Quick Tomato Paste Pasta SauceĀ
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Quick Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce is a fast and flavorful red sauce made from pantry staples. Caramelized with olive oil, garlic, and Calabrian chili peppers, it delivers a rich and robust flavor with minimal effort.
Serve with breaded chicken and homemade ciabatta bread.
This post is sponsored by DeLallo – I only support and work with brands with high-quality products I love and actually use and eat. All opinions are my own and these tomato products are some of my favorites!
Quick Look at This Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20minutes
- Servings: 6 people
- Dietary Info: Vegan, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free (use GF pasta)
- Method: Stove Top
- Technique: Heat olive oil in a skillet, then sauté garlic and Calabrian chili peppers until fragrant. Stir in tomato paste and cook until caramelized, creating a rich, flavorful sauce ready to toss with pasta.
- Flavor & Texture: Bold and savory with a subtle kick from the chili, this sauce is thick, smooth, and deeply flavorful, coating each strand of pasta beautifully.
“Loved how simple this was and have always wanted to try Calabrian chiles. Just enough kick for me, but the rest of the fam would like me to bump it up even more. Great recipe!
– Katrina
Why You’ll Love This Family Favorite
Homemade tomato sauce using tomato paste is one of those Italian sauces you will love for its simplicity and amazing flavor. It comes together quickly with just a few pantry staples, making it a perfect go-to for weeknight pasta dinners.
Using reserved pasta water helps thicken the savory sauce and create a delicious coating for perfectly cooked pasta. This versatile sauce is not only a great alternative to traditional pomodoro, but you can also use it as a flavorful pizza sauce.
You will also love my Amatriciana Sauce, Spaghetti Aglio e Olio, Pasta with Pink Sauce, and Pasta Carbonara.
Made With Amore,
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce
You only need a few pantry ingredients to make this super flavorful and restaurant-worthy tomato paste pasta sauce.
- Tomato Paste: The base of the sauce, providing rich, concentrated tomato flavor.
- Olive Oil: Adds depth and richness while helping caramelize the tomato paste. Choose extra virgin olive oil for optimal flavor.
- Garlic: Brings aromatic warmth to the sauce. Fresh garlic cloves are best.
- Calabrian Chili Peppers: Adds a subtle heat and complexity. Adjust the amount to your preferred spice level.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations & Substitutions
- Extra Spicy Tomato Paste Sauce: Add some red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or black pepper to the sauce to give it some heat. If you love spicy sauces then you will also enjoy this red enchilada sauce!
- Creamy Tomato Sauce: Stir in some heavy cream, cream cheese, or half-and-half to the sauce to make it creamy and rich.
- Meaty Tomato Paste Sauce: Brown some ground beef or Italian sausage in the skillet before adding the garlic and tomato paste. Let it simmer with the sauce for added flavor and protein. Try my Italian Ragu Meat Sauce next.
- Veggie Tomato Paste Sauce: Add some chopped veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomato, grape tomatoes, san marzano plum tomatoes, or mushrooms to the sauce to give it some extra nutrition and flavor.
- Herby Tomato Paste Sauce: Add some fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or thyme to the sauce for a burst of freshness.
How To Make Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce
You will love how fast this tomato paste pasta sauce comes together! Follow the step-by step photos and see the recipe card at the bottom for a printable version.
- Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and Calabrian Chili Peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is softened and slightly golden brown, about 2 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and salt. Cook, stirring often, until the tomato paste is caramelized and dark red in color, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Meanwhile, add pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente—reserve 2 cups of pasta cooking water and set aside. Drain the pasta. Add the pasta water to the skillet and stir to combine with the tomato paste mixture. Use a whisk to combine the mixture until smooth. Let the sauce simmer over medium-high heat, for about 1 minute. Reduce to low heat.
- Add the pasta and toss until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta completely, about 1-2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the parmigiano cheese and toss to combine. Serve with extra grated parmigiano, fresh basil leaves, and more Calabrian chili pepper paste if desired.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes, you can use tomato sauce, or canned tomatoes, instead of tomato paste, but the resulting sauce will be thinner and less concentrated in flavor. You may need to adjust the amount of liquid in the recipe to compensate for the thinner consistency.
Yes, you can make the sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to use. Make sure to cool the sauce completely before storing it and reheat it thoroughly before serving.
Make sure to stir the sauce frequently while it’s cooking to prevent it from burning or sticking to the skillet. You can also add a splash of water or broth if the sauce is too thick or dry. Once you add the hot pasta water it will turn into a thicker sauce.
DeLallo’s affordable gourmet Italian products are available at most local grocery stores in the United States. If you can’t find them, you can order from DeLallo’s website anytime and deliver them to your home. Shipping is nationwide!
Refrigerate: Place the leftover pasta in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. Ensure the container or bag is tightly sealed to prevent air and moisture from getting in. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freeze: Place the pasta in an airtight container or labeled resealable freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Reheat: Heat leftover pasta in the microwave or stovetop to reheat leftover pasta. If using the microwave, place the pasta in a microwave-safe dish and heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through. If using the stovetop, heat the pasta in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated.
Serving Suggestions
I love serving quick tomato paste pasta sauce tossed with your favorite pasta, like my Homemade Pappardelle Pasta Recipe, for a simple weeknight dinner or a cozy family meal. It pairs beautifully with Italian Turkey Meatballs and The Best Meatballs Ever! (Italian Polpette Recipe). For a complete Italian-inspired dinner, try adding Roasted Vegetables, Garlic Bread, or finish with Authentic Tiramisu Recipe or Easy Italian Almond Cake (One Bowl) for dessert.
My Pro Tips
Expert Tips
- Caramelize the Tomato Paste Slowly: Let the tomato paste caramelize with olive oil, garlic, and Calabrian chili peppers. This adds a robust and unique flavor to the dish.
- Cook Pasta Perfectly: Salt the water to flavor the pasta from the inside out. Only cook until al dente.
- Adjust the Heat: Add more or less Calabrian chili peppers depending on your spice preference.
More Sauce Recipes You’ll Love
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Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup DeLallo Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ½- 1 teaspoon depends how spicy you like it DeLallo Calabrain Chili Pepper Paste, plus more for serving
- 1 4.6-ounce tube DeLallo Tomato Paste
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pound dried pasta, such as DeLallo Spaghetti or Rigatoni
- ½ cup freshly grated parmigiano reggiano cheese, parmesan
- Chopped fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)
- Reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and Calabrian Chili Peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is softened and slightly golden brown, about 2 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and salt. Cook, stirring often, until the tomato paste is caramelized and dark red in color, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Meanwhile, add pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente—reserve 2 cups of pasta cooking water and set aside. Drain the pasta.
- Add the pasta water to the skillet and stir to combine with the tomato paste mixture. Use a whisk to combine the mixture until smooth. Let the sauce simmer over medium-high heat for about 1-2 minutes. Reduce to low heat. Add the pasta and toss until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta completely, about 1 minute.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Add the parmigiano cheese and toss to combine. Serve with extra grated parmigiano, fresh basil leaves, and more Calabrian chili pepper paste if desired. Serve hot. Buon appetito!
Notes
- Caramelize the Tomato Paste Slowly: Let the tomato paste caramelize with olive oil, garlic, and Calabrian chili peppers. This adds a robust and unique flavor to the dish.
- Cook Pasta Perfectly: Salt the water to flavor the pasta from the inside out. Only cook until al dente.
- Adjust the Heat: Add more or less Calabrian chili peppers depending on your spice preference.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I appreciate the tips on seasoning and customizing the sauce to personal taste
https://vida-food.com/creative-ways-to-use-tomato-paste-in-your-recipes/
You are most welocome!
this turned out so good! thanks for the recipe!
absolutely! Here’s to many more!
Love this sauce! So quick and easy! My husband loves ‘additional sauce on the side’ so I have also just made this sauce and he has put it over the Delallo calabrian parmesan butter shellbows. https://www.delallo.com/recipe/calabrian-parmesan-butter-with-shellbows/. I love your recipes and my husband loves Italian food so you are a win for me!! Adding this to the other recipes of yours that we love!!
Yay! So happy you love this one and others. I love DeLallo products.
Loved how simple this was and have always wanted to try Calabrian chiles. Just enough kick for me, but the rest of the fam would like me to bump it up even more. Great recipe! Thanks, Elena!
Love the extra spice it brings with a certain depth in flavor!
I was pretty skeptical about trying this recipe, with it having so much water in it, BUT it was really delicious and very easy to make. This will be on the menu from now on.
Happy you loved it! Yes, the pasta water makes that delicious sauce. Letting it cook a bit in the pan thickens it and really adds flavor. Yum!
This recipe is so easy and full of flavor!