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    Home » Recipes » Dinner » Pink Sauce Pasta

    Pink Sauce Pasta

    Published: Feb 15, 2020 · Modified: Jun 21, 2020 by Marni Katz · This post may contain affiliate links

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    I think like most kids, mine would eat noodles with red sauce on repeat for weeks if I let them.  This simple pink sauce pasta is a great and super simple alternative to sauce straight from the jar (although some days call for just that).  I like to serve it with peas (from frozen, not from the can) and maybe some burrata or caprese salad. Dinner done!

    pink sauce pasta on a plate with salad and broccoli

    So where did the idea come for pink sauce?  I’ll admit, I’ve seen it done out in the world and at Trader Joe’s in a jar, but I wanted to see if I could make it at home.  So I got to work. And I’m really quite happy with the results.

    It feels like I’ve made something fancier than just noodles with red sauce, but it doesn’t take much longer.  I’m also cutting out some of the sugar that sometimes hides in jarred marinara sauce (which normally doesn’t bother me, but it’s nice to do once in a while).

    The kiddos love it and I hope you do too.

    “This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

    What noodle shape is the best one to use?

    While you can always use whatever pasta shape you have in your pantry (we have no fewer than 7 shapes of pasta in our pantry at all times), I highly suggest a tubular pasta in this recipe.  There is something about the inside of the tube being able to hold lots of delicious sauce that just works really well.

    My top suggestions would be:

    • Penne Rigate
    • Rigatoni
    • Gemelli
    • Bucatini
    penne pasta in a measuring cup

    The three shapes I would NOT recommend because the pink sauce just won’t stick the same way without the nooks and crannies:

    • Farfalle
    • Macaroni
    • Any really tiny pasta shapes

    Can I make this pink sauce pasta in one pot?

    I have a few one pot pastas that I turn to time and time again and I thought about making this a one pot pasta dish as well.  I didn’t only because you can put this on so many different pasta types that don’t all hold up to the one pan method.

    It will totally work, you’ll just have to add more liquid to the sauce so that the pasta has something to absorb.  I would add either an additional 15 oz can of tomato sauce or an additional 1 cup of milk. Check out these posts (here and here) on how I make one pot pasta for other tips and tricks to make it work.

    How do you make pasta with pink sauce?

    Before you start on the sauce you’ll want to get your water boiling for the pasta in a large pot on the stove.  When it comes to a boil, generously salt the water and then cook the pasta according to the package directions.

    While the pasta cooks, you’ll want to make the pink sauce.

    Start by adding the tomato paste and garlic to a saute pan over medium heat.  Cook the tomato paste with the garlic for a minute or two.

    tomato paste and garlic cube in a pan

    Then add the two cans of tomato sauce.  Let that cook for 2-3 minutes while you stir the tomato paste and garlic mixture into it, before adding the heavy cream to the pan.  

    heavy cream swirled into a pasta sauce in a pan

    Bring the mixture to a low boil and then turn off the heat.  Stir in the Parmesan cheese until full melted into the sauce, then return the pan to the stove. Add salt to taste. Return the pan to the stove over low heat, add in the butter and let melt, then stir until fully incorporated.  

    You can either dump the pasta into this sauce and toss together before moving to a serving dish, or for pickier eaters, serve the sauce and pasta separately for people to serve themselves.

    Tips and Tricks:

    • You can make this into an even more complete meal by adding a protein or a lots of veggies to the dish.  Think about pan fried sausage, rotisserie chicken, broccoli or peas.
    • I suggest serving this with a simple green salad, or a caprese salad and some crusty bread.  I’ve been making my own sourdough loaves for the last year or so and loving it. You could use any baguette, ciabatta or rustic artisan bread you like though.
    • You can easily substitute the heavy cream in this recipe.  I’ve used whole milk successfully as well as plant based milks.
    pink sauce pasta plated for dinner

    Looking for other simple pasta recipes? Check these out!

    • one pan fettuccine alfredo
    • pasta pangratatto
    • one pan tomato basil pasta
    pink sauce pasta in a bowl

    Pink Sauce Pasta

    Marni Katz
    Pink sauce pasta is the perfect way to get dinner on the table in under 30 minutes.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 358 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 16 oz dried penne pasta
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 1 teaspoon grated garlic or one frozen garlic cube
    • 2 15 oz cans tomato sauce
    • 1 cup heavy cream (or alternative milk)
    • ½ teaspoon sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese (plus more for topping if desired)
    • 1 tablespoon butter

    Instructions
     

    • bring a pot of water to boil and cook the pasta as the directions state on the package
    • to a large straight sided saute pan, add the tomato paste and garlic and cook for about 2 minutes over medium heat
    • add the tomato sauce and stir for another 2-3 minutes
    • add the sugar and mix in
    • add the heavy cream and stir together, let come just to a boil
    • add the salt, then take off the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese
    • return to the stove over low heat and add the butter, stirring until melted
    • once melted, turn off the heat and serve over the pasta!

    Notes

    I suggest using penne pasta, but you can also use any other tubular pasta.  Stay away from flat pastas like farfalle or tiny pastas like elbows, because the pasta sauce will just fall off.
    If you want to make this sauce in advance, you can.  Store just the sauce in a glass jar, then warm through when ready to serve.  I don't suggest mixing the pasta and the sauce until you are ready to serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 358kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 10gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 568mgPotassium: 389mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 830IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 75mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword easy pasta recipe, easy weeknight dinner, homemade pasta sauce, pink sauce
    Tried this recipe?Let me know what you think!
    pin for pinterest

    Want to make these now?  Are you missing some ingredients? Amazon Now can get them to you in a few hours,  Instacart can get them to you today.  Or add them to your Peapod grocery list and don't be stuck without them again!  

    « Simple Sesame Ginger Salmon
    How to Roast Broccoli - A Simple Guide »

    About Marni Katz

    Marni Katz is the recipe developer, photographer and writer behind Simple Gray T-Shirt. She wants to help people keep things simple in the kitchen. With simple recipes, easy menu ideas and plenty of tips and tricks along the way, she wants getting a meal on the table to be as simple as putting on your favorite gray tee!
    "I want to inspire you to get back in the kitchen and do this, because you can!"

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. CJ Gaudette

      September 18, 2020 at 7:32 pm

      Oh this sauce was so good! I added chicken to the recipe, by adding olive oil and cooking chicken breast strips and seasoned them with Italian seasoning. Then I deglazed the pan with a half cup of red wine before continuing with the recipe. When the sauce was done I cut up the chicken and added back into the sauce and then added cooked rigatoni. It was absolutely scrumptious! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Marni Katz

        September 21, 2020 at 10:17 am

        I'm so glad you liked it AND added what worked for your family! I love when people adapt simple recipes to work even better for them!

        Reply
    2. Hossain hridoy

      July 24, 2020 at 7:15 pm

      Wow good recepi

      Reply

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