One Pot Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

Name: One Pot Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons Oil, from Sun-Dried Tomatoes; 1/2 Cup Sun-Dried Tomatoes (roughly chopped); 1/2 Cup Diced Onion; 4 Cloves Garlic (finely minced); 2 to 3 Tablespoons Capers (drained); 2 Tablespoons Gochujang Paste; 1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning; 1 Teaspoon Smoked Paprika; 1/2 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes; 2 Cups Low Sodium Chicken Stock; 12 Ounces Fresh Tortellini (any filling); 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream; 3/4 Cup Grated Parmesan; 3 Tablespoons Fresh Basil (chopped); 3 Tablespoons Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley (chopped); Lemon Zest + Lemon Juice

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This super easy and delicious One-Pot Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta is the perfect weeknight meal! Tortellini pasta cooked in a creamy and spicy gochujang sauce that's loaded with sun-dried tomatoes, capers and fresh herbs. And the best part? It only takes 20 minutes to make from start to finish.

Sun-dried tomato pasta garnished with fresh basil in a large braiser pot.

I love me a good one-pot meal and I know you will love this Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta too! It's quick, easy AF and requires minimal clean up. A win-win, if you ask me! 🙌🏻

Close up of Sun-dried tomato pasta garnished with fresh basil in a large braiser pot.

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Why You Will Love This Pasta
Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Variations
Storage
Expert Tips
FAQ
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Why You Will Love This Pasta

Quick and Easy. You just need 5 minutes to prep and 15 minutes to cook. And everything is thrown in one pot. Easy peasy!
One Pot. One pot means less clean up!
Full of Flavor. There are SO many aromatic ingredients like, red onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, gochujang, capers and spices, guaranteed to send you to flavortown.

Ingredients

Here are some notes about all the ingredients used. Quantities and full instructions are in the recipe card below!

Sun-Dried Tomatoes Packed in Oil - We'll be using both the oil and sun-dried tomatoes.
Capers - Adds brininess and balances the richness of this dish.
Red Onion + Garlic - For flavor.
Gochujang - Adds so much flavor and a bit of spice.
Spices - We are adding even more flavor with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and smoked paprika.
Chicken Broth - We're using chicken broth because it's more flavorful than water. Low sodium is best so we can control the sodium.
Tortellini Pasta - I'm using a 3 cheese tortellini, but any flavor will work.
Heavy Cream - Adds richness and thickens the sauce.
Parmesan Cheese - Adds flavor and makes the sauce cheesy and creamy.
Fresh Herbs - I'm using a combination of fresh basil and parsley, but you can also use fresh thyme and chives.
Lemon Zest + Lemon Juice - Adds brightness and the acid balances the richness.

*See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Here are step-by-step photos and instructions on how to make this One Pot Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta! Please find detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Sun-dried tomato oil, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, onion, garlic, gochujang, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and smoked paprika are in a large pan.

Step 1. To a large pan, add sun-dried tomato oil, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, onion, garlic, gochujang, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and smoked paprika.

Sun-dried tomato oil, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, onion, garlic, gochujang, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and smoked paprika are sauteed a large pan.

Step 2. Over medium high heat, sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.

Chicken stock is added to the pan and us brought to a boil.

Step 3. Add chicken stock to the pan and bring to a boil.

Step 4. Add tortellini, cover and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes.

Heavy cream and grated parmesan cheese are added to the pot.

Step 5. Once the pasta is cooked, stir in heavy cream and parmesan cheese.

Lemon zest is added to cooked sun-dried tomato pasta.

Step 6. Add fresh herbs and lemon zest. Serve and enjoy!

Substitutions

Tortellini - I'm using a 3 cheese tortellini, but any flavor will work! You could even use any quick cooking pastas like raviolis or gnocchi.
Gochujang - The gochujang adds umami and a bit of spice to the dish, but you can omit it if you don't have any on hand. I've made this pasta without it and it still taste incredible! Just increase the red pepper flakes.
Capers - Capers are an acquired taste for some, so you can omit completely if you don't like them. You can also sub for green olives.
Chicken Broth - You can also use beef or vegetable broth.
Heavy Cream - You could substitute with whole milk, but the sauce won't be as thick or creamy. You'll can add 1 to 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour when you sauté all the aromatics, to help thicken the sauce.

Variations

Add some Meat - Brown off some sausage, chicken or ground beef for extra protein. You can also make it with shrimp. Cook your shrimp first, set aside and then add back into the pan once the pasta is cooked.
Add some Greens - Feel free to add fresh spinach leaves, kale or arugula.
Add other Veggies - You can sauté some mushrooms, eggplant (aubergine) or zucchini (courgette).
Make it Gluten-Free - Use your favorite gluten free tortellini.
Make it Vegan - You can use vegetable stock, a plant-based tortellini, coconut milk/vegan cream/vegan cream cheese to thicken the sauce and vegan parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast.

Storage

Refrigerator - Store leftovers in an airtight container, in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Freezer - Freeze individual portions in freezer-safe containers and store for up to 2 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Sun-dried tomato pasta garnished with fresh basil served in a dish with a fork tucked next to the pasta.

Expert Tips

The sauce will thicken more as it cools.

Use Sun-dried Tomatoes that are packed in oil. It contains so much more flavor than the dry ones.

Don't skip the gochujang. It adds so much flavor!

FAQ

What is gochujang?

Gochujang is a Korean chili paste that's made from gochugaru (a Korean chili powder), fermented soybean powder, glutinous rice and salt. It taste savory, a bit sweet, a bit salty and a bit bitter. It's wonderful condiment to keep in your fridge as it lasts for 1 to 2 year if stored properly.

Can I use other pastas?

Although this recipe has only been tested with tortellini, I'm sure you can use other fresh and quick cooking pastas like raviolis or gnocchi. If you decide to use a dry pasta, it will take a bit longer and you may need to add a bit more liquid in order to cook the pasta properly. You'll also want to stir often as it cooks so that the pasta doesn't stick together. Please let me know if you try this recipe with other pastas. I would love to know how it turned out for you!

What's the best way to heat up leftovers?

To reheat, add pasta and a bit of chicken broth or water to a saucepan and warm over medium-low heat, making sure to stir often. You can also heat leftovers in the microwave. Just remember to add a bit of stock or water and stir every 45 seconds until warm.