Dinner in 25 minutes! Penne with Fresh Tomato Sauce is a healthy and delicious weeknight meal.

Pin Penne with Fresh Tomato Sauce here.

Thank goodness for easy and quick weeknight meal recipes. I would be lost without a few of those recipes up my sleeve, especially at the start of the school year. Once my daughter gets home, it is homework, after school activities, dinner, dishes, bath and bed. It feels like a whirlwind. Being able to get dinner on the table in a little over the time it takes to boil water is a big plus. Once the penne is in the boiling water, I make the fresh tomato sauce, and dinner is served. You only need a few deliciously fresh ingredients too.

On those nights that the last thing I want to do is cook, I put on some music. Is it weird that I have a cooking playlist instead of a workout playlist? I put on one of my favorite songs and start chopping. If it happens to be a good dance song, then the recipe has to include a dance break. Go ahead and dance it out. The kitchen is a fantastic place for a dance party. After that, my mind is clearer and I’m ready to get cooking. Put the pasta water on to boil, and put on one of your favorite tunes. Boogie on down until the water boils (Hey! You’ll even burn some calories). Then get to work making the rest of the fresh tomato sauce. Before you know it, dinner is served. Maybe I should call this dish, Boogie on Down Pasta.

Be sure to come back Tuesday for another quick weeknight meal. Steamed Eggplant and Shrimp Stir Fry will blow your mind with its authentic Chinese flavor.  It’s ready in under 30 minutes too.
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Happy Healthy Eating,

Christie

Penne with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Print

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 11 minutes

Total Time 21 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 347 kcal

Author Christie Daruwalla

Ingredients

• 8 oz. whole grain spaghetti or penne
• 3 tbsp. good extra virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic thinly sliced
• 3 cups chopped tomatoes
• 2 tbsp. drained capers
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp. chopped basil

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add salt and pasta. Cook according to manufacturer’s suggested time.
2. While pasta is cooking, place olive oil and garlic in a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Increase the heat and add tomatoes to skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes.
4. Add capers and warm through.
5. When pasta is cooked, do not drain but scoop with a spoon into the tomatoes. Also add ¼ cup of pasta water.
6. Turn the heat off and stir in the cheese and basil.

Recipe Notes

I calculated  10 Weight Watcher Smartpoints.

Nutrition Facts

Penne with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Amount Per Serving

Calories 347 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 14g 22%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Total Carbohydrates 45g 15%

Dietary Fiber 6g 24%

Sugars 6g

Protein 14g 28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

But wait, there’s more.  Check out these deliciously, healthy pasta dishes:

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Penne with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and Turkey Sausage

A quick cooking marinara with all the flavor of a long cooking sauce

Quick Marinara Sauce