30 Minute One Pot Creamy Corn and Tomato Pasta Recipe
This 30 Minute One Pot Creamy Corn and Tomato Pasta is a quick, flavorful, and comforting dish perfect for weeknight dinners. Combining tender pasta with a creamy lemon and cream cheese sauce, fresh grilled corn, juicy cherry tomatoes, and bright cilantro, it’s a delicious way to enjoy summer produce in a simple, one-pot meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Pasta and Sauce
- 3/4 pound pasta (we used orecchiette)
- 1/3 cup light cream cheese
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Vegetables
- 2 ears sweet corn, grilled, kernels removed (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved (about 2 cups)
- 1 cup fresh chopped cilantro, plus extra for garnish
Seasoning
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of very salty water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. This ensures the pasta has a nice bite and will hold up well in the creamy sauce.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water. This water will be used later to loosen and create the sauce.
- Drain Pasta: Drain the remaining water from the pasta and return the pasta back to the same pot.
- Warm Pasta: Place the pot back on the stove over low heat to keep the pasta warm and prepare for mixing with the sauce ingredients.
- Add Cream Cheese: Add the light cream cheese to the hot pasta. Stir continuously until the cream cheese begins to melt and break apart, coating the pasta with a creamy texture. It does not need to be fully smooth yet.
- Add Lemon and Vegetables: Stir in the lemon juice, grilled sweet corn kernels, and halved cherry tomatoes to the pasta, combining everything evenly.
- Create Sauce: The pasta will look a bit dry at this stage. Gradually add the reserved pasta water one tablespoon at a time, stirring well after each addition until you achieve a thin, silky sauce coating the pasta. You may not need all the reserved water.
- Season: Taste the pasta and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed to balance the flavors.
- Add Cilantro and Serve: Stir the chopped cilantro into the creamy pasta for a fresh, herby finish. Garnish with additional cilantro if desired and serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Grilling the corn enhances its natural sweetness and adds a smoky flavor, but if time is short, steamed or boiled corn can be used.
- Using light cream cheese keeps the dish creamy with less fat, but full-fat cream cheese will add richness if preferred.
- The reserved pasta water is key to achieving the perfect creamy consistency—add it slowly until desired sauce texture is reached.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute the pasta with a gluten-free variety.
- Fresh cherry tomatoes add brightness and slight acidity—ripe tomatoes work best for full flavor.
- Serve immediately as the sauce can thicken and dry out if left standing.
