Our 31 Favorite Sauce Recipes for Pasta

They're Anything but Boring

Have you been staring at that box of pasta in your pantry, uninspired? You already know there is nearly a limitless number of options of what sauce to pair with it, but perhaps you just need something to stoke your creative culinary fire. This round-up will help you end the pasta box fixture in your pantry, once and for all.

• Sage Brown Butter

  

  Sage brown butter sauce will transform any pasta into a sophisticated dish. Its pourable texture makes it a great fit for more delicate pastas like capellini or spaghetti. 

• Classic Bolognese

  

  The classic Bolognese adds a touch of red wine and crushed tomatoes for a hearty dinner option. This recipe also contains several lovely suggestions on how to tailor it to your tastes, like adding minced chicken livers or ladling the sauce over gnocchi, instead of pasta.

• Mascarpone and Gorgonzola Cheese Sauce

  

  This Mascarpone and Gorgonzola cheese sauce uses mascarpone as a buttery base that sets off the pungent taste of Gorgonzola. Because this sauce is so simple, you’ll want to ensure you buy quality cheeses. Look for a Mascarpone made with a higher proportion of cream-to-milk to help maintain this sauce’s texture.

• Wild Mushroom Sauce

  

  Mushrooms are so diverse in color, flavor, and texture that they can lift you out of any cooking rut. This wild mushroom sauce includes porcini, a variety that’s both nutty and savory. 

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• Raw Vegan Alfredo

  

  As much as we love cheese, we also love incorporating more plant foods into our diet. This raw vegan alfredo is superb, so you won’t miss a thing about the original alfredo. 

• Classic Basil Pesto

  

  Basil pesto is so good we could eat it off a spoon. But of course, that’s not necessary when you have plenty of beautiful pastas, breads, and vegetables to pair it with. This is a classic recipe but if you’d like something unconventional, try this spring herb pesto. 

• Vegan Pesto

  

  If you love pesto but you’re interested in nixing dairy, the nutritional yeast used in this vegan pesto is both healthy and marvelously cheesy in flavor. 

• Fennel and Fennel Seed Pasta

  

  With its fresh flavor and crisp aroma, fennel and fennel seed pasta is a delicious departure from the usual sauce routine. This recipe is also dairy-free, so it’s great for both vegans and those looking for a lighter pasta dish.

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• Butternut Squash Ravioli With White Wine Sauce

  

  The key to the sauce in this recipe is to add the chopped sage last so its flavor stays fresh. Ladle it over top a bed of fettuccine, or a crisp and juicy roasted chicken. It’s a lovely entrée for a small dinner party.

• Creamy Spaghetti Carbonara

  

  Classic carbonara sauce uses egg yolks, bacon, and a shower of pecorino-romano cheese. This cheese is made from sheep’s milk which has a higher butterfat content than cow’s milk, so it imparts a silky, yet subtle “oomph” to the dish.

• Ragù di Carne

  

  Tuscan cuisine is simple in approach but complex in flavor. This Tuscan ragù di carne also includes a few optional ingredients like tamari and Worcestershire sauce to increase its savoriness. If this appeals, you can also experiment with miso paste, minced olives, or even marmite.

• Vegan Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

  

  This vegan pumpkin pasta sauce is delicious and great to make for a family meal since it blends together in under half an hour.

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• Penne all'Arrabbiata

  

  All’arrabbiata translates to “angry” in Italian and this sauce backs up its claims. Tomatoes and chilis impart an acidic and spicy flair, though you can always adjust the recipe to fit your taste. 

• Classic Tomato Sauce

  

  Basic tomato sauce is a timeless Italian food. You can put your spin on this recipe by swapping in fresh herbs or by playing with both chunky and smooth textures. 

• Red Pesto Pasta

  

  Sundried tomatoes are tart, meaty and oh-so-perfect in this red pesto recipe. You can also have fun tweaking proportions or using roasted garlic instead of fresh. 

• Walnut Sauce

  

  Walnut sauce is a unique complement to a variety of pasta or gnocchi dishes. As with all nuts, the fresher the better, so try to buy your walnuts in the shell before making this recipe.

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• Lobster Sauce

  

  Certain occasions call for something both decadent and comforting. Enter lobster sauce, a true labor of love that’s worth the effort. This recipe calls for either New England or spiny lobsters, the latter of which has more meat.

• Squid Ink Sauce and Pasta

  

  The squid ink in this recipe not only provides a unique color but a slightly briny taste, as well. If you’re interested in buying the freshest, most sustainably sourced squid, either check online when it’s in-season for your area or speak with your local seller.

• Eggplant and Sausage Pasta Sauce

  

  This eggplant and sausage pasta sauce is chunky and satisfying. Aside from pasta, enjoy it atop grilled portobello mushrooms or slices of roasted eggplant. 

• Zesty Italian Sausage Pasta Sauce

  

  This zesty Italian sausage sauce has a hint of licorice flavor, thanks to the fennel seed that’s traditionally stuffed into Italian sausage. That said, you can easily swap in almost any sausage variety, based on your preferences.

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• Uruguayan Pasta With Caruso Sauce

  

  Uruguayan cuisine is a combination of both South American and European cooking traditions. This recipe for Caruso sauce melds cream, ham, and mushrooms for a tasty topping on pasta or sautéed greens. 

• Penne all'Amatriciana

  

  Penne all’Amatriciana is an iconic dish from Amitrice, Italy that includes pork cheek, which turns tender and delicious when simmered. You can hunt for either cured or smoked varieties, which will change the flavor of your sauce, accordingly.

• Chickpea Pasta

  

  Chickpeas make for a lovely pasta sauce, believe it or not. If you want to add a bit of crunch, roast some additional chickpeas and crumble them over-top the finished dish.

• Four Cheese Pasta Sauce

  

  This four cheese pasta sauce will coat your pasta dish in a luxuriously creamy coat. If you’re curious to swap out one of the cheeses in this recipe, first read up on how to effectively substitute cheeses.

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• Greek Yogurt Pasta Sauce

  

  Greek yogurt is high in protein, tangy in flavor, and thick in texture. It’s also the star ingredient this sauce, which is a lighter version of a classic Alfredo. It whips together in under 30 minutes, so it’s great to make in batches and use throughout the week.

• Creamy Tomato Pasta Sauce

  

  This creamy tomato sauce uses cream cheese for a velvety texture and a zip of flavor. Sure it’s not quite authentic, but it’s delectable regardless. 

• Vegan Mushroom Cream Sauce

  

  This vegan mushroom cream sauce is delicious just the way it is, but you can also tailor it to your tastes. Try using silken tofu instead of soymilk if you’d like extra protein, or swap the margarine with olive oil for a more complex flavor. 

• White Clam Sauce

  

  The flavors in this simple white clam sauce speak for themselves. Pair it with a thin pasta noodle and a white wine for an uncomplicated and delicious meal.

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• Vegan Pasta Puttanesca Sauce

  

  This vegan pasta puttanesca sauce is briny and satisfying, thanks to its kalamata olives. That said there are plenty of olive varieties, so be our guest, and experiment!

• Instant Pot Bolognese

  

  This Instant Pot Bolognese adds a touch of milk for a luxurious mouthfeel. Don’t have an Instant Pot? Don’t worry, any pressure cooker will do.

• Tahini Noodles

  

  This tahini sauce is inspired by Asian cuisine, featuring grated ginger and a touch of honey. Ladle it over spaghetti, rice noodles, or even buckwheat pasta.