This Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta is a go-to for late spring and early summer. It's fast, flavorful, and is cozy and satisfying but light enough for warm days. The no-cook sauce comes together in a blender using sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and almond butter, then gets tossed with hot pasta and fresh arugula.
It's naturally vegan and dairy-free, and just as good warm as it is room temperature.
Sun-dried tomatoes are especially useful this time of year. They bring bold, concentrated flavor without relying on peak summer tomatoes. Paired with fresh greens and a quick blender sauce, this pasta fits that in-between season when you want real dinners without heavy cooking.
Why you'll love this recipe:
- Creamy blender sauce - no simmering or soaking
- Simple, easy-to-find ingredients - many you'll have on hand already
- Ready in 15 minutes from start to finish, no chopping required.
- Bold, savory flavor balanced with fresh arugula
- Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy free but tastes indulgent
- Perfect for late spring or early summer weeknights
If you like fast dinners like this, you will also like my Creamy Avocado Pasta, which is also a blender sauce and inspired this post. Or browse all my pasta recipes here.
How to make it (with photos)
This easy recipe comes together in just minutes with a blender and cooked pasta.
Ingredient Notes + Substitutions
You can make this creamy sun-dried tomato pasta with one fresh Roma tomato and a handful of pantry staples.
- Pasta - I used penne pasta because its shape picks up just the right amount of sauce. However spaghetti noodles, fusilli, and many other pasta shapes will work well with this recipe. I used gluten-free pasta but any type will work.
- Sun-dried tomatoes - Choose jarred sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil for a flavorful, creamy sauce.
- Almond butter - Almond butter adds to richness of this flavorful creamy sauce. It has a neutral flavor, so I do not recommend substituting with other nut butters (except cashew butter, which is also neutral).
- Roma tomato - One roma tomato adds acidity and freshness to this recipe, and boldens the tomato base.
- Balsamic vinegar - Vinegar adds brightness and sophistication, but you can leave it out for a milder flavor.
- Garlic - Garlic is an essential ingredient. For a quick meal with a strong garlic flavor, it's ok to blend in fresh garlic. For a milder flavor, use roasted or jarred garlic. You can also briefly pan-fry minced garlic on medium-low heat before adding to the sauce.
- Almond Milk - Almond milk or another plant-based milk adds creaminess without cream or dairy.
You also need dried oregano and salt to make this recipe.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Learn how to make this simple creamy-sun-dried tomato pasta in minutes.
- Boil Pasta, Blend Sauce: Make pasta according to the package instructions. Meanwhile, add all ingredients except pasta and arugula to a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Combine: Combine pasta, the blender sauce, and arugula. Mix well and serve warm or cooled. Enjoy!
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the comments. Thank you!
📖 Recipe
Creamy Sun-dried Tomato Pasta
Ingredients
- 5 servings penne pasta , I used gluten-free pasta
- 4 handfuls fresh arugula
Sauce:
- â…“ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil
- ¼ cup almond butter
- 1 Roma tomato plus more to chop and add as a garnish at the end
- 1 ½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic , roast or pan fry beforehand for a milder flavor
- ½ cup almond milk
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- â…› teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Make pasta according to packaging. Meanwhile, add all ingredients except pasta and arugula to a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Combine pasta, the blender sauce, and arugula. Mix well and serve warm or cooled. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Expert Tips
Change the servings (with no extra effort) or prepare this recipe for guests using these expert tips.
Use greens and pasta to adjust servings.
Try 4 servings with lots of extra greens, or up to 6 servings with more noodles. I adjust the dish to the number of guests without changing the sauce ingredients. It always tastes great!
Roast the garlic first for guests.
Raw garlic has a strong flavor. If you're trying this for the first time or serving guests, here's what I recommend:
- Mince the garlic first. Heat a little olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Sautee the minced garlic for about 3 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Then add it to your blender with the rest of the ingredients and blitz!
- OR use ¼ teaspoon garlic powder in place of the two cloves in this recipe.
What I do:
Sometimes I toss two whole raw garlic cloves into the blender. The flavor is strong and we don't mind. I do roast the garlic if serving for guests.
If you're curious about eating raw garlic, I thought this Well + Good article on the benefits of raw garlic was interesting.
Recipe FAQs
Need help? Check out these FAQs.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. For best texture, store the noodles, sauce, and arugula separate if you can.
Unfortunately, I have not tried using dried sun-dried tomatoes so I cannot recommend it.
Absolutely. White beans, shrimp, and chicken all go well with this recipe.
More easy pasta recipes
Looking for more easy weeknight pasta recipes? Try these:
- Pea Pesto Pasta - a simple yet decadent 15-minute pasta + blender sauce combination
- Creamy Avocado Pasta - fresh and fast, with an avocado based blender sauce
- Dairy-Free Pesto - an easy fresh basil pesto for pasta, bread, and more
- One Pot Vegan Lentil Pasta - a simple summer pasta recipe made in one pot
Kira says
I was looking on your site for a recipe that I haven’t tried yet! My husband loved it! Another great recipe for my collection. Thank you!!
Jamie says
Thank you so much Kira! I'm so glad you and your husband enjoyed it!
Amber says
If anything good came out of this pandemic, it's that I've been able to expand my gf cooking repertoire and make delicious recipes like the ones you have on this blog, Jamie, and I've made many of them! This one is a favorite of my husband and me, and I make it all the time now. Thank you!!
Jen D says
I can't believe you make such great meals in your camper van! Another winning recipe, Jamie!
Jamie says
Thank you for the review Jen! 🙂