Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta
Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta
Calling all pasta lovers! If you're a fan of pasta, you're in for a treat with this vegetarian Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta recipe. It's a delightful Conchiglioni pasta dish that's brimming with the mouthwatering flavors of tomatoes and garlicky goodness, making it perfect for a cozy weeknight meal that the entire family will adore. Dairy-free + Gluten-free option.
Why Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta?
Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta—I've got a soft spot for jumbo shells, also known as Conchiglioni pasta—it's one of my all-time favorite pasta shapes! And when you pair it with herb-roasted tomatoes, it's like a match made in pasta heaven.
While I've shared my fair share of pasta recipes on Orchids + Sweet Tea, this one holds a special place among my top five favorites, and it's for a darn good reason! Seriously, who can resist the charm of creamy pasta in all its beautiful forms?
This Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta is the epitome of simplicity, versatility, and pure enjoyment, especially on those bustling weeknights when you crave a quick, mouthwatering meal that satisfies the whole family. If you're looking for more fall pasta inspiration check out my roundup of 25 Comforting Fall Pasta Recipes next!
Jump to:
- Why Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta?
- How to Make Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta
- Ingredients:
- Why You Will LOVE This Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta Recipe
- Topping Ideas for Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta
- Adding More Protein
- What Are Delicious Foods to Pair Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta?
- Choosing Your Perfect Pasta
- Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta Q + A's
- More Creamy Mouthwatering Pasta Recipes
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- Creamy Garlic Tomato Conchiglioni Pasta
How to Make Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta
Begin by roasting your tomatoes to perfection. These herb-roasted tomatoes are the secret behind the incredible flavor in this dish. With their thick, jammy texture, they naturally create a flavorful sauce that coats your conchiglioni pasta. Once the tomatoes are ready, prepare the sauce, boil your pasta, and voilà!
Ingredients:
For the Pasta:
- Jumbo Conchiglioni Pasta: The star of the dish, providing satisfying, large pasta shell shapes.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Adds a touch of richness and prevents the pasta from sticking.
- Sea Salt: Enhances the flavor of the pasta.
For the Sauce:
- Garlic Cloves (Minced): Infuses the sauce with a bold garlic flavor.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Adds depth and richness to the sauce.
- Organic Heavy Cream: Creates a luxurious, creamy texture. I use Organic Valley.
- Roasted Herb Tomatoes: Bursting with rich tomato flavor and aromatic herbs, these roasted tomatoes elevate the dish's taste.
- Organic Chicken Stock (Low-Sodium): Provides a savory base for the sauce.Whole Foods has a great organic option!
- Tomato Paste: Intensifies the tomato flavor and thickens the sauce.
- White Cooking Wine: Enhances the sauce's complexity with a hint of wine flavor.
- Sea Salt: Balances and enhances all the flavors.
- Dried Oregano, Basil, Thyme: A trio of dried herbs for a delightful herbal infusion.
- Garlic Powder: Boosts the garlic flavor.
- Black Pepper: Adds a touch of heat and spice.
- Red Pepper Flakes (Pinch): Offers a hint of spiciness for those who enjoy a kick.
SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR COOKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS DISH!
Here, I've curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta Everything from my fave baking sheet, dutch ovens, immersion hand-blender, mixing bowls, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
Why You Will LOVE This Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta Recipe
- Bold flavors that will tantalize your taste buds.
- Easy weeknight meal--Simple preparation + minimal ingredients
- Versatile and customizable
- DELICIOUS jammy herb-roasted tomato goodness!
- A crowd-pleasing combination that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
- It’s absolutely delicious----creamy + velvety!
- It’s Meatless--but still works for any eater.
- Done in just under 35 minutes.
Topping Ideas for Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta
While I love this Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta Recipe dinner as-is, straight from the pan, you can dress it up with toppings if you like.
For extra flavor, color, and texture, you can try:
- Kale
- Candied bacon
- Black olives
- Grated lemon zest --adds a zesty, citrusy twist that brightens up the dish.
- More parmesan cheese
- Toasted panko bread crumbs
If you discover a new favorite topping idea, be sure to let me know in the comments section below!
Adding More Protein
If you'd like to add protein to this Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta dish, it's easy to do, regardless of your diet!
PLANT-BASED PROTEIN OPTIONS:
- Crispy seared or baked tofu cubes
- Roasted chickpeas
- Crumbled stir-fried seitan
- Crumble vegan bacon on top
- Sautéed cauliflower florets or broccoli
- Sautéed asparagus, Brussels sprouts, etc.
MEAT-BASED PROTEIN OPTIONS:
If you're a seafood lover, feel free to swap out the chicken for these delightful options!
- Salmon
- Shredded chicken
- Candied bacon
- Shrimp
- Homemade meatballs!
- Lobster
- Fish (fried, grilled, baked, etc.)
What Are Delicious Foods to Pair Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta?
When it comes to serving this mouthwatering Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta there are some options that will truly elevate your meal. First off, don't forget to have some bread on hand. I love this homemade Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread. Trust me; you'll want to dip it into that luscious, saucy goodness. If you want a little freshness, serve it with a salad on the side, like this Fall Harvest BBQ Chickpea Kale Salad or this Best Buffalo Chickpea Kale Salad. It's like a fresh burst of flavor that complements this easy weeknight dinner beautifully.
But here's the thing. This creamy tomato pasta is so darn amazing that you can honestly enjoy it all by itself. Seriously, the giant shell pasta + luscious jammy herbed tomato sauce is everything! It's just bursting with flavor. So, feel free to dig in and savor every single bite. It's a dish that stands tall on its own!
Choosing Your Perfect Pasta
You can use any type of pasta that you like in this recipe. That is what makes this Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta recipe so adaptable!
Traditionally, this dish is made with conchiglioni shells. However, if you can't find them or don't have any on hand, here are some other great options to consider-
I love using conchiglioni because it does a beautiful job of embracing and holding onto the sauce. But any of these pasta varieties would work for this dish -
- Jumbo Rigatoni
- Manicotti Tubes
- Pappardelle
- Tagliatelle
- Fettuccine
- Penne
- Paccheri
- Orecchiette
- Spirals
- Small or Medium Shells
- Ravioli or gnocchi would also go wonderfully with this sauce combo!
I would recommend tossing with tongs to ensure that longer varieties of pasta is fully manageable and fully coated. You can also use gluten-free pasta, whole-wheat pasta, or even zoodles for a low-carb option!
Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta Q + A's
Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. Gently reheat leftovers on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of milk or broth to maintain the creamy consistency.
Yes! To make this sauce pasta dish dairy-free, simply swap the cream with full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream. And use your favorite dairy-free shredded cheese or nutritional yeast instead of parmesan.
To make this pasta dish GF, simply use Gluten-Free pasta (conchiglioni shells may be harder to find a GF version so feel free to pick another shape) and ensure that the coconut cream/milk (alternative for heavy cream), flour, and chicken stock are GF-friendly.
You can use coconut milk or almond milk for a lighter, dairy-free option, or you can try Greek yogurt for a creamy texture with fewer calories.
I tend to use a lot of white cooking wine, which is easiest for me. However, I do occasionally add quality white wine to my dishes and I recommend using a dry white wine.
A dry white wine will add the right amount of acidity rather than sweetness, which will better compliment your dish like this Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta. In general, any of the following dry white wines work great in this dish
Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and dry sparkling wines.
More Creamy Mouthwatering Pasta Recipes
If you enjoyed this Creamy Jumbo Shell Garlic Tomato Pasta recipe, make sure to add these irresistible pasta dishes to your "must-make next" list!
- Vegan Bolognese Pasta
- Creamy Garlic Butter Pasta w/ Roasted Cauliflower
- Creamy Vegan Sweet Potato Pasta Skillet
- Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta w/ Parmesan Garlic Sauce
- Easy Bruschetta Pasta with Parmesan
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you make this Creamy Garlic Tomato Conchiglioni Pasta or any other recipe from us, be sure to tag us on Instagram at #Orchidsandsweettea so that we can share the love!
Creamy Garlic Tomato Conchiglioni Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 (16 oz.) bag Jumbo Conchiglioni pasta (See Notes!)
- 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
- Pinch of sea salt
ROASTED TOMATOES:
- 2 cups Roasted Herb Tomatoes
SAUCE:
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cups organic heavy cream
- ¼ cup organic chicken stock, low-sodium
- 3 Tbsps tomato paste
- 2 Tbsps white cooking wine
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
ROAST THE TOMATOES:
- To roast the tomatoes, follow this recipe for the steps.
BOIL THE PASTA:
- Cook pasta according to packaging. NOTE: Conchiglioni pasta doesn’t take a long time to cook, usually 10-12 minutes (however, you should cook at 9-10 minutes or so—‘al dente’).
MAKE THE SAUCE:
- In a large 12-inch skillet, add the olive oil and add minced garlic sauté frequently about 1-2 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
- Add in the salt, black pepper, oregano, garlic powder, basil. thyme, and red pepper flakes and whisk together until well combined. Add in the heavy cream, tomato paste, chicken stock, and white cooking wine, whisking until combined and it begins to bubble, about 1-2 minutes. Add in the roasted tomatoes and continue to let it bubble for another 1-2 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low and add in the cooked pasta and stir until everything is well coated.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately with your favorite side.
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days.
- VEGGIES: If preferred, you can always add other greens to the mix for additional flavor such as Kale, Spinach or Collard Greens.
- SPICES/HERBS: If desired, you can reduce the amounts slightly. Please know that this recipe is bold in flavor, so feel free to adjust based on your tastebuds.
- PASTA: You can use Jumbo shells or long pastas like Pappardelle, Fettuccine, etc. if desired, however, I would recommend tossing with tongs to ensure that pasta is fully manageable and fully coated. Otherwise, the traditional penne or rigatoni pasta works perfectly too!
Nutrition
DID YOU MAKE THIS recipe?
Tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea
Creamy Garlic Tomato Conchiglioni Pasta.
LOVE THIS RECIPE?
LET US KNOW!
Amazing!! I used plain oat milk instead of heavy cream & still so rich and delicious! A new family favorite and so simple too!
Hi Rose! Yay---I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe with oat milk! It's definitely one of the staple recipes our my house! 🙂