This Is The Tastiest Instant Tomato Pasta in India

A tomato and cheese pasta can be a satiating, comforting, warming meal- if and only if, it is prepared well. In the making of ‘red sauce’ pasta goes over a dozen different ingredients, and if you’re starving, collecting them is the last thing you want to do.

Instant pastas cater to cravings on a budget, without you having to put in any effort. We tried and tasted six such brands including Maggi, YiPPe!, Wai Wai, Weikfield, Yu Foodlabs and Sundrop. We chose the tomato pasta by Yu Foodlabs as our Top Pick for its fresh taste and clean ingredient list. More details below.

Quick details on the contenders are listed here.

First, an insight on how we picked the contenders. The criteria was fairly simple. It should be a tomato or tomato and cheese flavored pasta. Next, they should be available on quick commerce platforms. 

On to the review process- we cooked the pasta following the proportions and instructions provided on the back of the pack, followed by a taste test. We tasted them while they were warm.

Read our review of the faster 10-minute delivery app here. 

What were the review factors for our best instant tomato pasta brands review?

We rated the contenders on their taste and texture. We also took into account the overall convenience, in terms of time and ingredients required, but did not rate them on it. 

1. Taste

What makes a red sauce pasta so appetizing? Its the strategic blend of flavors. The fresh tangy flavor of tomatoes paired with the creamy richness of cheese, and with the right balance of herbs- oh la la, you’re bound to go in for another serving. 

And this is exactly what we were looking for. Does the base taste fresh? Natural or synthetic? Is the cheese flavor balanced or out of proportion? What about the seasoning and herbs?

2. Texture

Four minutes or fourteen, we were looking for an instant tomato pasta that developed a well-cooked, creamy sauce and a pasta with a soft yet firm bite. Which contender nailed this parameter? 

3. Other Parameters

Here, the price, packaging, convenience, shelf life, and ingredients were checked. 

Our experience with all the six brands has been explained in the following section. 

Our Experience

We had no second thoughts when crowning Yu Chunky Tomato Instant Cup Pasta our Top Pick. Why, you ask?

The flavor? Impeccable. The texture? Impressive. Safe to say, similar to restaurant style.

This made a well-rounded portion of red sauce pasta. We could taste the natural tangy and acidic flavor of tomatoes with the right balance of cheese. Both these components were very fresh to taste. Even the seasoning and blend of herbs was spot-on. This pasta was cooked perfectly in just four minutes, it had absorbed flavors well without having turned too soft or mushy. Overall soft, but the pasta had a firm bite, adding to the restaurant-like quality.

Other commendable points

• Herbs were packed in a separate pouch
• A clean ingredient list, which even though you do not expect from a packaged/instant food, always adds to the list of pros. 

Product Details

This pasta comes in a cup. It holds 60 grams of product (weight after rehydration is 215 grams) Priced at Rs 90/-, this has a one-year shelf life. The main ingredients are Durum Wheat Pasta, Fresh tomatoes, Garlic, Onions, Leeks, Celery, Carrots, Fresh Basil, Fresh cream, Milk, Butter, Parmesan cheese, Tomato puree, Refined flour, Salt, Black pepper, Oregano, Chilli flakes, Water

Why did Maggi’s Pasta Not Win?

Maggi Cheese Tomato Twist Pasta had a pretty average taste and texture. It was fusili-shaped and cooked well within the mentioned time frame, no complaints there. 

The softness of the pasta was just right, not too mushy either. It had capsicum bits too that added a different kind of soft bite. 

The flavors were slightly disappointing. That’s because the tanginess of tomatoes was too mild. In fact it tasted slightly artificial. Like tomatoes, the cheesy flavor was also quite delicate. The garlic flakes were the only saving grace as they added a warm pungency.

Product Details

This comes in a pouch that holds 64 grams of product. It is priced at Rs 28/- and has a shelf life of nine months. Sugar, Tomato paste (13.7%), Milk solids, Iodised salt, Mixed spices (Onion powder, Garlic powder, Roasted garlic flakes, Cumin powder, red chili powder, Spice extract blend, Black pepper powder), Dehydrated green bell pepper (7.1%), Maltodextrin, Starch, Potato flakes, Cheese (2.9%), Palm oil, Thickener (508), Flavor enhancer (635), Oregano bits, Natural flavor, Nature identical flavoring substance, Acidity regulator (296) are the ingredients used. 

Why Did Wai Wai’s Pasta Not Win?

Wai Wai Tomato Fusilli was quite similar to Maggi’s Cheesy Tomato Pasta when it came to flavors. This is just another average tasting instant pasta with a slight artificial aftertaste. There are a few things we liked including the texture of the pasta, how well the sauce coats it and the warm pungency of garlic. 

Product Details

Inside the pack, you get the pasta and seasoning, the total weight of which is 65 grams. This is priced at Rs 28/- with a nine-month shelf life. The main ingredients are Sugar, Iodised salt, Maltodextrin, Tomato solids (9%), Garlic, Onion (5%), Wheat flour, Milk solids, Spices and condiments (4%), Hydrolysed veg protein, Anticaking agent (551), Acidity regulator (330), Edible veg oil (palm), Flavor enhancers (INS631, INS627), Dehydrated herb and thickener (INS412)

Why Did YiPPe! Not Win?

With a robust aroma of cheese, this macaroni cooked a few seconds before the mentioned time frame which led to our pasta being slightly overcooked, even a little dry. In certain places, it was too sticky and even broken. 

YiPPee! was heavier on the flavor of cheese than tomatoes. Sadly, even the cheese was not fresh tasting, it had a lingering synthetic aftertaste. 

Product Details

One pack holds 65 grams of product and is priced at Rs 28/- This has a shelf life of 10 months and the ingredients are Tomato cheese pasta saucemaker – Milk solids, Dairy whitener (milk solid and sugar), Wheat flour (atta), Iodised salt, Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Dehydrated onion bits, Tomato powder (6.5%), (Tomato paste 4.6%, Maltodextrin), Cornflour, Nature identical flavoring substances, Dehydrated tomato bits (3.4%), Maltodextrin, Milk solids, Iodised salt, Refined soybean oil, and Nature identical flavoring substances, Spices and condiments, Natural flavors and natural flavoring substances, Dairy creamer, Thickener (INS 1450), and Flavor enhancer (INS 627, 631)

Why Did Sundrop Not Win?

The texture of Sundrop pasta may be a little off as it contains various pasta shapes (penne, macaroni, and fusilli) which call for slightly different cooking times. While macaroni turned soft in five minutes, the other two still had a very firm bite. 

As this contender came with a cooking sauce and not powder, we cooked the sauce in another pan, and then added the boiled pasta. The sauce coated the pasta well but it was just enough. There were no spare spoonfuls for a few wet pockets in our bowl of pasta. It yields a slightly dry pasta.

Taste-wise, this was more like a pizza-pasta sauce that had a blend of sweet-spicy-tangy flavors. This was low on spice as pepper and chilli did not really make their presence felt but the herbiness of oregano was prominent. 

Product Details

An 80-gram pack is priced at Rs 30/- with a shelf life of 13 months. Tomato paste, water, sugar, onions, refined edible soybean oil, iodized salt, garlic paste, green chili paste, emulsifier (lecithin), red chili, ginger paste, acidity regulator (citric acid), spices and condiments (oregano powder, black pepper powder), stabilizer (xanthan gum), parsley flakes.This also contains wheat and soy are the ingredients used.

Why Did Weikfield Not Win?

Weikfield Pasta definitely did not make it to the podium because it took the longest to cook. As we proceeded with the review, we found more reasons adding to the first. 

The macaroni was stuck to each other, and it was a lumpy mess. Overcooked in some places and under cooked in others, this straight up had the worst texture. The taste was so obviously industrial and artificial tasting that we could not taste beyond a bite.

Product Details

One pack holding 77 grams of product is priced at Rs 28/- with a one-year shelf life. The main ingredients are Tomato powder (16%), Iodised salt, Maltodextrin, Cornstarch, Sugar, cheese powder (cheese, milk solids, maltodextrin, stabilizer (INS452 (i)), Spices and condiments (Onion, black pepper, oregano), Stabiliser (INS 451), Anticaking agent (INS 551), Flavor enhancer (INS635), Yeast extract

After tons of cooking and reviewing, we are of the opinion that Yu Foodlabs Instant Tomato Pasta is easily the best among the contenders we picked. Why?

It feels more evolved than something made from a packet, in terms of taste and texture. The flavor profile struck a balance between tangy and cheesy flavors and the texture was so soft and creamy, your heart would be full too. Cherry on top? It has a clean ingredient list. 

Here are some interesting FAQs on best tomato pasta.

Our review of the best instant tomato pasta brand had us saying ‘pasta’ la vista to these cravings. Of the six contenders we tried, Yu Foodlabs pasta cup was the clear winner as it checked the box across all aspects. The convenience, taste, texture- these were exceptional. Sure, it is priced almost three times more than other variants in the market, but the quality of ingredients justify the price.

Have you tried instant pastas before?

Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.