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I have been making my Pink Sauce Pasta for too many years to count, and can't wait to share it with you. It's simple and comes together in 15 minutes using easy ingredients you may already have on hand! This family dinner never gets old.
What is pink pasta sauce?
Pink pasta sauce is a tomato cream sauce, which is what gives it its unique pink color. My pink sauce pasta recipe uses tomato sauce, heavy cream, and Parmesan to give it both its beautiful color and rich flavor. It's delicious on its own, but versatile enough to pair with everything from sausage and ham to chicken and steak.
Delicious! For such a quick, easy dish, it is packed with flavor. Try mixing hot and mild Italian sausage.
What pasta should I use for pink sauce?
Any pasta shape you like best will work well with pink pasta sauce, but I find that shell pasta is the best to use. It cradles the pasta sauce so you get bold flavor in every bite. Other great choices are macaroni elbows, cavatappi, and rigatoni.
Pink Pasta Sauce Ingredient Substitutes
- Pasta: While I prefer pasta shells, again, you can use any pasta shape you prefer. Flat pastas also work well with pink pasta sauce, like fettuccine.
- Sausage: I'm using Italian sausage. You can use mild or spicy sausage according to your tastes. Alternatively, I love to use diced ham! Other meats work well, too. Try using pan-fried chicken, steak, or even prime rib. You can also use veggies. Peas are a great choice.
- Butter: While I tend to use unsalted butter to salt separately, you can use salted butter if you prefer. Just be sure to add salt carefully, because Parmesan is already salty, too.
- Garlic: Rather than fresh minced garlic, you can also use garlic paste or garlic powder according to your tastes and what you have on hand.
- Tomato Sauce: Use your favorite tomato sauce, or make your own. Any tomato sauce you like best will do. I love to make a meatless version of my Sunday Sauce to use, or my homemade Sugo!
- Heavy Cream: While you can use milk or half and half instead, keep in mind the flavor and consistency will change. Heavy cream has a higher fat content, so it has a richer flavor and thicker texture than alternatives.
- Parmesan Cheese: The perfect cheese for this pasta is Parmesan, but you can also use pecorino romano cheese.
- Salt and Pepper: Kosher salt or sea salt flakes, and freshly cracked black pepper, work best.
- Parsley: Optional, for garnish.
For detailed instructions with step-by-step photos, tips, serving suggestions, and more, scroll under the recipe card below. Jump to detailed instructions→
Pink Sauce Pasta
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta shells - or pasta of your choice (16 ounces)
- 1 pound Italian sausage - mild or spicy; or 2 cups diced ham
- 4 Tablespoons butter - unsalted or salted
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch black pepper
- parsley - for garnish; optional
Instructions
- Add a large pot of water to the stove with a pinch of salt and bring it to a boil.
- While the water comes to a boil, place a skillet over medium heat and melt butter.4 Tablespoons butter
- Once the butter melts, add garlic. Cook until lightly golden brown.2 teaspoons minced garlic
- Add in Italian sausage. Using a wooden spoon, cook the sausage, breaking it up into pieces as it browns.1 pound Italian sausage
- Once browned, pour tomato sauce into the pan with the sausage. Stir until well-blended and simmer for a few minutes, turning the heat down to medium-low.2 cups tomato sauce
- When the pot of water reaches a boil, add pasta to the water. Cook per package instructions until al dente (a little underdone).1 pound pasta shells
- Turn the heat on your tomato sauce to low. Very slowly add heavy cream to the pan. Add a small amount at a time, stirring as you add it to prevent it from curdling. Once all of the cream has been added, allow the sauce to simmer for 5 minutes.1 cup heavy cream
- Very slowly add in Parmesan cheese after simmering. Like the heavy cream, make sure to add the cheese slowly so it doesn't clump together. Mix while combining.1 cup Parmesan cheese
- Taste your sauce. Are you missing anything? Add a bit more salt and pepper as necessary, then mix again.1 pinch salt,1 pinch black pepper
- Drain the water from your pasta and add it to the sauce. Combine the pasta with the sauce well, and allow it to simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Top with parsley if desired, serve, and enjoy!parsley
Notes
- You can use any pasta you like, but if you can find shells they are the best! They have the perfect little pocket to hold all of the creamy sauce and sausage inside.
- I love convenience, and as a mom with 4 kids, sometimes using garlic paste was just the way to go! It's just as delicious, you'd never know the difference!
- Make this dish how your family would love it! You could use regular, mild, or spicy sausage! Sometimes I will even use diced ham if that's what I have on hand in the fridge.
- You always want to make sure you stir your pasta noodles when you pour them into the boiling water. This prevents any of the noodles getting stuck together while they cook!
- When adding your heavy cream and parmesan cheese, make sure you add them in very slowly. You just want to add a little bit at a time while still stirring the dish! This will ensure all of the flavors blend together perfectly.
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Isabel! I've been sharing my recipes online, in cookbooks, and in TV specials since 2012. The most important thing to me is Sunday supper with my family, and inspiring togetherness with my recipes!
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Pink Sauce Pasta Step-by-Step Photos
Add a large pot of water to the stove with a pinch of salt and bring it to a boil. Salting the water seasons the pasta and slightly increases the boiling rate so it will reach boiling point a little faster.
While the water comes to a boil, place a skillet over medium heat and melt butter. Once the butter melts, add garlic. Cook until lightly golden brown. Be careful not to overcook the garlic - you don't want to burn it.
Add in Italian sausage. Using a wooden spoon, cook the sausage, breaking it up into pieces as it browns. You can also use other meats, like diced ham.
Once browned, pour tomato sauce into the pan with the sausage. Stir until well-blended and simmer for a few minutes, turning the heat down to medium-low.
When the pot of water reaches a boil, add pasta to the water. Cook per package instructions until al dente (a little underdone). All pastas cook for a different amount of time, so be sure to follow the instructions on the box.
Turn the heat on your tomato sauce to low. Very slowly add heavy cream to the pan. Add a small amount at a time, stirring as you add it to prevent it from curdling. Once all of the cream has been added, allow the sauce to simmer for 5 minutes. It's important to add the cream slowly!
Very slowly add in Parmesan cheese after simmering. Like the heavy cream, make sure to add the cheese slowly so it doesn't clump together. Mix while combining.
Taste your sauce. Are you missing anything? Add a bit more salt and pepper as necessary, then mix again. I always like to adjust the seasoning at this point.
Drain the water from your pasta and add it to the sauce. Combine the pasta with the sauce well, and allow it to simmer for another 5 minutes.
Top with parsley if desired, serve, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Use any pasta shape you prefer, but keep in mind that all pastas cook to different times. Check your package instructions for accurate cooking times. I prefer pasta shells because they cook quickly and hold the sauce well.
- Always stir your pasta noodles after pouring them into the boiling water. This prevents the pasta from sticking together as it cooks. Give them a little stir here and there.
- Use any protein you prefer and experiment to find your favorite choices. I love sausage and ham, but steak and chicken are great, too.
- When adding heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, it's important to add them both gradually and stir while adding them. This keeps the dairy from curdling and the cheese from clumping together.
FAQ
Pink pasta can be made up to 3-4 days in advance stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It lasts for up to 4-5 days in the fridge after cooking.
Reheat pink pasta over the stove on low heat with just a small amount of water or chicken broth added. Stir occasionally. Or, reheat in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes until heated through, with a little bit of water to help it reach its original consistency.
Variations
- Try mixing in greens, like spinach or arugula.
- I love using sausage in this dish, but you can also use leftover ham. This dish makes an amazing pasta with ham and tomato sauce!
Jacqueline Debono says
I also love orecchiette! Such a great pasta for chunky sauces. In Puglia, where it comes from, I've had it with small meatballs and tomato sauce. Very good! Your creamy tomato sauce looks good too. Going to add to my to make list!
Em Beitel says
Jacqueline, that sounds delicious! Totally agreed- orecchiette is perfect for sauces like this. I enjoyed it so much, I want to try it with other pasta dishes, too. Maybe I'll have to try it with just meatballs and tomato sauce!
Nilha Pearce says
I made this dish tonight for dinner. I drained off some of the fat from the sausage and threw in some shredded basil at the last minute. I also added more basil to the parsley for garnish. My husband and I both enjoyed it thoroughly.
Thank you for a delicious dish!
Isabel Laessig says
That is so wonderful to hear, Nilha! I'm so glad you both enjoyed it!
Marlynn @UrbanBlissLife says
I love this pasta recipe! I've never heard of it referred to as pink pasta before, but oh the flavors in this recipe are so rich and delicious.
Em Beitel says
Thanks so much, Marlynn! This is one of my favorites.
Tawnie Kroll says
My new favorite pasta, so easy to make too! Thank you!!
Em Beitel says
Thanks so much, Tawnie!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
It's funny. I thought that I knew all the different types of pasta, but somehow there seems to be so many types I have never heard of. Definitely want to try this!!
Em Beitel says
I am always amazed by just how many kinds of pasta there are and everything you can do with it! Thank you so much for your lovely comment. It's a delicious dish!
Pam Greer says
I have been saving some leftover ham and now I know what to do with it!! I love how creamy this is!
Em Beitel says
Perfect! Thanks so much, Pam!
Nilha Pearce says
Delicious! For such a quick, easy dish, it is packed with flavor. Try mixing hot and mild Italian sausage.
Isabel Laessig says
That's an awesome idea, Nilha. Thank you!