40 Fantastic Ideas For Pasta Sauces

Pasta is a staple food that can become the base of several quick-and-easy recipes. It cooks very quickly, and tastes great when paired with a delicious, homemade sauce.

When we think of pasta sauces, the same old ones tend to come to mind: marinara, carbonara, ragù… while these are all delicious, they can get pretty boring after a while, especially if you buy them premade.

In this article, we have listed 40 delicious pasta sauce recipes; some that you have heard of, and some that you may not have heard of before. They are filled with many different ingredients, and all taste great!

So, if you’re bored with using the same jars of pasta over and over again, you have come to the right place.

Here are 40 fantastic ideas for pasta sauces.

1. Marinara Sauce

This relatively straightforward but incredibly tasty tomato-based sauce should be well-known to any pasta lover.

You only need a handful of ingredients to prepare this sauce: tomatoes, olive oil, some veggies, and a sprinkling of oregano.

You’ll adore how the herbs cover up the tinned tomatoes to produce a mouthwatering dish that you won’t be able to resist.

2. Carbonara Sauce

One of Italy’s most well-known sauces, carbonara, also seems to be among the fastest to prepare, as well as including some of the cheapest ingredients.

Pork, eggs, and cheese are all blended into a buttery mixture that gives the pasta its flawlessly silky texture. 

You will need to develop the ability to incorporate the eggs into the sauce without scrambling them, though. For novices, it could take some time!

3. Bolognese Sauce

Similar to traditional marinara sauce, bolognese is a traditional pasta sauce made with ground beef in a tomato-based sauce, along with extra chopped vegetables for flavor.

The marriage of tomato sauce and ground beef is extremely delicious. Additionally, a small amount of wine is used in this version, which offers the sauce a much richer flavor.

Any variety of pasta will go well with this bolognese sauce, which is best served with a sprinkle of Parmesan and some flavorful garlic bread.

4. Alfredo Sauce

Nothing compares to the traditional Alfredo sauce when it comes to cheesy tastes. 

This white sauce with a cream base is oozing with creaminess and delicacy.

This recipe for Alfredo sauce undoubtedly strikes your taste buds with a delicious explosion of flavorful bliss.

5. Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce

Similar to the previous Alfredo recipe, this version is also thick, velvety, and delicious, all while being low-carb, dairy-free, and nutritious.

It’s so delectable that you might be surprised to learn that it doesn’t contain heavy cream. This cauliflower Alfredo sauce is simply puréed with some garlic, olive oil, cream, and mozzarella.

When you’re trying to stick to a diet, this is the ideal, nutritious substitute for traditional Alfredo.

6. Ragù Sauce

Next, we have a straightforward and flavorful recipe for a traditional Italian beef ragù. While this sauce may seem similar to bolognese, it is different, yet tastes just as delicious.

There are numerous uses for this versatile ground beef ragù, which is created with just a few basic ingredients.

For a fully immersive, traditional Italian dish, combine the sauce with some freshly cooked tagliatelle pasta, béchamel sauce, or as the filling for handmade ravioli.

7. Mac And Cheese Sauce

This dish is ideal for anyone who enjoys cheese and macaroni, whether you make it on the stove or in the oven.

This mac and cheese sauce is velvety smooth and delectable, and is made with a handful of basic ingredients, like a mac and cheese mix, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper.

All in all, this recipe only calls for 7 basic ingredients, and it takes less than 15 minutes to prepare the sauce.

8. Tuscan Pomarola Tomato Sauce

Fresh tomato pasta sauce from Tuscany is known as pomarola. To create a genuine Italian supper, you should serve it with pasta mista.

Pasta mista was once thought to be a dish for poorer people as it was produced from leftover pasta remnants, and marketed at a considerably lower price. It is a widely used pasta sauce in modern times.

Your pasta mista will look elegant and taste luxurious when it is covered in flavorful pomarola, completed with pecorino cheese.

9. Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce

Cream cheese is a pasta sauce staple that is always a success. To put it mildly, this sauce is velvety and smooth, and when paired with your preferred pasta, it creates a dish that is incredibly filling and hearty.

The combination will cause your mouth to explode with flavor when you add some Parmesan and garlic olive oil.

Furthermore, considering that it only takes 10 minutes to prepare, it’s a great weekday dinner option.

10. Fra Diavolo Sauce

Search no further than this dish if you desire a little spiciness in your pasta sauce.

The tomato-based sauce called Fra Diavolo, or ‘the brother devil’, is rendered even spicier by incorporating chili flakes. It goes well with seafood in addition to pasta.

For a flavorful lunch, apply this hot sauce over a bowl of your preferred pasta, and add some shrimp to the mix.

11. Tomato Carbonara Sauce

This time, we’ll combine two of the most popular pasta sauces in the world—tomato and carbonara—in this recipe.

To prepare this sauce, you just make a standard carbonara sauce, but you also add some tomatoes for a tangy, sweet touch.

By using pancetta for the bacon in this decadent pasta meal, you can give it a more Italian flair. Cherry tomatoes also lend a burst of colorful, summery vibes.

12. Eggplant And Tomato Sauce

On top of a pile of pasta, chopped eggplant is roasted with tomatoes and garlic to create this delicious, vegetarian dish.

It’s simply reviving to combine tender, meaty eggplant with olive oil and juicy, luscious tomatoes.

Even though it only requires five ingredients, and takes 30 minutes to prepare, this pasta dish will undoubtedly delight and astound you and your household.

13. Chicken Fajita Pasta Sauce

With a 20-minute preparation time, this spicy spaghetti sauce is a fantastic addition to your weekday routine.

Before the vegetables are added and briefly fried, the chicken is first roasted until crisp and juicy in a mixture of fajita spices. Add some pasta and cheese, and you’re on a roll. 

The cheese and cream combine with the fajita ingredients to create an outrageously delicious flavor combination.

14. Artichoke Pasta Sauce

The flavor of this pasta sauce is particularly exceptional due to the unusual blend of artichokes, Parmesan, and garlic.

This sauce works amazingly when you add in olive oil, lemon, and some seasoning for additional flavoring.

This sauce is so tasty and robust that it can be presented as a substantial dinner, in addition to making the ideal side dish when poured over the top of a bowl of pasta.

15. Pistachio Pesto Pasta Sauce

You will adore this pasta sauce if you enjoy traditional pesto. This sauce uses pistachios rather than the traditional pine nuts, creating a unique flavor.

The green vegetables in your refrigerator might be used up in no time at all when creating this creamy, rich sauce.

Pistachios combine to make a flavorful pesto sauce along with leafy greens, garlic, and pinch of Parmesan.

16. Tuna Pasta Sauce

Depending on who you are, and what your personal tastes are, you may either love or hate tuna. And, you may have your own opinion on whether it goes well with pasta.

We say that tuna absolutely goes well with pasta, and it tastes absolutely amazing in this pasta sauce, along with chili flakes, garlic, ginger, and some creamed tomatoes.

This tuna-filled pasta sauce is filling, light, and full of all the nutrients that come with seafood, such as Omega-3.

17. Kale Pasta Sauce

You should absolutely include the antioxidant kale in your diet, and it can be made into a gorgeous sauce with just a few components.

Kale greens, olive oil, garlic, and more are all ingredients in this recipe. With just about any pasta, this mixture yields a deliciously silky, rustic sauce.

It’s a tasty and enjoyable way to include more greens in your regimen and stay healthy.

18. Roasted Red Pepper Marinara Sauce

By including flavorful red peppers, this dish takes the traditional marinara to an entirely new level of pleasure.

Instead of using tomatoes, roasted red peppers produce an even richer and more potent marinara flavor. Red peppers produce a sauce that is far more flavorful than tomatoes, since they have a richer and warmer taste.

This sauce can be used as a dipping sauce in addition to being delicious on pasta.

19. Cheesy Garlic White Cream Pasta Sauce

Pasta and cheese have been a classic pairing ever since. With this dish, you won’t just use one kind of cheese—you’ll use four.

You will undoubtedly become obsessed with the light flavors of cream, olive oil, butter, and garlic combined.

The sauce becomes richer and more savory than before, thanks to the addition of a blend of the four cheeses: cheddar, mozzarella, provolone, and Asiago cheese.

20. Spinach Spaghetti Sauce

This deliciously garlicky spinach-packed sauce is a fantastic veggie sauce that even primarily meat eaters will adore.

All the recipe requires is a purée of spinach leaves, garlic, cheese, and olive oil. It’s amazing how such a handful of straightforward ingredients can produce such complex sensations.

Both as a spaghetti sauce and as a condiment for fish dishes, it excels greatly. Give it a try!

21. Pizza Pasta Sauce

Do you love pizza? Do you love pasta? If you said ‘yes’ to both questions, then there is no doubt that you are going to fall in love with this next entry.

This sauce, which is packed with mozzarella, pepperoni, fresh basil, and tomatoes, is guaranteed to please everyone.

You could even replace the pepperoni with your own favorite ‘toppings’. Why not try mixing in some mushrooms, ham and pineapple, or even some olives? Get creative with this recipe!

22. Truffle Cream Sauce

Take this as a cue to try truffles if you haven’t already. Italian truffles are combined with cream, Parmigiano cheese, and butter to make this delectable sauce.

While creamy white sauces are all the rage in pasta dishes, this one takes its flavors to the next level.

The savory tone of truffles is so intensely rich and pungent. Trust us, this degree of sweetness is unmatched anyplace else. 

23. Zucchini Pasta Sauce

Because it’s simple to make, incredibly creamy, and really tasty, this zucchini pasta sauce is the ideal way to use up your summer zucchini produce.

On your tongue, the zucchini immediately melts. Butter, garlic, onions, and zucchini make a delicious combination. This is a straightforward pasta dish for sunny evenings.

You may substitute some spiralized zucchini for the spaghetti to add even more healthful goodness.

24. Ratatouille Pasta Sauce

Nothing screams ‘summertime’ like a steaming bowl of ratatouille, and surprisingly, it tastes even better mixed into a bowl of pasta.

You’ll get a sticky sauce by boiling the vegetables in this recipe until they’re just beginning to fall apart. This sauce virtually demands to be combined with pasta to create an amazing veggie option.

If making pasta isn’t on the cards, simply halt the process before starting the spaghetti to boil, and serve the ratatouille with a salad or slow-roasted seafood instead.

25. Garlic Butter Caper Sauce

This dish uses butter and garlic to create a ridiculously fragrant sauce that will cause the cook to salivate just from the smell of it.

The capers provide even more wonderful flavor to this dish. These olive-like pods with their briny, lemony notes go perfectly with the creamy garlic sauce.

This exquisite sauce is completely out of this world, especially when served over pasta, and it will keep you coming back for more.

26. Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce

Everybody’s favorite pasta sauce flavors, pesto and tomatoes, are combined in this sauce.

Such a delight are sun-dried tomatoes, which are delicate and gooey, rich with a hint of acidity, and just utterly amazing. These components form a ridiculously delicious sauce when combined with basil.

This sauce is just nice and thick, sweet and flavorful, and actually quite filling, making it great as a pasta sauce.

27. White Pesto Pasta Sauce

Have you ever tried a white pesto pasta sauce? If not, you should absolutely check out this recipe.

In this take on the traditional recipe, walnuts, oregano, lemon juice, olive oil, and cheese are all included.

Ricotta and Parmesan are combined in this sauce, which is positively gooey and scrumptious. It’s the incredible pesto and Alfredo combination that we all deserve, but didn’t even realize we wanted.

28. Blue Cheese Pasta Sauce

Although blue cheese takes some getting used to, once you do, you won’t be able to stop eating it.

This moldy cheese’s pungent aroma is combined with butter and parsley in this spaghetti sauce. Even though there are only three ingredients required, it will simply blast your senses aside.

Its rich, creamy, and silky flavors make it the sauce of a blue cheese fan’s fantasies.

29. Mascarpone And Lemon Pasta Sauce

Mascarpone and lemon combine to create a flavorful yet delicate pasta sauce that you are unlikely to forget.

You’ll adore how this sauce is so luscious without being overly rich. This sauce’s consistency is achieved by the lemon juice’s acidic and zingy counterpoint to the velvety cream cheese.

Fresh herbs give the dish a lovely, subtle balance of flavor that ties everything together.

30. Penne alla Vodka Sauce

Fresh tomatoes and alcohol, especially vodka, work well together to bring out the best in each other’s flavors.

At its core, this sauce contains the usual tomatoes, fresh herbs, and Parmesan; nevertheless, vodka elevates its flavor even more.

Although you won’t be able to taste the booze in this dish, you can expect a delicious sauce with a substantially richer aroma than your typical tomato-based sauce.

31. Garlic Spaghetti Sauce

This garlic spaghetti sauce, also known as aglio olio, is a straightforward mixture of olive oil, garlic, green herbs, and Parmesan.

The olive oil, butter, and garlic give the sauce its peppery flavor while also making it extremely rich. Basil’s earthy flavor balances the richness, while Parmesan gives a delicious depth of nuttiness.

If you’re a lover of garlic, cheese, and pasta, you are going to fall in love with this recipe.

32. Tomato Fennel Pasta Sauce

Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, herbs, and spices are combined with fennel, tomatoes, and some veggies. The tastes are then enhanced by roasting them together, resulting in a wonderful, luscious combination.

The recipe makes a thick, chunky sauce, but if you want, you can promptly purée it, or add a little water, to make it smoother and thinner.

This is a vibrant and energizing sauce that will elevate any pasta dish or hearty dinner.

33. Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

This pumpkin sauce, which is seasoned with all sorts of autumnal spices, tastes exactly like fall in a bowl.

You have to try this sauce if you enjoy everything that is both sweet and savory. Particularly during the winter months, it is wonderfully cozy and soothing.

This sauce gets its smoothness and depth from the mix of pumpkin and reduced-fat cream cheese without having to consume a great deal of calories.

34. Walnut Pasta Sauce

Although pesto with basil may be the most common kind of pesto, have you ever tried it made with walnuts?

To give the recipe its thick, pesto-like viscosity, milk-soaked bread is blended into the concoction.

It is unquestionably smoother, softer, and earthier than its predecessor, made with crushed walnuts, Parmesan, garlic, olive oil, and milk. If you don’t trust us, you should give it a try!

35. Cheeseburger Pasta Sauce

In this recipe, we’re doing it again: taking a beloved family dish and transforming it into a delicious pasta sauce that everyone will adore.

This pasta dish’s rich flavors and soothing warmth transcend its modest components. Although meat, tomatoes, and cheese go well together, did you know they also produce a fantastic pasta sauce?

It is important to take the time to thoroughly brown the ground beef and cook the tomato paste because it makes a significant impact.

36. Beet Pasta Sauce

Although the combination of beetroot, cheese, walnuts, and lemon juice for a pasta sauce may seem weird, we assure you that you will adore it.

This distinctive sauce is a rich and velvety, and is a shade of purple-pink. It just has the right flavor, and isn’t too overbearing.

Your friends will definitely beg you for the recipe if you bring this to the next gathering. It nearly looks too delicious to eat!

37. Asiago Cheese Sauce

This is a straightforward mixture of milk and Asiago that has been thickened with flour and seasoned with your preferred seasonings.

The end product is a thick, silky sauce that perfectly balances the earthy flavors of the spices with the richness of the Asiago.

It works well with various foods in addition to pasta. For a more delicious supper, drizzle this beauty over roasted meats or grilled vegetables.

38. Burst Cherry Tomato Sauce

Use up all of those lovely cherry tomatoes you get in the summertime by making this dish. This recipe is incredibly yummy and couldn’t be any easier to make.

There are only three ingredients used to flavor the tomatoes: basil, garlic, and olive oil. The outcome is extraordinarily fantastic.

Combining the ingredients and cooking together will take you less than an hour altogether. What are you waiting for?

39. Puréed Pea Pasta Sauce

You can make some bland, puréed peas into a delectable sauce by adding a few toppings and seasonings.

With the help of roasted garlic, lemon, and mint, puréed green peas are given a thousand-fold taste boost in this dish.

Your pasta dish is finished by adding some freshly grated Pecorino Romano for some rich, added flavor.

40. Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce

This spaghetti sauce is the pinnacle of autumnal comfort food, made with butternut squash, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a sprinkle of herbs.

Baked butternut squash, fragrant rosemary, and comforting spices make an amazing combo. It becomes even more absurdly creamy and dense when crème fraiche is added.

The best part? This dish is suitable for vegetarians, meaning that everyone can enjoy a soothing bowl of this delicious pasta.

Can I Use Grapefruit in Pasta Sauce Recipes?

Grapefruit may not be a common ingredient in pasta sauce recipes, but it can add a unique twist to your dishes. Consider trying out delicious grapefruit recipes that infuse the tangy citrus flavor into a savory pasta sauce. The zesty notes from grapefruit can provide a refreshing contrast to other ingredients, making your pasta sauce one-of-a-kind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a fan of creamy, cheesy sauces, or you prefer to stick with tomato-based condiments, there is something for everyone in our list above. 

We included the classics, such as marinara and bolognese, but we have also added 38 other tasty recipes that will take your pasta dishes to the next level. 

Take a look through each recipe, and check out which ones include ingredients that you already have at home. Then, you can get cooking immediately!

We hope you found this article helpful.

Happy cooking!