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!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Now add in your chopped fresh basil almond cream cheese and stir, it’s become an awesome pink sauce.
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!
ONE POT PINK PASTA SAUCE
Utensils
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
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 minute2 tbsp Olive oil, 1 Small onion, ¾ cup Vegan bacon bits, 2 cloves Garlic
- 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 pasta14 oz Canned whole tomatoes, 1 cup Vegetable stock, ½ tbsp Tomato paste, ½ tsp Kosher salt, ½ tsp Red pepper flakes, 8 oz Rigatoni
- Now add in your chopped fresh basil almond milk cheese and stir, it's become an awesome pink sauce1 tsp Fresh chopped basil, ½ c Almond milk cheese
- 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
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.
Did you make this recipe?
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Lynn Polito says
Fantastic!! I love a one pot pasta!!
Mandy from Splash of Taste says
Us too! Glad you like it!
Cindy says
Thanks for the great recipe! I love that you made it a vegan version too!
Jenn says
I love creamy pastas and this dish really hits the spot!
Mandy from Splash of Taste says
Glad you like it – it’s one of our favorites!
Kim says
This pasta was so delicious. We didn’t even miss the meat. I’m having it for lunch today too!
laura says
Mmmmm warm and conforting just what we needed for dinner last night! Thanks!
Sherry says
This 30 minute One Pot Pink Pasta Sauce recipe was so easy to make and my family loved it!!
Sachiko says
We loved your pink pasta sauce!