My neighbor shared her secret 4 ingredient recipe with me and I have made it every week since.

My neighbor, Carol, brought this over one busy weeknight when I was juggling kids’ homework and a late soccer practice. She called it her “secret 4-ingredient pasta” and swore it saved her on the craziest days. Everything bakes together in the oven—pasta, tomatoes, garlic, and cream—until the shells are tender, the cherry tomatoes are blistered and jammy, and the roasted garlic melts into a silky, creamy sauce. I’ve been making it every single week since because it uses pantry basics, dirties almost nothing, and comes out in two foil pans that are perfect for sharing or freezing.

This pasta is rich and comforting, so I like to keep the sides simple: a crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette, some steamed or roasted broccoli, or a bowl of cut-up raw veggies for the kids. Warm garlic bread or a crusty baguette is great for scooping up the extra creamy sauce. For grown-ups, it pairs nicely with a light white wine or sparkling water with lemon, while the kids usually have milk or apple juice. Serve straight from the foil pans at the table for a cozy, family-style feel and easy cleanup.

Servings: 6-8

1 pound medium pasta shells (dry, uncooked)

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Set two disposable 9x9-inch or similar foil baking pans on a large sheet pan for easy handling and to catch any drips.

Prepare the garlic: Peel off the loose outer layers of the garlic head, keeping the whole head intact. Slice about 1/4 inch off the top to expose the cloves. Place the garlic head on a small piece of foil, drizzle with a little olive oil if using, and wrap it loosely into a small packet.

Divide the dry pasta shells evenly between the two foil pans. Scatter the cherry tomatoes evenly over the pasta in both pans.

Nestle the wrapped garlic packet into one corner of one of the foil pans so it can roast right alongside the pasta. It doesn’t need to be submerged; just make sure it’s resting securely in the pan.

Pour the heavy cream evenly over the pasta and tomatoes in both pans, making sure most of the pasta is moistened. Gently press down any pasta that’s sticking up so it touches the cream as much as possible.

Sprinkle the salt and black pepper (if using) evenly over the top. If you’d like a little extra richness, drizzle a tablespoon or two of olive oil over the tomatoes and pasta.

Cover each foil pan tightly with foil, sealing the edges well. This helps the pasta cook through in the cream without drying out.

Place the pans (and the garlic packet tucked inside one pan) into the preheated oven. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, carefully remove the top foil from both pans, watching out for steam. Gently stir each pan, making sure to scrape the bottom so no pasta sticks, and press any dry shells down into the creamy liquid.

Return the pans to the oven, uncovered, and bake for another 15–20 minutes, until the pasta is tender, the cream has thickened into a sauce, and the cherry tomatoes are blistered and starting to burst.

While the pasta finishes, open the garlic packet carefully—steam will escape. Let the roasted garlic cool just enough to handle, then squeeze the soft cloves out of the papery skins into a small bowl.

When the pasta is done, remove the pans from the oven. Spoon the roasted garlic into one of the pans and use the back of the spoon to mash it into a paste right in the corner.

Stir the mashed roasted garlic thoroughly into the creamy pasta and tomatoes, then use a large spoon to scoop some of that garlicky cream over into the second pan. Stir both pans well so the creamy roasted garlic and burst tomatoes coat all the shells.

Taste and adjust seasoning with a little more salt and pepper if needed. Let the pasta sit for 5 minutes; it will thicken slightly as it cools, making it extra creamy.

Serve straight from the foil pans. Use a big serving spoon to scoop up generous portions of the creamy shells and blistered tomatoes. Store leftovers tightly covered in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat gently with a splash of cream or water if needed.

For picky eaters, you can lightly mash the roasted tomatoes with the back of a spoon so they blend into the sauce more, or even scoop some of the tomato skins out before serving. If your kids are sensitive to garlic, start with half a head of garlic instead of a full one, or stir the roasted garlic into just one pan so you have a milder pan and a garlicky pan. To keep the spirit of the 4-ingredient recipe, think of the base as pasta, tomatoes, garlic, and cream—everything else is optional. That said, you can add grated Parmesan or mozzarella on top during the last 10 minutes of baking, toss in a handful of spinach or chopped baby kale after baking until it wilts, or sprinkle on dried Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes for a little kick. If you don’t have heavy cream, half-and-half works; just know the sauce will be slightly thinner, so bake uncovered a few extra minutes to thicken. For make-ahead, you can assemble the pans up to the point of baking, cover tightly, and refrigerate up to 8 hours; add 5–10 minutes to the covered bake time if starting from cold. Food safety tips: Always refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking, and reheat until the pasta is steaming hot throughout (165°F/74°C). Because this dish contains dairy, do not leave it out at room temperature for extended periods. If you use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, avoid boiling it hard on the stovetop later, as it can curdle—gently rewarm in the oven or microwave with a splash of extra cream or milk to loosen the sauce.