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This simple One Pot Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Whipped Ricotta is the perfect pasta dinner. Super quick, easy, and so delicious! Sun-dried tomatoes are cooked in oil with Spanish paprika and chili flakes then tossed together with hot penne pasta, plenty of parmesan, and fresh herbs. When the hot pasta is tossed with the creamy whipped ricotta cheese it melts into the most delicious sauce. Itโs so delicious, and one of those all-in-one dinners that everyone at the table will love.
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Truth is, Iโve been having a hard time with recipes the last few days. Iโm so excited when I start out cooking, but by the end of the day, nothing seems to be working out just right. These days happen from time to time, so itโs totally OK, just frustrating. Fortunately, they help me appreciate the great days I have when testing new recipes.ย
The day I made this pasta was a great day. My first attempt the previous day needed some adjustments. But with a few tweaks, I ended up being so excited to share this recipe!ย
This pasta is magical. Ok, thatโs slightly dramatic, but itโs one of those easy as can be dinners thatโs actually so delicious and flavorful.
The details
Seeing as this is a one-pot recipe, itโs pretty straightforward. But there are a few special things I want to point out!ย
Start with the sun-dried tomatoes. I love using a jar of oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes. Not only are the tomatoes delicious, but I also like to use the oil from the jar in this dish. The oil is always seasoned, so it adds even more flavor. Just make sure itโs extra virgin olive oil.
Youโll want to drain the oil into a large pan, then finely chop the tomatoes.ย
To the oil, add in some shallots and garlic, then toss in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Now, this next step is key. Cook the tomatoes in the oil until they begin crisping and almost become fried. This will really help to intensify the flavors in the sauce.
After this step, the rest really is simple, simple. Pour in the water, add the pasta, and let the pasta cook. Just make sure to stir the pasta often to avoid any of it sticking to the pan.ย
Whip the ricottaย
While the pasta cooks, I like to whip the ricotta cheese. Just add the ricotta and some lemon to a food processor or blender and puree until itโs super creamy.ย
Season with salt and thatโs that. Itโs the easiest, but it makes for the best pasta. And yes, this does technically count as one more thing to wash. But everything else can all be made fully in one pot, so, close enough, right?ย ย
Finish the pasta
When the pasta is al dente, stir in all the parmesan and a pat of butter. Stir until super creamy, then remove from the heat.ย
Then add in all the fresh herbsโฆimmediately the smell of fresh herbs will fill the air.ย
Swirl the whipped ricotta into either a large serving bowl or individual bowls. Add the hot pasta (it has to be hot), and gently toss with the ricotta.ย
The heat from the pasta melts the ricotta turning it into the creamiest, most delicious sauce. It makes the pasta SO GOOD.ย
And all of this deliciousness will happen in under 30 minutes!ย
Excited to have this recipe in my deck of recipes. Itโs pretty perfect any time of the year and everyone really loves it. You could even add chicken for any of your meat-eaters too!ย
I also like to serve this with arugula or a big green salad. Keep it light and fresh for springtime!ย
Looking for other one-pot recipes? Here are my favorites:ย
One Pot Stove-Top Mac and Cheese
French Onion Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto
Lemon Butter Dijon Chicken and Orzo with Feta Sauce
Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
Lastly, if you make this One Pot Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Whipped Ricotta, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, donโt forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
One Pot Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Whipped Ricotta
Ingredientsย
- 1 jar (8 ounce) oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 small shallots, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoon spanish or smoked paprika
- red pepper flakes
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 pound short cut pasta
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
Instructionsย
- 1. Drain the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar into a large pot or skillet with sides. Chop the sun-dried tomatoes.2. Set the pot over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic, cook until fragrant, 2 minutes. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, paprika, and a pinch each of red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook until the tomatoes turn deep red and are crisping, 3-5 minutes. Add 3 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil, add the pasta, and cook, stirring often, until the pasta is al dente, 8 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, whip the ricotta and lemon in a food processor until creamy. Season with salt. 4. To the pasta, stir in in the parmesan and butter until very creamy. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil, parsley, and dill. 3. Swirl the ricotta into a large pasta bowl or individual bowls. Add the hot pasta and lightly toss with the ricotta. Top each bowl with additional herbs and parmesan.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
This was quite good. I’ve never cooked a bad meal from HBH; however, IMHO, her Spicy Pesto Pasta Alla Vodka is still the BEST pasta dish I’ve ever cooked or eaten. I think I have realized I just don’t love ricotta, so that’s on me, but if you like dishes with ricotta you will probably love this.
Thanks so much, Melissa:) I appreciate you making this recipe and taking the time to comment!
I made this tonight and had to make some substitutions like using spaghetti instead of short pasta, and I also used some tomato juice to boil the pasta because it wasn’t getting soft enough. This was delicious! Way better than plain ol’ pasta. The sun dried tomatoes make things so good! I think your recipes are so tasty!! I love to use half baked harvest!
Hey Mary,
Wonderful! So glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it and taking the time to comment!
My husband and I are lowering are carb intake and we used shredded cabbage instead of the pasta. DELICIOUS ๐! This recipe is a keeper!
Hey Brittany,
Happy Monday! I love to hear this recipe turned out well for you! Thanks for making it:)
Happy Holidays!
Added Italian sausage like the comments suggested previously, and this was so good!
Hey Colleen,
Awesome! So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks for making it and your feedback!
This is a new favorite pasta of mine!
The one thing Iโd like to try is to add some sort of protein. Do you think chicken or spicy sausage would go best with this pasta? Or any other suggestions?
Hey Tessa,
Happy Sunday! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, I am so glad to hear this recipe turned out nicely for you! Spicy sausage would be a great option here:)
I made this recipe for Motherโs Day, and it turned out absolutely delicious! Every bite was filled with warmth and flavor, and loved seeing how much my mom adored the food. It was the perfect way to celebrate her and create a memory weโll both cherish. Cheers to a fabulous recipe and one Iโm def. going to make again!
Hi Nikki,
Happy Monday! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your feedback, love to hear it turned out well! xx