Step 1

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain then toss with a little olive oil and set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta water is heating, begin the sauce. Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent, about 3 minutes.

Step 3

Increase the heat to medium-high then add the can of tomatoes, milk, cream, Italian seasoning, and if using, the chili flakes to the pan and bring to a simmer. Continue to simmer until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Stir in the parmesan cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Step 4

Add the cooked pasta and the basil leaves to the pan and toss to coat in the creamy tomato sauce.