30 Best Pasta Sauce Recipes

These pasta sauce recipes are for all my pasta lovers out there. They can help you elevate your already spectacular pasta game.

If your family is anything like mine, you guys have some form of pasta at least once or twice a week.

And that’s okay! Who doesn’t love pasta?!

30 Delicious Homemade Pasta Sauces for Dinner

Whether spaghetti, fettuccine, or something else, pasta recipes satisfy everyone.

Still, if you really want to blow their minds, add a homemade pasta sauce to your meal.

Trust me on this one. These pasta sauce recipes can transform any dish into an authentic Italian dinner.

1. Marinara Sauce 

Let’s start with the basics, shall we? If you consider yourself a pasta aficionado, you’d better have a recipe for marinara in your repertoire.

This recipe is excellent and requires only five ingredients.

It’s a super simple sauce that’s absolutely packed with flavor. You’ll love how the aromatics and seasonings mask the canned flavor of the tomatoes.

2. Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce 

Butternut squash with cinnamon, nutmeg, and rosemary: Why hello, Autumn! This pasta sauce is fall comfort food at its finest.

The sweet and smoky roasted squash, earthy rosemary, and warming spices are truly spectacular.

The addition of creme fraiche makes it even more ridiculously thick and creamy.

It’s so good that it’s worthy of a special occasion. But it’s also easy enough to make any day of the week.

3. Alfredo Sauce 

When it comes to pasta sauce recipes, nothing beats the classic Alfredo sauce. It’s a white, cream-based sauce packed with richness and creaminess!

Made with heavy cream, butter, cheese, and seasonings, Alfredo is simply delicious. 

It’ll hit your tastebuds with a wonderful explosion of umami goodness. It’s a sure hit with both kids and kids at heart. 

Fair warning: Make it from scratch once, and you’ll never return to store-bought.

4. Aglio e Olio

Aglio e olio is a simple but delicious sauce of olive oil, garlic, parsley, and red chili pepper flakes.

It’s primarily colorless. The only things that give it away are the flecks of parsley and chili flakes and a shiny sheen on your noodles.

What it lacks in color, though, it makes up for in flavor. Frankly, it’s drool-worthy.

5. Bolognese Sauce 

Looking for a pasta dinner that’s as authentic as it is delicious? Bolognese is just the thing.

A traditional sauce of ground meat and tomatoes, it’s similar to classic spaghetti sauce.

However, Bolognese also contains celery and carrots for added flavor. The recipe has a bit of wine, too, giving the sauce an even deeper flavor.

It’s perfect with any type of pasta, from penne to pappardelle to ziti.

6. Green Pea Pasta Sauce  

Pureed vegetables, on their own, aren’t exactly the most appetizing thing.

However, you can always transform something boring into a mouthwatering sauce. All you’ll need are a few garnishes and seasonings.

In this recipe, roasted garlic, lemon, and mint zhuzh up plain old pureed green peas. It makes them taste about 1,000 times better.

Especially when you mix the sauce with freshly grated Pecorino Romano.

7. Arrabbiata Sauce

I love copycat recipes — especially ones as fragrant, flavorful, and spicy as this one. 

This vibrant red pasta sauce is supremely garlicky, with a nice kick from the red pepper flakes. 

It tastes just like Rao’s arrabbiata but has the added benefit of being homemade (and budget-friendly!). 

8. Vodka Sauce  

This sauce has the typical tomatoes, fresh herbs, and parmesan at its base. You’ll simply use vodka to make it even more scrumptious.

If you think alcohol won’t do much for pasta sauce recipes, think again.

Try this same recipe with the vodka and then without it. The vodka provides a noticeably deeper flavor. It elevates the sauce to a whole new level.

9. Burst Cherry Tomato Sauce  

Here’s another tomato-based sauce for you. It’s the perfect way to use up all of those sweet cherry tomatoes you have in the summer.

This recipe couldn’t be simpler. Luckily, it’s also ridiculously tasty.

You’ll flavor the tomatoes with just three ingredients – olive oil, basil, and garlic. Yet somehow, the result is out-of-this-world phenomenal.

And the best part? It’ll only take you 30 minutes to make!

10. Pistachio Pesto Pasta Sauce 

If you love regular pesto, you’ll fall hard for this one. Instead of the usual pine nuts, this pesto sauce uses pistachios.

It’s richer, nuttier, creamier, and just plain better.

Along with mixed greens and a few other things, pistachios make a tasty pesto with a truly unique flavor.

It’s sinful yet healthy at the same time. I can’t get enough!

11. Mac and Cheese Sauce 

If you have kids, mac and cheese is always an excellent choice for an easy weeknight dinner. Seriously, who DOESN’T love mac and cheese?

But don’t reach for that blue box next time. Instead, use this recipe to make THE BEST homemade mac and cheese sauce EVER.

No. Really. I’m serious. Try it. It’ll make your knees go weak.

12. Spinach Sauce 

This spaghetti spinach sauce is creamy, nutty, and wonderfully garlicky. It’s a terrific vegetarian sauce that even meat lovers will love.

You’ll puree baby spinach leaves and garlic with olive oil and cheese. That’s it!

It’s surprising how such basic ingredients can yield the richest flavors.

It’s magnificent as a pasta sauce. It also makes a good dressing for fish entrees such as baked salmon and tuna.

13. Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce

This Alfredo sauce is just as rich, creamy, and delectable as the first one on this list. However, it’s low-carb, dairy-free, and secretly healthy!

It’s so decadent that it’ll shock you to learn that it doesn’t contain cream at all. All you’ll need are some cauliflower florets. 

It’s a healthy alternative to chicken or shrimp Alfredo when you’re trying to cut calories.

14. Carbonara Sauce

Carbonara is a rich, creamy sauce perfect for anyone who loves cheese. It’s simple and garlicky and yet ridiculously full of flavor.

Plus, the whole meal (pasta carbonara) makes a quick and easy pasta dinner for busy weeknights. You can have it ready in just about 20 minutes.

It’s hard to argue with that kind of convenience.

15. White Pesto Sauce 

Pesto is a classic sauce, but have you ever tried a white one?

This variation uses walnuts, fresh oregano, garlic, lemon, olive oil, and two different cheeses.

It’s all white (with a few specks of oregano here and there), and it’s ALL good. It may not look as vibrant, but trust me, it’s insanely delicious.

It’s the amazing pesto and Alfredo mash-up you didn’t know you needed.

16. Kale Pasta Sauce 

Kale is a superfood that you definitely want to add to your diet. But let’s be honest, it’s a bit boring on its own.

Fortunately, you can transform it into a stunning pasta sauce with just a few ingredients. (Kale, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast.)

This blend creates a wonderfully smooth, creamy, earthy, and savory sauce. It tastes amazing with any pasta.

17. Pomarola Tomato Sauce

Pomarola tomato sauce is a Tuscan pasta sauce made from fresh tomatoes. Serve it over pasta mista for an authentic Italian meal.

Initially identified as food for “the poor,” pasta mista was made from leftover scraps. (They were sold at a much cheaper rate.)

There’s nothing cheap about this pasta sauce, though! It’s absolutely exquisite.

18. Roasted Red Pepper Marinara

This recipe elevates the classic marinara to a whole new level of deliciousness. You’ll use roasted red peppers instead of tomatoes.

That simple swap creates a deeper, bolder marinara flavor. This isn’t your typical spaghetti marinara, folks.

Roasted red peppers are brighter and sweeter than tomatoes. The result is a much more delicious sauce.

Use it on pasta, mozzarella sticks, chicken parmigiana, pizza – you name it!

19. Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Sauce

This pasta sauce combines the goodness of pesto and sun-dried tomatoes because why not?

Sun-dried tomatoes are such a treat. They’re sweet with a mild tartness, soft, chewy, and absolutely delightful.

Sun-dried tomatoes and basil combined make a ridiculously scrumptious sauce. It’s sweet and savory, rich and creamy, and super satisfying.

20. Walnut Pasta Sauce 

The thought of a walnut-based sauce makes me giddy. I can already imagine the rich, nutty flavor coating my tongue!

Basil pesto may be the most popular pesto. But for me, this lesser-known version is the winner. It’s richer, creamier, and nuttier.

The mixture is pureed with bread soaked in milk. It gives it that thick, pesto-like consistency.

21. Truffle Cream Sauce

If you’ve never had truffles before, take this as a sign to try it.

Yes, it’s expensive. But if you want to elevate your pasta game, it’s definitely worth it.

For this sauce, you’ll combine cream, Parmigiano, butter, and diced Italian truffles.

If you think a regular cream sauce is already delectable, just wait until you try it with truffles.

22. Pumpkin Pasta Sauce 

If you’re a sucker for all things sweet and salty, you must give this sauce a try.

Think of it as a sweetened version of fettuccine Alfredo but with pumpkin puree.

The pumpkin and reduced-fat cream cheese gives this sauce its sweetness and richness. It isn’t overloaded with calories, though.

Seasoned with sage, cinnamon, cayenne, and nutmeg, it’s like autumn in a bowl.

23. Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce 

When it comes to pasta sauces, you can never go wrong with cream cheese.

Throw in garlic, olive oil, and parmesan to the mix, and you’ll get a mind-blowing flavor overload.

This sauce is rich and creamy. Together with your favorite pasta, it makes a super hearty and substantial dish.

It comes together in 10 minutes and is an excellent choice for a busy weekday.

24. Beet Pasta Sauce

Beets in pasta? What?!

This sauce is definitely unusual but is so good nonetheless. This reddish-pink sauce is one for the books.

Beets, ricotta, parmesan, walnuts, and lemon juice. It’s one-of-a-kind, rich and creamy, and sweet and nutty.

It’s not too overpowering, just perfectly flavored.

25. Tomato Fennel Pasta Sauce 

What do fennel, tomatoes, garlic, and onions all have in common?

In this recipe, they’re all tossed in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, herbs, and spices.

You’ll then roast them to intensify their flavors, creating a creamy and delicious blend.

The recipe yields a chunky sauce, which you can easily smooth by pureeing.

Either way, it’s bright and refreshing and will make any pasta or meaty entree a hit.

26. Fra Diavolo Sauce

If you want a bit of heat in your sauce, look no further than this recipe. Italian food isn’t usually spicy, but this one is definitely an exception.

Fra Diavolo (Brother Devil) sauce is a tomato-based sauce made extra spicy with chili flakes.

It’s great not just with pasta but with seafood as well. Drizzle this fiery sauce over a bed of penne or linguine for a delicious meal.

27. Garlic Butter Caper Sauce 

Garlic and butter always work well together. Here, you’ll combine them to make an outrageously aromatic sauce. The scent will make you drool.

The capers make the sauce even more divine. These briny, lemony, olive-like buds complement the garlic butter sauce so well.

Seriously, if you have the discipline to resist this sauce, I salute you. I can never do it.

28. Spaghetti Sauce 

Don’t worry, guys! I wouldn’t make a whole list of pasta sauces without including spaghetti sauce.

This one is good, old-fashioned, meaty spaghetti sauce, just like your gramma used to make.

It’s massively flavorful and wonderfully filling. You’ll make it with ground beef, Italian sausage, onions, celery, peppers, mushrooms, and more.

29. Mascarpone and Lemon Sauce 

This light, bright spring pasta sauce is definitely one you’ll want to bookmark. 

You’ll love how it’s ultra-creamy yet not overwhelmingly rich. How is that possible, you ask?

Well, it’s all about balance. 

And in this sauce, the lemon juice provides a tart and zesty contrast to the creamy mascarpone. Fresh herbs also add a nice earthy balance of flavor.

30. Artichoke Sauce 

This artichoke-infused sauce is rich, creamy, and impossible to resist.

Combing artichokes, parmesan, and garlic creates a unique flavor that’s truly remarkable. Adding olive oil, lemon, and seasonings makes it even better.

Over pasta, this sauce makes a perfect side dish. It’s also delicious and substantial enough to be served as a main entree.