You only need 3 simple ingredients and about 20 minutes to make one of the best plates of pasta you’ve ever had! This 3-Ingredient Tomato and Boursin pasta is quick, easy, and the recipe can be served as a side or add some grilled chicken and you’ve got a complete meal! It’s the perfect recipe for a busy weeknight!
When summer comes to an end, I start the desperate search for those quick and easy weeknight meals. It’s those things that I can throw together quickly after football practice that won’t have me tearing down the kitchen (to then clean it all up) to get supper on the table.
This Tomato Boursin Pasta is one of those dishes. It only calls for 3 ingredients and is on the table in less than 30 minutes. The week that I made it, Jack requested it twice more – which is pretty uncommon for him. It’s seriously one of the easiest pasta recipes I’ve made and is just so delicious!
What kind of cheese is Boursin?
Boursin Cheese is a soft, creamy cheese that has a texture reminiscent of cream cheese, though a little more crumbly. It’s a cow’s milk cheese made with fresh cream and is most commonly flavored with garlic and herbs. In addition to the Garlic and Fine Herbs variety, Boursin makes a Basil and Chive, Shallot and Chive, and Cracked Black Pepper version, among others.
You can usually find it with the nicer cheeses in your local grocery store.
What’s your favorite marinara sauce?
I’m no stranger to a jarred marinara sauce. Maybe you call it pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce – like we did growing up. Regardless, you know what I mean. Sure, I’ve got a homemade version that’s easy and absolutely fantastic, but it doesn’t beat the convenience of the jarred stuff. And honestly, when you consider the price and ease, it’s hard to beat it all the way around.
With all that being said, there are some sauces out there that are superior. My go-to is Rao’s Marinara. There are some other great options out there, but Rao’s is my standard. Sure, it’s a little more expensive, but I think it’s worth it. And I just watch for it to go on the buy-one-get-one-free special at my local Publix and stock up then.
Can I add protein to this recipe?
Absolutely! I grew up in a family where we had some form of meat on every plate, but as my family has grown, there are meals that don’t include it. This is a prime example. We find that the pasta, sauce, and cheese are more than enough when served alongside an easy salad, but you can certainly add meat to this dish. Cooked ground beef or shredded chicken could be mixed in, or you can serve this as a side next to a grilled chicken breast, for example.
Ingredient FAQ
Here’s what you need to make this easy 3-Ingredient Tomato and Boursin Pasta…
- Spaghetti – I use your standard dried spaghetti in a 16-ounce package. You could use another long pasta like angel hair, linguini, or fettuccini as well. I suppose you could use any type of pasta you wanted, actually, if short pasta like penne, rigatoni, farfalle (bow tie) or fusilli (spiral) are more your thing.
- Marinara Sauce – I really prefer using Rao’s jarred Marinara here, but their Tomato basil work great too. Since we only have 3 ingredients in this recipe, there aren’t tons of opportunities to add flavor. Picking the best of each of these products ensures we’ve got that covered. I also like the Carbone and Bottecelli brands of marinara. Pick your favorite!
- Boursin Cheese – I prefer the Garlic and Fine Herbs or Basil and Chives varieties of Boursin for this recipe, but I’m sure the Cracked Black Pepper would work as well. Outside of the different flavors, there’s not a great substitute for Boursin. In a real pinch, goat cheese or cream cheese could be used, but they would change the flavor a bit. Alouette makes a soft, spreadable cheese with garlic and herbs, but I’ve not tested it for the flavor.
Recipe Card
3-Ingredient Tomato and Boursin Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package spaghetti
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (5.2-ounce) package Boursin Cheese ((Garlic and Fine Herbs or Basil and Chive flavor))
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta according to the package instructions in salted water, but do not drain.
- While the pasta cooks, add the marinara to a large skillet over medium heat. Once warm, add in the Boursin and use your spoon to break it up.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer and stir until the cheese has melted.
- Once the pasta is al dente, use a pasta fork or tongs to transfer the pasta from the water directly to the skillet with the sauce, allowing excess water to drain away from the pasta before adding it. Toss to coat the pasta in the sauce. Add additional salt if necessary. Serve warm as a side or entree.
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Barbara Miller
I can’t wait to make this. TY. I make my own Borsin Cheese. https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/spread/homemade-boursin-cheese-garlic-and-herb.html?r=1
So industrious! Hope you enjoy it!
Joseph
I like Mariner sauce and the boursin pasta is grate
Glad you enjoyed it!
john
WOW. Delicious. used Rao marinara and the Boursin garlic and herb. just WOW.
Ha! Thanks, John! Glad to hear it turned out great for you!
Jennifer
This was absolutely delicious and SO easy to make! I added ground beef to the sauce for a bolognese style dish. Everyone ate it so fast I didn’t get the to take a picture. Another dinner with no leftovers. Here’s a picture of the baby with her spaghetti face 😊
I love this so much, Jennifer! Such a sweet little face! This popped up in my notifications as I was washing dishes from supper last night and showed my whole family. They all just grinned! Glad to hear everyone enjoyed it!
Carol hyde
Loved it!
Glad to hear it!!
Marjorie
Why do you say not to drain the pasta?
When you transfer the pasta directly from the boiling water into the sauce, you’re going to take a little of the pasta water with it. The starch that’s in that pasta water, helps to thicken the sauce.You can drain it in a colander in the sink if you’d like. I find it to be an unnecessary step that creates more dishes to wash. Regardless, do not rinse it.
Allyson Venable
Super easy to make and tastes great.
We sure love it!
Tina D.
This was sooooo good and super easy to make!!! Thank you!!
So glad you enjoyed it! We sure have!
Tommie K Hanson
Wonderful 😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
Lois
I love Rao’s jarred sauces! I also have a home made recipe, but Rao’s is just as good. I buy it when it goes on sale. Last time our local grocery store had it on sale for 1/2 price. My husband bought 5 jars and I stopped after work and bought 5 more! I even talked another shopper into buying at least 1 jar. LOL
I also love your videos and recipes. Thanks for sharing!
It’s such a good deal when it goes on sale like that!
bkhuna
Hey! I’d been on a Rao’s BOGO at Publix kick for years. Great product. If you haven’t tried it yet, a newer brand called Victoria has show up and I find that I like it a little better, although I’ll scoff at neigher.
I’ve seen the Victoria sauce, but haven’t tried it. It’s on my list now!
Karen Laliberte
Hi Stacy I can’t wait to try this it sounds and looks amazing like all you recipes. Thank You, Karen
Hope you’ll enjoy it!