Quick Pasta Sauce
A quick, flavorful pasta sauce with tomato paste, herbs, and a hint of Parmesan, perfect for a speedy meal that suits family dinners or weeknight cravings.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a pot.
- Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Do not add bouillon if you will be adding your own cooked meatballs or sausage.
Tips & Substitutions
For a richer flavor, consider sautéing the chopped onions in olive oil before adding them to the pot. If you don’t have Parmesan cheese, nutritional yeast can be a great substitute for a similar umami flavor. Adjust the sugar based on the acidity of your tomatoes. This quick sauce can also be used for Easy Manicotti or as a base for other Italian recipes.
Serving Suggestions
This quick pasta sauce is perfect over your favorite pasta or as a dipping sauce for breadsticks. Serve alongside a fresh salad or garlic bread for a complete meal. You can also use it as a base for a pizza or pair it with Veggie Lasagna for a hearty dinner. Top with additional Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftover pasta sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, simply warm it in a pot over low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. For longer storage, freeze the sauce in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Quick Pasta Sauce contains roughly 248 calories, with 11g protein, 57g carbohydrates, and 1g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin C (85% of the Daily Value), potassium (44% of the Daily Value), and dietary fiber (41% of the Daily Value), and a good source of vitamin A. It also contributes 11g of dietary fiber toward your daily target.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of tomato paste?
Yes, you can use fresh tomatoes, but you'll need to cook them down longer to achieve a similar thickness. About 2 pounds of fresh tomatoes should yield the right consistency after simmering. Remember to skin and seed them for the best results.
What can I add to make the sauce more flavorful?
You can enhance the flavor of the sauce by adding fresh herbs like oregano or thyme, or by incorporating a splash of red wine. For a spicy kick, consider adding crushed red pepper flakes or finely chopped jalapeños to the mix.
Is this sauce suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, this quick pasta sauce is vegetarian-friendly as it contains no meat. You can easily keep it vegetarian by serving it with meat-free pasta or adding vegetables such as bell peppers, mushrooms, or zucchini to the sauce.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).