside covered with foil to keep it moist.
    • When scraping the pan for the sauce, don't remove burnt bits. Just collect what's easily movable, blend with the cream cheese, and add to your drained noodles.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1scoop | Calories: 515kcal | Carbohydrates: 63.4g | Protein: 13.2g | Fat: 23.7g | Saturated Fat: 9.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10.2g | Cholesterol: 38.2mg | Sodium: 908mg | Potassium: 404.3mg | Fiber: 3.6g | Sugar: 5.4g | Vitamin A: 169.6IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 76.1mg | Iron: 3.1mg
    Author NicoleDurham
    Course dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used. To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

    More Pasta Recipes

    • tomato mac and cheese in a bowl.
      Taco Mac and Cheese (with Rotel)
    • a sliced chicken breast with alfredo sauce and pasta underneath.
      Blackened Chicken Alfredo
    • a bowl of zucchini penne pasta.
      Zucchini Penne Pasta
    • a bowl filled with sesame garlic ramen noodles topped with sesame seeds siracha and green onions.
      Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    A photo of Nicole from Beeyond Cereal

    Nicole is the owner and recipe developer of BeeyondCereal, where she teaches people how to save money in the kitchen with frugal family-friendly recipes.

    Learn More→

    Trending NOW

    • a white bowl filled with cooked canned green beans.
      The Best Canned Green Bean Recipe
    • a slice of cornbread on a blue rimmed plate with more stacked pieces of cornbread in the background.
      Jiffy Cornbread With Cake Mix
    • a baking dish filled with roasted green beans.
      How to Roast Frozen Green Beans
    • creamy vanilla fruit dip in a bowl with fresh and frozen fruits on top.
      Creamy Vanilla Fruit Dip

    Seasonal Recipes

    • a stack of hot chocolate pancakes topped with syrups and marshmallows.
      Hot Chocolate Pancakes
    • a white oval dish filled with peppermint popcorn.
      White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn
    • peanut butter blossoms with wrapped colorful hershey kisses.
      Cake Mix Peanut Butter Blossoms
    • a sliced loaf of red velvet banana bread on a wire tray with boxed cake mix and banana bread slices in background.
      Red Velvet Banana Bread

    As Seen In

    parade yummyle foodgawker the pioneer woman

    Footer

    ↑ Back to Top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliate Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Public Sharing Policy
    • Pricing Disclosure

    Follow

    • Sign Up! for emails
    • Follow on Facebook
    • Follow on Instagram
    • Follow on Pinterest

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Beeyond Cereal --Brunch Pro Theme by Feast Design Co.