This tomato paste pasta sauce is the simplest, most delicious pasta sauce you'll ever make. It combines tomato paste with sundried tomatoes and garlic to make a rich and flavorful sauce that'll elevate any kind of pasta!
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The Best Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce
If you love spaghetti and are always on the hunt for the perfect pasta sauce, you won't find one better than this tomato paste pasta sauce.
The sauce is made with savory tomato paste, sundried tomatoes, and garlic, all simmered with a bay leaf until the sauce thickens and develops tons of flavor. Then, it's tossed with al dente spaghetti noodles to make the ultimate pasta dish.
This tomato paste pasta sauce has been a go-to sauce recipe of mine for a while now. It's the perfect pasta sauce recipe to make when you want to have pasta night but don't want to spend a lot of time cooking. The sauce comes together in minutes and makes for a really delicious meal.
As good as this tomato paste spaghetti recipe is by itself, it's even better served alongside some garlic bread to dip in the savory sauce.
Why This Recipe Works
One pan meal. The spaghetti sauce for this recipe comes together in one pan, then all you have to do is toss in the pasta and serve. It's so easy!
Versatile. This tomato paste pasta sauce is perfect tossed with spaghetti noodles, used as pizza sauce, or as a dipping sauce for things like these fried red tomatoes. No matter how you use it, this sauce is guaranteed to be a hit!
Quick to make. Homemade pasta sauces can take hours to make, but this tomato paste sauce comes together in just a few minutes!
Ingredients
The ingredient list for this tomato paste pasta sauce recipe is surprisingly simple. Check out everything you need to make tomato paste pasta sauce:
- 4 tbsps. olive oil
- 1 sundried tomato
- 4 tbsps. tomato paste
- 2 cup pasta water
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 16 oz. cooked spaghetti
- 1 bay leaf
By the way, if you're looking for more ways to use this tomato paste pasta sauce, definitely use it in place of jarred marinara sauce in this spaghetti and meatball bake or in this million dollar spaghetti casserole.
How To Make Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce
1. Cook the sundried tomato: Add the olive oil, sundried tomato, and minced garlic to a large skillet. Heat on low heat for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
2. Add the tomato paste: Turn up the heat to medium heat and add the canned tomato paste. Cook the tomato paste mixture for about 5 minutes, and then add the pasta water and bay leaf. Bring this to a low boil, then lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the spaghetti noodles: Remove the pan from the heat and discard the bay leaf. Season the sauce to taste with salt and black pepper. Finally, toss the sauce with the cooked pasta and stir to combine.
4. Serve: Garnish the pasta with fresh Italian parsley or other fresh herbs and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Serve warm, and enjoy!
Tips To Make The Best Recipe
- Add red pepper flakes to make a spicy tomato sauce.
- Add canned tomatoes and cooked ground beef to make a healthier pasta sauce.
- Experiment with adding seasonings, like garlic powder, onion powder, fresh basil, or Italian seasoning, to add more flavor.
- Add veggies, like chopped onions, spinach, fresh tomatoes, or sliced bell peppers, to make a healthier pasta dish.
- Add more tomato paste to make a thicker sauce, or add more pasta water to make a thinner sauce, depending on your preference.
How To Store Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce
In the fridge: Store leftover pasta in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Leftover pasta sauce can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for up to one week.
In the freezer: Allow the leftover pasta to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze the pasta for up to 3 months. Leftover pasta sauce can be stored in a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months.
Reheating: Transfer the leftover spaghetti to a pan over medium heat. Let the pasta cook, stirring occasionally, until it's fully reheated. Allow frozen leftovers to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce FAQS
Can I use tomato paste instead of pasta sauce?
Technically yes. If you don't have pasta sauce, then you can make a sauce by combining equal parts tomato paste and water, plus some seasonings.
What does tomato paste do for pasta sauce?
Tomato paste has a rich, highly concentrated flavor that adds a layer of flavor to pasta sauce that's unbeatable. It also thickens up the texture of pasta sauce to better coat the noodles.
Is tomato pasta sauce the same as tomato paste?
No, tomato paste is highly concentrated and very thick, whereas pasta sauce is much more mild in flavor and has a thinner consistency.
More Recipes
- Spaghetti sandwich
- Mexican spaghetti
- Spaghetti with shrimp
- Cream cheese pasta
- Kielbasa pasta
- Chicken and broccoli pasta bake
Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce
This tomato paste pasta sauce is the simplest, most delicious pasta sauce you'll ever make. It combines tomato paste with sundried tomatoes and garlic to make a rich and flavorful sauce that'll elevate any kind of pasta!
Ingredients
- 4 tbsps. olive oil
- 1 sundried tomato
- 4 tbsps. tomato paste
- 2 cup pasta water
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 16 oz. cooked spaghetti
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- In a medium pan add olive oil, sundried tomato and minced garlic, and heat for 2 minutes on low heat.
- Turn up the heat to medium and add the tomato paste. Cook for about 5 minutes, and then add pasta water and bay leaf. Bring to a low boil, and then lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Discard the bay leaf. Season the sauce with salt and black pepper, to taste. Toss with the cooked pasta and stir.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or basil, and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
½ cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 233Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 4g
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