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Easy Budget Pantry Pasta - a quick 5 ingredient dinner recipe.

Easy Budget Pantry Pasta

A quick and comforting pasta dish made with just five pantry staples, featuring a rich butter tomato sauce that's incredibly easy to prepare.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 12 ounces Pasta (spaghetti, penne, rotini, etc.) Any pasta shape you have on hand.
  • 4 tablespoons Butter Salted or unsalted both work.
  • 2 tablespoons Tomato paste From a small can or tube.
  • 15 ounces Canned tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes Use whatever is cheapest or already in your pantry.
  • 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan cheese Grated is easiest, shelf-stable works in a pinch.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Start your pasta water first. Salt it if you can.
  2. In a medium pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  3. Add the tomato paste and stir for about 60 to 90 seconds until it darkens slightly.
  4. Pour in the tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes) and stir until smooth.
  5. Let it bubble gently for 3 to 5 minutes. If it gets too thick, add a splash of pasta water.
  6. When the pasta is done, scoop out a little pasta water before you drain.
  7. Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss with Parmesan, adding more pasta water if needed.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt or pepper if necessary, then serve hot.

Notes

Use pasta water to help the sauce cling to the noodles and to loosen the sauce without watering it down. Don’t skip cooking the tomato paste, as it enhances the flavor significantly. Parmesan should be added off the heat to prevent clumping.