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Creamy 30-Minute Pink Sauce Pasta

A close-up of penne pasta generously coated in creamy pink sauce pasta, topped with black pepper.
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Make restaurant-style pink sauce pasta quickly. This recipe blends marinara and cream for a velvety tomato cream pasta ready for your weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes or marinara sauce
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh basil for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and chopped onion. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the onion softens and the garlic is fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
  3. Pour in the crushed tomatoes or marinara sauce. Stir in the dried oregano and red pepper flakes, if using. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to combine.
  4. Reduce the heat to low. Slowly stir in the heavy cream until the sauce turns a uniform pink color. Continue to stir until the sauce is heated through but not boiling.
  5. Add the grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce, stirring constantly until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens slightly.
  6. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water to the sauce. Stir well; this helps the sauce cling to the pasta and creates a velvety texture. Add more pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, if the sauce seems too thick.
  7. Add the cooked, drained pasta directly to the skillet with the pink sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated. Season with salt and black pepper to your taste.
  8. Serve the pink sauce pasta immediately, topped with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, use high-quality crushed San Marzano tomatoes.
  • If you want to add protein, cook 1 pound of diced chicken breast separately and stir it into the sauce when you add the pasta.
  • This creamy pasta sauce freezes well; cool completely before storing in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://chefsily.com/pink-sauce-pasta-recipe-creamy-tomato/