Description
Silky pink sauce pasta brings Italian-inspired comfort straight to your kitchen with creamy, dreamy flavors. Weeknight dinner dreams come true when you blend simple ingredients into this crowd-pleasing classic that feels like a restaurant-quality meal in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) uncooked pasta (rigatoni or penne preferred)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Aromatics & Seasonings:
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 small onion, chopped finely
- 1/4 teaspoon italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Cook pasta until tender yet firm, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- In a spacious skillet, melt butter and oil together over medium heat. Sauté chopped onions and Italian seasoning for 5-7 minutes, allowing them to become translucent and fragrant.
- Introduce minced garlic to the skillet and cook briefly. Pour in white wine, allowing it to reduce and concentrate its flavors for 2-3 minutes.
- Whisk tomato paste and heavy cream into the mixture, creating a smooth, vibrant sauce. Ensure ingredients are fully incorporated and no lumps remain.
- Reduce heat and let the sauce simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and develops a rich consistency, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Remove skillet from heat and fold in freshly grated parmesan cheese, which will add depth and creaminess to the sauce.
- Transfer cooked pasta directly into the sauce, gently tossing to ensure even coating. If sauce appears too thick, incorporate reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, garnishing with additional parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Choose high-quality pasta like rigatoni or penne for better sauce adhesion.
- Salt water generously to enhance pasta’s overall flavor profile.
- Drain pasta just before al dente stage since it continues cooking in sauce.
- Use room temperature ingredients for smoother, more consistent sauce texture.
- Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or coconut milk for lighter version.
- Add red pepper flakes for subtle heat and extra flavor complexity.
- Reserve pasta water before draining to control sauce consistency perfectly.
- Grate fresh parmesan for richer, more authentic taste compared to pre-grated cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg