This garlic and tomato pasta recipe is absolutely loaded with butter, garlic, pepper and all tossed together with a spicy, creamy base of tomatoes and eggs. This go-to easy recipe uses everyday ingredients and is perfect for busy weeknights.

I originally made this no-cheese, spicy pasta recipe a few years ago, but it is still one of my favorites.

Once you try this recipe, you'll realize why this pasta has been one of my favorite recipes throughout the year. It is coated with a spicy, fresh base filled with eggs, tomatoes, butter, and garlic, giving a restaurant-worthy complete meal that feels cozy and bright. After you're done cooking, top it off with basil. If you like, sprinkle some mozzarella, feta, Parmesan, or any cheese before serving.

Why you'll love this recipe

1) Making a creamy base for the garlic and tomato pasta is simple. You can prepare it by the time your pasta is cooked. 

2) This pasta recipe is endlessly customizable. You can change the ingredient lineup to your personal preference. You can add vegetables and herbs to make it vegetarian or try different cheeses.

3) This pasta is very family-friendly. You can adjust ingredients easily as they desire. If you need to make it more kid-friendly, add cherry tomatoes and limit adding chili flakes and pepper to the mixture.

4) Perfect for picnics, potlucks, BBQ and any gathering

5) Unlike other heavy pasta recipes, this dish is one of the lighter sides. All you need is to ready the sauce using everyday ingredients like eggs, tomatoes, and garlic, and you're almost done!

6) No, artificial garbage is added. All the ingredients are 100% natural and filled with nutrients, making the dish healthier for you and your loved ones.

Ingredients line up to make garlic and tomato pasta

Pasta: Choosing the pasta type is really up to you. You can use any kind of short pasta like macaroni, penne, or whatever in this recipe. I've used macaroni here because that curved tube shape captures egg-tomato paste well and is easy to eat. 

Tomatoes: you'll need 2-3 regular tomatoes to make the paste. If you don't like regular ones, it's absolutely possible to use cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes.

Garlic: Garlic is not only a spice but also a traditional remedy and medicine that boosts your immunity and heart health. You can use 4–6 cloves here.

Pepper: pepper improves the sharpness and adds a gentle heat to the dish.

Chili flakes: These are totally optional. But I wanted more heat in my pasta because it's just another boring pasta without chili. So, I added 2 teaspoons. 

Butter: To enhance the flavor and add a slightly nutty taste to the pasta

Tomato sauce: this brings extra sweetness and umami depth to the pasta, improving the richness of the dish

Eggs: Eggs enhance the tenderness of any pasta compared to eggless pasta recipes. You can add a protein-rich, creamy texture to the dish with eggs.

Olive oil: If you need to feel the real oily taste coming through the dish, you have to use a good olive oil here. So, I have used extra virgin olive oil to add a fruity, pepper richness to the pasta. Adding olive oil prevents sticking as well.

Salt: Adding salt is necessary to enhance the overall taste of the pasta

How to make the creamy base for the pasta

Here is the step-by-step guide to make the creamy base while your pasta is cooking. It's a very beginner-friendly recipe with super-easy steps. Full ingredients, instructions, and nutritional facts are on the recipe card below.

First, let's prepare the tomato paste to add to the mixture. Get 2 regular, raw tomatoes and pour boiling water over them. Keep it for 5 minutes. This method is called blanching, and it helps to soften the outer skin of tomatoes, making them easy to peel.

After 5 minutes, peel their skin and place them into a blender jar and blend them for 10 seconds until you get a thick paste.  If you have tomato purée on your hand, just simply add it to the mixture, avoiding these steps.

Now, get 2 large red onions and 4 garlic cloves and thingy slice them. 

Put a large pot (for tossing them well) or pan on the stove and add extra virgin olive oil. Heat the oil over medium heat. Once done, add sliced garlic and stir it for just 10 seconds.

Then, add sliced red onions and stir them well as well. When they get a slightly golden color, add some butter and let them melt.

When it starts melting, add the tomato paste or tomato purée, and mix them well.

To make the creamy base spicier, add black pepper and red chili flakes. After 30 seconds of mixing, add the tomato sauce.

Now, mix them well altogether for just 30 seconds and add eggs.

Stir the whole mixture for 1 minute, and you're almost done making the delicious, creamy gravy for the pasta.

Now, you can simply drain the pasta into the pot and toss it well.

What to serve with garlic and tomato pasta

• This meal is an absolutely complete meal on its own. You don't need to worry about what to pair it with. But if you need a well-rounded meal or feel like that would make your dish uncompleted having it alone, these pairs will work well.

• Pair it with buttery garlic bread

• Try it out with a green salad to make you feel refreshed. You can check out my citrus chickpea salad and low calorie cucumber salad here! 

• Round out the meal with roasted veggies like zucchini, eggplant, or broccoli. 

• If you need more protein additions filled with your meal, pair it with grilled chicken or meatballs.

What to drink with garlic and tomato pasta

• If you like a classic Italian vibe, just have it with wine. But, when choosing a wine, you should pick one that does not overpower the acidity of pasta. For me, I would choose red wines like fruity rosé or barbera as they are very food-friendly and work well with tomato-based dishes.

• When it comes to white wines, Sauvignon Blanc works well with garlic and tomato pasta.

• If you're not a fan of wines and alcoholic beverages, try it out with an Italian soda, iced tea with lemon, or homemade lemonade to keep you refreshed.

Substitutions and Variations 

Adding cheese: If you want a traditional Italian flavor to this garlic-tomato pasta, you can grate some Parmesan cheese over the pasta after turning off the heat. Goat cheese also works well with this pasta, controlling the acidity of tomatoes. You could use mozzarella or feta cheese as well. Adding cheese is optional on this pasta, but sprinkling some cheese or choosing the cheese type that fits with your vibe is completely up to you!

Make it less spicy: I have already made this recipe spicier using pepper, red chili flakes and sprinkling some chopped green chilies. But this heat is absolutely fine with adults as I didn't overuse the ingredients. But, if you want to make this pasta more kid-friendly, you can simply cut off red chili flakes from it.

Add more protein: Eggs and cheese gives enough protein to this pasta. If you need more protein, sliced grilled chicken can be served on top. Canned chickpeas or tofu can also be used as vegetarian alternatives.