big bowl of pink sauce pasta

A couple months ago I found myself alone with an hour to shop at Costco while the tire center replaced my car’s tires (is there anything Costco doesn’t do/sell? I have long maintained that if they had a wine bar inside I’d shop nowhere else.)

Anyway, a WHOLE HOUR to shop by myself at Costco! I leisurely wandered through every aisle and, while I was able to walk away from a super cute luggage set (kind of have reverse buyers remorse about that,) a double pack of jarred alfredo sauce somehow made it into my cart.

Now, I’ve bought alfredo sauce maybe two other times in my life, but a double pack of giant jars on a random Tuesday afternoon? Apparently couldn’t leave without it.

The alfredo sauce jars had been sitting untouched in the pantry until inspiration recently struck: I’d jazz up spaghetti night by pairing it with marinara sauce and cooked pasta. The resulting Pink Sauce Pasta was one of the most delicious and easy pasta recipes to EVER come out of my kitchen!

bowl of pink sauce pasta with chopped parsley sprinkled on top

What is Pink Sauce Pasta?

Pink Sauce Pasta is cooked pasta tossed with equal parts red marinara sauce and white alfredo sauce which combine to make – you got it – a pink-hued sauce. Again, as simple as the combination sounds, it is mind blowingly delicious. I’m sort of wondering how I’m ever supposed to go back to eating pasta with plain ol’ marinara sauce? Each bite tastes like you’re eating cheese ravioli – you will lick your plate clean!

Initially I thought I’d invented this brilliant combo with my brilliant mind, but Ben was quick to inform me that it’s actually very common and sometimes called Pasta Rose or Parma Rosa.

THANKS DEAR.

Well I’m at least claiming upgrade because upon further inspection, many Pink Sauce Pasta recipes instruct you to make a homemade white sauce using heavy cream or cream cheese, which is completely lovely, but my shortcut, 3 ingredient version will be on the table in 10 minutes using just 1 pot. Dinner. Made. EASY!

Ingredients Needed

Pink Sauce Pasta is a “non recipe” type of recipe so I’m not even including ingredient amounts in the recipe card below. Don’t over think this! Here’s what you’ll need:

  1. Pasta. I like penne because the pink sauce clings to the ridges on the outside of the pasta and gets inside of it too. You can use whatever pasta you have on hand though. I’ve made this with gluten free cheese ravioli which was divine.
  2. Marinara or Spaghetti Sauce. There are things I like to save money on at the grocery store but a good quality marinara sauce isn’t one of them. Definitely spring for the best you can find. Locals, we love Ginos! Their marinara sauce is spicy while the spaghetti sauce is mild – use whatever your family prefers.
  3. Alfredo Sauce. Rao’s Homemade Alfredo Sauce is the brand I purchased at Costco and it’s incredible. If you can’t find Rao’s look for a jar with the least amount of ingredients – we’re looking mostly for cream, cheese, butter, salt and pepper.

What to Serve with Pink Sauce Pasta

I think the decadence of the alfredo sauce makes this dish wholly satisfying on its own but if you want to bulk up your bowl of pasta, try adding these proteins on top:

Ok, you’re not going to believe this until you eat it, so let’s get to it!

fork spearing penne pasta with pink sauce

How to Make Pink Sauce Pasta

Start by cooking gluten free pasta, or regular pasta if you don’t need to eat GF, in boiling water until al dente. Like I said, I like penne because the pink sauce clings to every nook and cranny but any pasta shape you’ve got on hand will work.

box of gluten free penne sitting on the counter

Drain the pasta then turn the heat down to low and add equal amounts of alfredo sauce and marinara or spaghetti sauce to the pot and stir to combine. Once the sauce mixture is warm, add the drained pasta then stir to combine.

jars of marinara sauce and alfredo sauce sitting on the counter

That’s all she wrote – BEYOND simple, right?! Although I usually serve spaghetti with a moderate amount of marinara sauce, you are going to want your pasta swimming in pink sauce. It’s absolutely luscious. I hope you love this fabulous yet easy twist on pasta night – enjoy!

bowl of pink sauce pasta with penne

What to Serve with Pink Sauce Pasta

Pink Sauce Pasta

5/5 (3 REVIEWS)

Description

Switch up pasta night with Pink Sauce Pasta! This decadent, 10 minute, 3 ingredient pasta recipe will leave you licking your plate clean.

Ingredients

  • Gluten free penne (or any pasta shape you like)
  • Jarred marinara or spaghetti sauce (I like Gino's)
  • Jarred alfredo sauce (I like Rao's)

Directions

  1. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente then drain. Add equal amounts marinara/spaghetti sauce and alfredo sauce into the empty pot then stir together and warm over low heat. Add drained pasta to the pot, stir to coat, then serve.

Notes

  • This pink sauce is also incredible served over cheese ravioli!

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

photo collage of pink sauce pastsa