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The Ultimate Easy Pink Sauce Pasta (Rose Sauce)

A white bowl filled with penne pink sauce pasta, topped generously with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
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Make this creamy, rich pink sauce pasta, also known as Salsa Rosa, quickly for a comforting weeknight dinner. This recipe perfectly blends tomato and cream for a velvety texture and beautiful blush color.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound pasta (penne or rigatoni work well)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup marinara sauce (use a good quality brand)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
  3. Pour in the marinara sauce. Let it simmer gently for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Reduce the heat to low. Slowly whisk in the heavy cream until the sauce turns a uniform pink color. This is how you make pink sauce.
  5. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, if using. Continue stirring until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
  6. Add the drained pasta directly to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat everything evenly.
  7. If the sauce seems too thick, add the reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired creamy consistency.
  8. Serve immediately, topped with extra grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, substitute half of the heavy cream with Alfredo sauce for an instant creamy pasta boost.
  • Add cooked chicken, shrimp, or sautéed vegetables like spinach or mushrooms for a complete meal.
  • To achieve that signature blush color, always add the cream slowly to the tomato base over low heat.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kingscook.com/easy-pink-sauce-pasta-recipe/