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Splash of Taste – Vegetarian Recipes

Splash of Taste - Vegetarian Recipes

Easy veggie recipes

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Home / Vegetarian

One pot pink pasta sauce

Published October 1, 2021 | Updated November 27, 2022 | By Mandy & Jane

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Creamy and cheesy with a smoky bacon taste that is 100% vegetarian and vegan friendly! We served this dish to our meat-eating friends, and they thought we’d made a separate meat version just for them – the taste of this pink sauce pasta dish is incredible!

Serving plate full of freshly made pink sauce pasta.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • It’s one of the most delicious pasta dishes and the vegan bacon bits take it to the next level!
  • Not only is this pasta recipe vegetarian, but we’ve made it vegan too!
  • It’s the perfect midweek meal, it’ll be on your table in just 30 minutes!
  • People will want seconds…and thirds!
Bowls of pasta with pink sauce, a tomato cream sauce, garnished with fresh basil.

What is pink pasta sauce?

Pink sauce is a creamy tomato sauce that is made from combining tomato paste, heavy cream, or cream cheese, and canned whole or crushed tomatoes.

When combined the tomato cream sauce turns a lively pink color.

As we are making a vegan version of pasta with pink sauce, we substitute heavy cream or cream cheese with delicious almond cream cheese.

If you like alfredo sauce, then you’ll love pink pasta sauce – it’s like alfredo sauce on a different level!

No more worrying about what to cook for vegetarian and vegan friends. In just 30 minutes you can easily make one of the tastiest pasta dishes ever, in a delicious creamy tomato sauce. It’s always a family favorite in our house!

Close up of pink sauce pasta made from scratch with a tomato sauce and grated parmesan cheese.

What’s the best pasta to use?

You could use pretty much any pasta that you already have in your store cupboard.

We’ve used rigatoni but penne pasta, fusilli, and even spaghetti would all make delicious pasta with pink sauce.

Is cream cheese vegan?

No, it’s not.

We found an awesome cream cheese substitute, it’s almond cream cheese and, oh my goodness, it is SO good!

Try to find some and try it, we’re sure you won’t regret it!

Heavy cream is typically used in pink sauce pasta, but as we’re making a vegan dinner dish, we can’t use it.

By using almond cream cheese, alleviates your need to use heavy cream.

A serving dish and bowls of homemade pink sauce pasta with tomato sauce.

What can I garnish it with?

We’ve garnished our pink sauce pasta with fresh basil leaves, but you could garnish with vegan shredded mozzarella cheese or vegan grated parmesan cheese.

What should I serve with this pasta dish?

You could serve your pink sauce pasta with garlic bread or crusty Italian bread.

A light green salad with a balsamic vinaigrette would also accompany this creamy pasta dish very well.

How do I store it?

Our pink sauce pasta dinner keeps perfectly for up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

We think it makes an awesome lunch and we love it cold, but you may want to gently warm it first.

Close up of rigatoni with pink tomato sauce.

Recipe tips and notes

  • Want to add some vegetables?
    Bell peppers and mushrooms would be delicious additions to your pink sauce pasta.
  • Want to make this pasta dish faster?
    You can precook your pasta and keep it in an airtight container overnight, then all you need to do is to add the cooked pasta to the pink sauce and heat it up.
  • Don’t have any fresh basil?
    It’s fine to use dried basil or you could replace all of the herbs and use Italian seasoning instead.
Serving plate and bowls of homemade pink sauce pasta with tomato sauce, two creamy pasta bowls full and ready to eat.

How to make pink pasta sauce at home with step-by-step instructions

We’ll show you how easy it is to make this pink sauce pasta recipe!

On medium heat, add two tablespoons of olive oil to a large pot or Dutch oven, then add your chopped onions and vegan bacon bits and cook for 5 minutes until the onions are tender.

Then add garlic and cook for a further minute.

Process shots for making pink sauce pasta from scratch add onion, vegan bacon, minced garlic and tomatoes.

Now add your canned tomatoes, vegetable stock, almond milk, tomato paste, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes to your pot and stir to combine evenly.

Crush your tomatoes gently as the sauce is warming, you need slightly crushed tomatoes.

Next, add your dried rigatoni pasta and stir so that the pasta is coated with the tomato sauce.

Process shots for how to make pink sauce pasta add kosher salt, red pepper flakes, dry pasta and combine.

Bring the tomato sauce to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer until the pasta is al dente, you don’t want to overcook your pasta.

Now add in your chopped fresh basil almond cream cheese and stir, it’s become an awesome pink sauce.

Process shots for how to make pink sauce pasta add almond milk cheese, fresh basil leave and combine.

Serve your pink sauce pasta in bowls and garnish with fresh basil leaves.

More vegetarian pasta dinners for you to enjoy!

  • Easy pasta alla Norma – Marinara sauce with the most beautiful roasted eggplants, you have got to try this pasta dish!
  • Cheesy pasta bake – creamy tomato sauce with a generous helping of cheese all baked in the oven to perfection, it’s SO good!
  • Four cheese and mushroom lasagne – love cheese? You’ll love this easy lasagne loaded with cheese and mushrooms!
  • Pasta alla Sorrentina – sweet fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, make this simple meal absolutely delicious!
  • Pasta bake with veggie meatballs – hearty comfort food with the most amazing veggie lentil meatballs, great for the entire family!

Follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, for more tasty inspiration!

Pink sauce pasta in a large serving dish ready to eat.
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ONE POT PINK PASTA SAUCE

The best one pot pink pasta sauce, 100% veggie & vegan it's cheesy, creamy with smoky vegan bacon bits. Got a vegetarian or vegan coming to dinner? This will be an instant hit and you can make it in 30 minutes – what's not to love? Check out this easy recipe and follow us for more vegetarian dinner ideas.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Total Time30 mins
Servings4
Calories259
Course: Main course
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Mandy Applegate | Splash of Taste
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Utensils

Large pot or Dutch oven

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 Small onion chopped
  • ¾ cup Vegan bacon bits
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 14 oz Canned whole tomatoes
  • 1 cup Vegetable stock
  • 1 cup Almond milk
  • ½ tbsp Tomato paste
  • ½ tsp Kosher salt
  • ½ tsp Red pepper flakes
  • 8 oz Rigatoni dry
  • 1 tsp Fresh chopped basil
  • ½ c Almond milk cheese
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • On medium heat, add two tablespoons of olive oil to a large pot or Dutch oven, then add your chopped onions and vegan bacon bits and cook for 5 minutes until the onions are tender. Then add garlic and cook for a further minute
    2 tbsp Olive oil, 1 Small onion, ¾ cup Vegan bacon bits, 2 cloves Garlic
    Process shots for making pink sauce pasta from scratch add onion, vegan bacon, minced garlic and tomatoes.
  • Now add your canned tomatoes, vegetable stock, almond milk, tomato paste, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes to your pot and stir to combine evenly. Crush your tomatoes gently as the sauce is warming, you need slightly crushed tomatoes. Next, add your dried rigatoni pasta and stir so that the pasta is coated with the tomato sauce. Bring the tomato sauce to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer until the pasta is al dente you don't want to overcook your pasta
    14 oz Canned whole tomatoes, 1 cup Vegetable stock, ½ tbsp Tomato paste, ½ tsp Kosher salt, ½ tsp Red pepper flakes, 8 oz Rigatoni
    Process shots for how to making pink sauce pasta, add vegetable stock, almond milk and tomato paste.
  • Now add in your chopped fresh basil almond milk cheese and stir, it's become an awesome pink sauce
    1 tsp Fresh chopped basil, ½ c Almond milk cheese
    Process shots for how to make pink sauce pasta add almond milk cheese, fresh basil leave and combine.
  • Serve your pink sauce pasta in bowls and garnish with fresh basil leaves

Notes

  • Want to add some vegetables?
    Bell peppers and mushrooms would be delicious additions to your pink sauce pasta
  • Want to make this pasta dish faster?
    You can pre-cook your pasta and keep it in an airtight container overnight, then all you need to do is to add the cooked pasta to the pink sauce and heat it up
  • Don’t have any fresh basil?
    It’s fine to use dried basil or you could replace all of the herbs and use Italian seasoning instead

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 857mg | Potassium: 389mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 412IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 132mg | Iron: 2mg

Disclaimer

Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.

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About Mandy

A vegetarian for over 35 years, Mandy has taught herself to be creative in the kitchen. Traveling extensively, Mandy loves learning and adapting vegetarian recipes from across the world. Read more...

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. Lynn Polito says

    October 1, 2021 at 3:58 pm

    5 stars
    Fantastic!! I love a one pot pasta!!

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      October 1, 2021 at 4:03 pm

      Us too! Glad you like it!

  2. Cindy says

    October 1, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for the great recipe! I love that you made it a vegan version too!

    Reply
  3. Jenn says

    October 2, 2021 at 2:54 pm

    5 stars
    I love creamy pastas and this dish really hits the spot!

    Reply
    • Mandy from Splash of Taste says

      October 2, 2021 at 3:41 pm

      Glad you like it – it’s one of our favorites!

  4. Kim says

    October 3, 2021 at 5:17 pm

    5 stars
    This pasta was so delicious. We didn’t even miss the meat. I’m having it for lunch today too!

    Reply
  5. laura says

    October 5, 2021 at 5:19 pm

    5 stars
    Mmmmm warm and conforting just what we needed for dinner last night! Thanks!

    Reply
  6. Sherry says

    October 5, 2021 at 11:42 pm

    5 stars
    This 30 minute One Pot Pink Pasta Sauce recipe was so easy to make and my family loved it!!

    Reply
  7. Sachiko says

    October 10, 2021 at 10:03 pm

    5 stars
    We loved your pink pasta sauce!

    Reply

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We love sharing our vegetarian food and drink recipes with you. If you’re cutting down on meat, going vegetarian or vegan, there’s something delicious to eat and drink for you here
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