This Italian Pink Sauce combines red tomato sauce with heavy cream to create the most luscious rose pasta sauce! Toss it with your favorite pasta for the perfect 20-minute dinner.
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This pink sauce pasta recipe is a mix of a sharp tomato sauce and rich cream sauce, blending to become perfectly balanced. A simple creamy tomato sauce made with a few ingredients you can whip up and enjoy with any type of pasta.
If you've tried my pasta recipes, you know I love this carb-rich comfort food. It's quick, easy, and satisfies everyone. Just like my creamy tomato and spinach pasta and classic lasagna, this Italian Pink Sauce is made with simple ingredients and is guaranteed to become a new family favorite.
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Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Homemade pasta sauce in 20 minutes! Store-bought pasta and pizza sauces are very convenient when making things like Air Fryer Pizza Rolls and easy No-Boil Pasta Bake, but making a homemade version is extra satisfying. If you haven't already, try my Authentic Italian Pasta Sauce Recipe! It is my Nonna's recipe and a personal favorite.
- Meal prep-friendly. Homemade sauce makes amazing leftovers. Make a batch on Sunday and enjoy it for lunch all week long. Try adding this easy Italian Sausage and Vegetable Sheet Pan Dinner into the dinner rotation, too.
- Pairs well with protein and veggies. Make this creamy tomato sauce pasta your own by adding your favorite protein and/or vegetables.
Ingredients
- Tomato sauce and tomato paste. Instead of using jarred marinara sauce, we are combining tomato sauce and tomato paste to make our own easy, homemade Italian pasta sauce. Adding tomato paste is essential to allow the sauce to develop a deep, rich flavor.
- Heavy cream. This is what gives it the pink hue and creamy texture! Adding heavy cream to the homemade tomato sauce will turn it into a beautiful blush color.
- Onion and garlic. Cooking with fresh onion and garlic is the easiest way to make your homemade tomato sauce taste restaurant-worthy.
See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Replace the heavy cream with ¾ cup full-fat coconut milk or ½ cup half and half mixed with ¼ cup unsalted butter. Avoid using less-fat milk.
- Out of tomato sauce? Try tomato puree or mix tomato paste with water to create a tomato sauce. Tomato puree will be a bit thicker and create a more deep tomato-flavored sauce but it will work in a pinch. Check out these tomato sauce substitutes.
- Stir in ¼-1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes for some heat.
Instructions
Step 1
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.
Step 2
Lower the heat to medium, then stir in the tomato paste, tomato sauce, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
Step 3
Pour in the cream, stir to combine and cook the sauce for another 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and serve with your favorite pasta, parmesan cheese, and chopped fresh basil.
Recipe FAQs
This tomato cream sauce gets the name pink, or rosa, due to its pink color. To make it, you simply mix tomato sauce with heavy cream to turn the sauce a pink, "rosa" color.
No, the main difference between the two is the inclusion of vodka. Pink sauce does not have a vodka base.
Yes, if you simmer pasta sauce for too long, particularly at high temperatures, it can turn bitter. For best results, avoid using high heat to make your pink sauce.
Sarah's Top Tips
- Keep the heat low! This will help avoid splatter and avoid overcooking the sauce.
- Cooked pasta should have a little bite to it and not be cooked over al dente.
- Change up the spice level by adding more Calabrian chili paste or even top the pasta with red pepper flakes.
- Reserve some pasta water to thin out your sauce if needed.
- Season to taste. If you use tomato sauce with added salt, you may need to adjust the amount of salt called for. Remember you can always add more, you can't take away.
Serving
This easy pink sauce can be served as is with your favorite pasta or add a protein such as pan-seared shrimp, grilled chicken or sausage.
Storage & Reheating
This sauce will last in the fridge for about 5 days. Ensure you allow the sauce to cool completely before putting it in the fridge. Store in an airtight container. Check out my top tips for storing spaghetti.
Freeze the sauce in a freezer-safe container or storage bag for up to 3 months. Allow it to defrost in the fridge then reheat it on the stove or microwave.
More Pasta Recipes You'll Love
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Italian Pink Sauce
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce, no salt added
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
- Parmesan for serving
- Basil for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Turn the heat to medium, add in the tomato paste, tomato sauce, salt and pepper and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Pour in the cream and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and serve with your favorite pasta.
- Top with Parmesan cheese and chopped basil.
Sarah's Tips
- Keep the heat low! This will help avoid splatter and avoid overcooking the sauce.
- Cooked pasta should have a little bite to it and not be cooked over al dente.
- Change up the spice level by adding more Calabrian chili paste or even top the pasta with red pepper flakes.
- Reserve some pasta water to thin out your sauce if needed.
- Season to taste. If you use tomato sauce with added salt, you may need to adjust the amount of salt called for. Remember you can always add more, you can't take away.
- This sauce will last in the fridge for about 5 days. Ensure you allow the sauce to cool completely before putting it in the fridge. Store in an airtight container. Check out my top tips for storing spaghetti.
- Freeze the sauce in a freezer-safe container or storage bag for up to 3 months. Allow it to defrost in the fridge then reheat it on the stove or microwave.
KITCHEN TOOLS NEEDED
- Cutting board
- Garlic press
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