Tomato N' Cheese Pasta

Name: Tomato N' Cheese Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 cup whole grain pasta (shell, penne, or ziti); 1/4 cup chopped onion; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, no salt added; 1/2 teaspoon fresh or dried basil; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/4 teaspoon sugar; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese; 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Recipe GLPRc167077a1464f6

Italian

Main Course

50 min

357 cal

Servings: 2

Oven

Stovetop

SNAP eligible

A comforting whole grain pasta dish with a homemade tomato sauce infused with garlic and aromatic herbs, then combined with pasta and baked with a melted cheese topping. This simple, wholesome meal is perfect for a quick dinner.

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Ingredients

1 cup whole grain pasta (shell, penne, or ziti)

1/4 cup chopped onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, no salt added

1/2 teaspoon fresh or dried basil

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before beginning to prepare food.
Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain well in a colander and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until softened and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the canned diced tomatoes (with their juice), basil, oregano, sugar, and black pepper to the saucepan. Stir well to combine.
Bring the sauce to a boil over medium-high heat.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer the sauce uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the flavors meld and the sauce thickens slightly.
Add the cooked pasta to the tomato sauce and stir until the pasta is evenly coated.
Transfer the pasta and sauce mixture to a greased 1-quart baking dish, spreading it in an even layer.
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the pasta.
Bake uncovered at 375°F for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and begins to lightly brown. Serve hot.

Comments

Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff4

All ingredients are standard pantry and produce staples stocked at every major Charlotte chain, with no special trips required. The cost per serving runs about $2 to $2.50 driven mainly by cheese and olive oil, which is reasonable for a weeknight pasta. The stated 50 minutes is honest—it accounts for pasta water boiling and simmering a proper tomato sauce—though a busy cook could shave 10 minutes by using no-boil pasta. This is an undemanding, hands-off dish once the sauce goes on the stove, making it accessible for families, though leftovers reheat unevenly because the cheese can separate and the pasta absorbs too much sauce if stored."