Red Sauce Pasta Recipes 🍅 Saucy, Savory & Always a Hit

ByKarl S

Red sauce pasta is timeless — from slow-simmered marinara to spicy arrabbiata or creamy tomato blends. These recipes are easy to build, endlessly customizable, and deliver deep, tomato-rich flavor in every bite.

🍝 Classic Spaghetti Marinara

Simple, bold, and always satisfying.

Ingredients:

  • Spaghetti
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic
  • Crushed tomatoes or marinara sauce
  • Basil, salt, pepper

Instructions:

  1. Sauté garlic in olive oil.
  2. Add tomatoes and simmer for 20–30 min.
  3. Season with salt, pepper, basil.
  4. Toss with cooked spaghetti.

👉 Classic Spaghetti Marinara Recipe

🧄 Garlic Tomato Penne

A garlic lover’s dream.

Ingredients:

  • Penne pasta
  • Olive oil
  • Lots of garlic
  • Crushed tomatoes
  • Chili flakes, parsley

Instructions:

  1. Cook garlic in oil until golden.
  2. Add chili flakes, then tomatoes.
  3. Simmer and season.
  4. Mix with penne and top with parsley.

👉 Garlic Tomato Penne Recipe

🌶️ Spicy Arrabbiata Pasta

Red sauce with a fiery twist.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (rigatoni or penne)
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic, chili flakes
  • Crushed tomatoes
  • Parsley or basil

Instructions:

  1. Sauté garlic and chili flakes.
  2. Stir in tomatoes, simmer until thick.
  3. Toss with pasta and fresh herbs.

👉 Complete Spicy Arrabbiata Pasta Recipe

🧀 Creamy Tomato Pasta

Red sauce meets silky comfort.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (fusilli or shells)
  • Tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
  • Heavy cream or cream cheese
  • Garlic, butter
  • Parmesan

Instructions:

  1. Cook garlic in butter, then add tomatoes.
  2. Stir in cream and simmer.
  3. Add cheese and mix with pasta.

👉 Complete Creamy Tomato Pasta Recipe

🍖 Ground Beef Tomato Pasta

Hearty and filling — pasta night perfection.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (elbows or penne)
  • Ground beef
  • Onion, garlic
  • Crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
  • Italian seasoning

Instructions:

  1. Brown beef with onion and garlic.
  2. Stir in tomato sauce and season.
  3. Simmer 15–20 min.
  4. Mix with pasta and serve.

👉 Ground Beef Tomato Pasta Recipe

🧅 Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Smoky-sweet and totally unique.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (tagliatelle or penne)
  • Roasted red peppers (jarred or fresh)
  • Garlic, onion
  • Cream or cashew milk (optional)
  • Parmesan or nutritional yeast

Instructions:

  1. Blend roasted peppers with sautéed garlic/onion.
  2. Heat and stir in cream (optional).
  3. Toss with pasta and top with cheese.

👉 Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Recipe

🧆 Eggplant Tomato Pasta

Comforting and veggie-forward.

Ingredients:

  • Pasta (spaghetti or rigatoni)
  • Eggplant (cubed)
  • Garlic, onion
  • Crushed tomatoes
  • Basil, olive oil

Instructions:

  1. Roast or sauté eggplant until tender.
  2. Cook onion/garlic, then add tomatoes.
  3. Stir in eggplant and simmer.
  4. Toss with pasta and garnish with basil.

👉 Complete Eggplant Tomato Pasta Recipe

🍅 Tomato Basil Gnocchi

Pillowy gnocchi meets bold sauce.

Ingredients:

  • Gnocchi
  • Tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
  • Garlic, basil
  • Olive oil
  • Parmesan

Instructions:

  1. Sauté garlic in olive oil.
  2. Add tomato sauce and simmer.
  3. Cook gnocchi and stir into sauce.
  4. Garnish with basil and cheese.

👉 Complete Tomato Basil Gnocchi Recipe

🧄 Red Sauce Baked Ziti

Cheesy, saucy, oven-baked perfection.

Ingredients:

  • Ziti or penne
  • Tomato sauce
  • Ricotta or cream cheese
  • Mozzarella, Parmesan
  • Italian seasoning

Instructions:

  1. Mix cooked pasta with sauce and cheese.
  2. Pour into baking dish and top with mozzarella.
  3. Bake at 375°F for 20–25 min until bubbly.

👉 Red Sauce Baked Ziti Recipe

🧾 Final Thoughts: Red Sauce, Endless Possibilities

From rustic to refined, red sauce pasta hits every note — savory, sweet, spicy, or creamy. Once you’ve got the base down, you can build countless variations to match your mood or pantry.

Pro Tip: Make a double batch of red sauce and freeze it — future-you will thank you.

🍝 Pasta Recipes Collection

Explore All Pasta Recipes – A complete noodle lover’s hub — creamy, meaty, veggie-packed, or refreshingly cold, these recipes have it all.

🧄 Classic & Comforting

  • 🧄 Classic Pasta Recipes – Tried-and-true dishes like spaghetti, fettuccine, and timeless tomato-based favorites.
  • 🍅 Simple Pasta Recipes – Minimal ingredients, maximum flavor — pasta perfection without the fuss.
  • ⚡ Easy Pasta Recipes – Weeknight lifesavers that deliver rich flavor fast, with zero culinary stress.
  • 🍽️ Pasta Dinner Recipes – Family-friendly pastas that satisfy any night of the week.

🧀 Sauce Styles

  • 🥛 Creamy Pasta Recipes – Silky sauces made with cream, cheese, or both — pure comfort in a bowl.
  • 🧈 Alfredo Pasta Recipes – Rich and buttery Alfredo sauce takes center stage in these indulgent dishes.
  • 🥄 White Sauce Pasta Recipes – Mellow and smooth béchamel-based recipes that pair beautifully with chicken or veggies.
  • 🍅 Red Sauce Pasta Recipes – Bright, bold tomato sauces — classic marinara, spicy arrabbiata, and more.
  • 🌿 Pesto Pasta Recipes – Herbaceous and vibrant, these green-sauced dishes are perfect for warm-weather meals.

🍗 Protein-Packed Pastas

  • 🐓 Chicken Pasta Recipes – Tender chicken meets creamy or tangy sauces — the perfect protein-pasta pairings.
  • 🍤 Shrimp Pasta Recipes – Juicy shrimp with garlic butter, wine, or creamy sauces — quick and elegant.
  • 🐟 Seafood Pasta Recipes – Scallops, crab, salmon, or mixed shellfish in rich and zesty sauces.
  • 🐄 Ground Beef Pasta Recipes – Comforting classics like bolognese, skillet meals, and one-pot beefy favorites.
  • 🌭 Sausage Pasta Recipes – Hearty and spiced — from Italian to spicy andouille, sausage elevates every bite.

🥗 Pasta Salads & Light Fare

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