Italian Pink Sauce Recipe

This Italian Pink Sauce Recipe is filled with Italian seasoning and a creamy tomato sauce! Perfect pink pasta sauce served with extra parmesan cheese!

Italian Pink Sauce is the recipe you need to try! Dipping bread into it is AMAZING! Serving it over pasta, or grilled chicken… YUM!

I’ll show you how to make this pink pasta sauce recipe that is best served with plenty of fresh basil!

We’ve all seen the viral vodka sauce taking social media by storm. But, have you tried the alcohol-free version?

This rose sauce is essentially cream with tomato puree and other simple ingredients

It’s become one of my favorite things to make after a long week, and a trip to the farmer’s market to pick up fresh pasta!

How to make this Italian Pink Sauce Recipe

First, gather your ingredients:

Diced Onion – I used diced Shallots in this version, but I’ve also used yellow onions or Vidalia onions. Both have a bit more sweetness than the shallot so at the end of the recipe you don’t need as much sugar. These notes are reflected in the recipe card below.

Fresh Garlic – and LOTS of it! You can chop it up, mince it, or grate it with my favorite kitchen tool, the Microplane!

Crushed Tomatoes – look for a 14.5-ounce can of crushed tomatoes. I used this Muir Glen Fire-Roasted Crushed Tomatoes because the inside of their cans is painted. Yielding a less tinny taste in the acidic tomatoes! Whatever you have on hand is great!

Tomato Paste – my store was completely out of it, so I left it out. However, the sauce would have a much richer taste if I had added some. I love the tomato paste that comes in a tube, so I can use some, then screw the top back on, and put it in the fridge for later.

Italian Seasoning – this is a seasoning blend I keep by my stovetop in my four-tiered magnetic shelf. I use it all the time!

Red Chili Flakes – if you’re not a friend of spiciness, leave this out! But, if you like a little zip with your “business” add as many shakes as you want! A teaspoon is a good measurement.

House Seasoning – This is my own personal blend of onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. I got tired of opening all these and using them over and over — so I just shake up my own blend!

Heavy Cream – also known as Whipping Cream, this is the creamy addition this sauce just loves! You can also substitute whole milk in place of heavy cream if that’s why you have it on hand! This is what gives this rose pasta sauce it’s beautiful pink color!

A teaspoon of Sugar – helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes. This sauce should be on the sweeter sauce, which is why it’s nice to have the red pepper flakes to add a little kick!

Next, gather your kitchen supplies:

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• Large Skillet – I used a cast-iron skillet, but you could also use a dutch oven such as this other kitchen favorite.
• Wooden spoon
• Large pot to boil your pasta water in
• Colander to drain the pasta
• Tongs to toss everything together.

Now, let’s make the pink sauce pasta recipe!

Place your skillet over medium heat and pour in a healthy glug of olive oil.

Add the chopped shallots/onions and garlic to the party!

Saute until soft and translucent.

While the onions and garlic are sauteing cook your pasta according to the package directions. If you want your pasta al dente, undercook it by a minute or so, that way you can finish cooking in the sauce!

Pour in your crushed tomatoes to the onions and garlic.

Sprinkle your seasonings over the red sauce, and mix well together.

Once this cooks for a couple of minutes, pour in the heavy cream and a sprinkle of sugar.

Stir until the sauce is a pale pink color!

Simmer for 10 minutes, before adding your pasta!

Serve with grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil! Mangia!

What to Serve with Italian Pink Sauce

Simple Salad – I love serving this Prosecco Vinaigrette Salad with a heavier pasta sauce like this.

Garlic Bread – you’ll definitely need something to mop up this pink marinara sauce with!

You might be wondering, can’t I just mix alfredo sauce and a traditional tomato sauce together? Yep! You sure could! In a pinch, that would make your parma rosa sauce in about 2 minutes…

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is Italian Pink sauce made of?

It’s tomato sauce and cream. Perfect for any cooked pasta!

What is Italian Pink Sauce called in Italy?

Parma Rosa Sauce/Rose

Are pink sauce and vodka sauce the same?

Yes and no. The pink sauce usually doesn’t have alcohol. Vodka sauce does.

If you end up with leftovers store them in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

This sauce also makes an excellent pizza sauce!

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