This creamy sundried tomato pasta with goat cheese is an easy weeknight meal made in just 20 minutes with 4 ingredients. Rigatoni pasta is mixed with creamy goat cheese and sweet sundried tomatoes for a light and creamy sauce that the whole family will enjoy.
This post was originally published in February 2021 and has been updated for content.
When I have had a busy day, my go to weeknight meal is usually pasta. It's quick and easy and something the whole family will enjoy. This easy and creamy sundried tomato pasta is not only delicious, but super quick to make.
Serve this creamy goat cheese pasta with a loaf of italian pesto bread, a bowl of creamy tomato soup or some quick lemon asparagus.
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🍝 Ingredient notes
- Pasta - Rigatoni is a great pasta for this recipe since it holds onto the creamy goat cheese sauce perfectly. Shells or penne would also be great options.
- Goat Cheese - Plain goat cheese of any kind will do the trick. A log of goat cheese tends to be a bit creamy and melts into the pasta better, however, crumbles will also work.
- Sundried Tomatoes - Get sundried tomatoes packed in oil if you can. Even though you don't use the oil in the jar, there will be a bit on the tomatoes that will add some creaminess to the sauce.
- Milk - Whole milk or half and half works best for this sauce. For a creamier sauce, use heavy cream or for a lighter sauce, try 1% or skim milk.
📋 Substitutions and variations
- Spicy - Add 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to add a little bit of a kick.
- Meat - Add cooked Italian sausage, grilled chicken, diced ham or bacon.
- Gluten free - Substitute regular pasta for gluten free pasta.
🔪 Step by step instructions
First, cook the rigatoni pasta in boiling salted water. While the pasta is cooking, dice the sundried tomatoes and crumble the goat cheese.
When the pasta is cooked to al dente, add it back to the pot and then add in the goat cheese, sundried tomatoes and milk.
Stir everything together until it is creamy and serve immediately, topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped basil, if you like.
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⭐ Expert tips
- Make sure to properly salt the water you cook the pasta in. Using enough salt in your pasta cooking water helps to flavor your pasta. The general rule of thumb is 1 Tablespoon of salt for 4 quarts of water and 1 pound of pasta.
- When you adding the goat cheese, milk and sundried tomatoes to the pasta, make sure it is done off of the heat so the pasta doesn't dry out.
🥡 Storage suggestions
Leftover pasta will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days and can be reheated in a pot on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave. Add a little bit of extra milk during reheating to help the sauce become creamy again.
🍝 More easy pasta dinners
If you enjoyed this creamy sundried tomato pasta with goat cheese, check out these other easy pasta dinners that I know you will love too!
- Baked Tortellini Alfredo
- Rotini Pasta with Sausage and Tomatoes
- Pasta with Pancetta and Peas
- Penne Pomodoro
📖 Recipe
Creamy Sundried Tomato Pasta with Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 8 ounces sundried tomatoes, packed in oil
- 5 ounces plain goat cheese
- ½ cup whole milk
- parmesan cheese, for garnish (optional)
- fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the rigatoni in a pot of boiling salted water according to package instructions.
- While the pasta is cooking, remove the sundried tomatoes from the oil and dice them into small pieces. Crumble the goat cheese into smaller pieces and set both aside.
- When pasta is done cooking, drain the water from the pasta and return it to the pot you cooked it in.
- Add sundried tomatoes, goat cheese, and milk to the hot pasta and stir until goat cheese is completely melted in.
- Serve immediately with parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
Notes
- Make sure to properly salt the water when cooking pasta. 1 Tablespoon Salt = 4 quarts of water = 1 pound of pasta.
- Take the pasta off of the heat when adding the goat cheese, milk and sundried tomatoes so it doesn't dry out.
Substitutions and Variations
- Pasta - Rigatoni holds onto the creamy goat cheese sauce perfectly, however, shells or penne would also be great options.
- Goat Cheese - A log of plain goat cheese tends to be a bit creamier and melts into the pasta better, however, crumbles will also work.
- Sundried Tomatoes - Get sundried tomatoes packed in oil to add extra creaminess to the sauce.
- Milk - Whole milk or half and half works best for this sauce. For a creamier sauce, use heavy cream or for a lighter sauce, try 1% or skim milk.
- Spicy - Add 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to add a little bit of a kick.
- Meat - Add cooked Italian sausage, grilled chicken, diced ham or bacon.
- Gluten free - Substitute regular pasta for gluten free pasta.
Warwick
Does the heat stay on whilst melting the goats cheese?
Amanda
No, the hot pasta should be enough to melt the cheese.
Amy Hales
Anything that can take me from grocery store to kitchen table in just over an hour is a win in my book. Not to mention I only had to dirty one pot! So easy and so delicious! We added a couple slices of garlic bread and it was perfection! Thanks for sharing such an easy and delicious recipe
Amanda
You're so very welcome, I'm glad you liked it. Thank you so much for trying the recipe!