This Tomato Cream Sauce is so easy to make by using your favorite jarred marinara sauce mixed with cream, milk, onions, garlic and spices. It all comes together in about 15 minutes, just enough time to cook a big pot of pasta to serve it with. This pasta sauce recipe is a favorite among Mom’s Dinner readers and cooks!
Some call this one Pink Pasta, Rosé Pasta or Rose Pasta! It does take on a little pink hue (I think it is a little more orange) from the mix of the red marinara and milk/cream. Tell your kids you are having pink pasta for dinner and I bet they gobble it up.
This is our favorite restaurant sauce and I’ve tried multiple times to make it. Your recipe is the easiest and best tasting ever!!! The whole family goes nuts over it. It is delicious!!!
– Robyn, Mom’s Dinner Reader
RELATED: If you are looking for more of a traditional marinara sauce, check out this recipe for Homemade Marinara Sauce.
Use Your Favorite Jar Sauce
This Tomato Cream Sauce is super simple to make and I can almost guarantee that you will love the flavor because it is made with your favorite store-bought jar sauce.
Our current favorite store bought sauce is Rao’s Traditional Marinara or Basil Marinara. It pairs perfectly with the herbs, spices and cream.
Gluten Free Pasta Sauce
This sauce is made without flour! Instead, the heavy cream thickens it enough to cling to the noodles perfectly. So as long as your jarred marinara is also gluten free this also makes a great gluten-free creamy pasta sauce option.
How to Make Tomato Cream Sauce
- Onions and Garlic
- Herbs and Seasonings
- Add Cream
- Add Store Bought Marinara
Start with a pot over medium/low heat. Pour in about 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once it is heated through add the diced onions and chopped garlic, soften completely for about 5-8 minutes.
While the sauce cooks you can cook the pasta in a separate pot. They will be done at about the same time!
Next stir in the dried basil, dried oregano, salt and tomato paste. Stir it around the pan until the tomato paste coats the onions and garlic.
Pour in 1 cup heavy whipping cream and ½ cup milk (I recommend 2% or whole milk). Lightly simmer over medium/low heat for about 8 minutes.
Stir in 2 cups of your favorite jarred marinara sauce. Stir until everything is combined and warmed through.
Serving
Serve this Creamy Tomato Sauce over 1 lb. of cooked pasta – you can use spaghetti, penne, rigatoni… whatever you like or whatever you have.
You can optionally top this pasta with shredded parmesan and/or fresh chopped basil.
Audio Recipe
Make it a Meal or Amazing Side Dish
You can certainly stir in some sauteed shrimp, grilled chicken or shredded rotisserie chicken if you want a little protein mixed in.
Serve dinner with a side salad, Big Italian Salad, or Caesar salad and some garlic bread!
This Tomato Cream Sauce Pasta also makes an amazing side dish for Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Spiedini, or Pork Milanese.
More Pasta Sauce Recipes
If pasta is on heavy rotation at your house, here are some more super delicious pasta sauce recipes to try:
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Did you make this recipe?
I would love to hear your review, especially if you have tips and tricks to add! Pop down to the comment section and connect with me
Easy Tomato Cream Sauce Recipe + Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup onions - diced
- 3 fresh garlic cloves - chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- pinch of red pepper flakes - more for additional heat
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup milk - recommend 2% or whole
- 2 cups jarred marinara - use your favorite brand (we love Rao's)
Serving
- 1 lb. your favorite pasta (spaghetti, penne, rigatoni….) - cooked per package instructions
Instructions
Pasta
- While you are making the sauce, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook your pasta per package instructions. The pasta and sauce will be ready at about the same time!1 lb. your favorite pasta (spaghetti, penne, rigatoni….)
Tomato Cream Sauce
- In a pot or deep skillet, over medium/low heat, add the olive oil. Once it is hot add the onion and garlic. Soften for about 5 minutes.1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ cup onions, 3 fresh garlic cloves
- Add in the dried basil, dried oregano, kosher salt, pinch red pepper flakes and tomato paste. Stir it around the pot until the tomato paste coats the onions and garlic, about 1 minute.1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, pinch of red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- Stir in the heavy cream and milk. Lightly simmer over medium/low heat for about 5 minutes, until it will coat the back of a wooden spoon.1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup milk
- Stir in 2 cups of your favorite jarred marinara until it is completely mixed with the cream mixture.2 cups jarred marinara
- Taste for additional salt/pepper and serve over the cooked pasta.
Lisa says
Made this for dinner tonight to serve with ravioli from TJ. Followed instructions as written. Soooo good! Will definitely be making over and over again.
Christina says
Followed instructions as is and turned out perfectly!
Ligaya says
I would like to try this but how much tomato paste do you add?
Thank you
Susie Weinrich says
1 Tablespoon
Rebecca says
Love the ease in making the sauce. Poured it over bow tie pasta added some mushrooms. Delicious! Thank you for the recipe.
Sharon says
This is delicious.
Robyn says
This is our favorite restaurant sauce and I’ve tried multiple times to make it. Your recipe is the easiest and best tasting ever!!! The whole family goes nuts over it. It is delicious!!!