31 Pasta Sauce Recipes That Are Way More Exciting Than Marinara (2024)

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Erin McDowell

We already thought avocados were the best. Then we put them on our pasta and it became fact.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Six ingredients, 20 minutes and an authentic Italian dinner is yours. Pass the cheese, please.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

For as rich and decadent as this dish is, you’d be surprised to learn that there’s no butter or heavy cream involved. You can thank the squash for that.

Quentin Bacon/Oaxaca

When you’re looking to try something totally new, this herby, cheesy sauce is just the ticket. It’s got roasted poblano chiles for smokiness and Mexican crema for a creamy boost.

Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

So you can’t part with your beloved red sauce. You can still try something new: This tomato-based dish is more spicy than saucy, thanks to Calabrian chiles and a little bit of pancetta.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

This back-pocket dinner is bright, cheese-laced and impossibly easy to make. You likely have most of the ingredients in your kitchen already.

David Loftus/Ultimate Veg

This dish has all the gooey goodness of traditional macaroni, plus a helping of green veggies for your health. See? You can have your cake and eat it too.

Paul Brissman/Antoni in the Kitchen

This is not your nonna’s Bolognese. It’s made with lamb and lots of Middle Eastern spices for a sauce that’s kind of familiar and kind of not (and totally delicious).

Anna Jones/The Modern Cook’s Year

This is as simple and enticing as any marinara, with a spice-laden twist to keep it feeling fresh.

The secret to creamy pasta in less than 30 minutes? Goat cheese, which melts and coats each noodle in all the right ways.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Imagine a plate of pasta that’s luscious but light, and you’ll find this spicy number waiting for you to dig in.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

The sriracha-spiked peanut sauce starts with peanut butter and comes together in a blender for a dish that’s ready in 25 minutes.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

In the same amount of time it takes to toss noodles with jarred sauce, you can spice up things up with coconut milk, red curry paste and stir-fried veggies. This is better than takeout.

Would you believe us if we told you this dish is plant-based? It is. Cashews add richness, while the sweet juice from the fresh corn makes everything saucy.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Behold, the leaner, lighter version of one of our favorite indulgences. Cauliflower, we knew there was a reason we kept you around.

Inspired Entertainment/The Domestic Geek’s Meals Made Easy

The best part of this dish, beyond having just one pot to clean? Once you’ve mastered it, you can customize the recipe with whatever veggies you please.

Laura Edwards/The Yoga Kitchen Plan

This raw coconut milk sauce is tasty on zoodles, but we think it would taste even better as a cold pasta salad.

Inspired Entertainment/The Domestic Geek’s Meals Made Easy

Normally, you’d cook this pasta and sauce in at least two different pans, but in this 35-minute version, everything comes together in a single pot. Better yet, it makes for the creamiest results imaginable.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

We’re using the zucchini noodles as an excuse to load up on as much of this kimchi-red pepper sauce as possible.

Vegan in the House

With non-dairy sour cream, no one will know it’s vegan.

Half Baked Harvest

We highly recommend making homemade gnocchi, but if you’re not up for the challenge, don’t worry. This sauce requires just five ingredients and would pair just as well with any type of pasta.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

You’ve had bacon in pasta, but never peaches. There’s a first time for everything.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

When elegant yet easy is what you’re after, look no further than this beauty. It’s pretty enough for date night in, but not too fancy to serve on any weeknight.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Charring the chicken breasts for a few minutes adds a little je ne sais quoi to this classic French dish.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Eggplant, basil and pecorino cheese are the stars of the show. Close your eyes, take a bite and you’ll be in sunny Italy.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Regular mac and cheese is great. Spicy mac and cheese with garlic and avocado is even better.

Abra Berens/Chronicle Books

The sauce is made from pureed eggplant, which is unexpected, rustic and just as delicious as any restaurant dish.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

When the fresh ricotta hits the warm noodles and mingles with the squash, that’s when you should dive in.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

We’d like to be covered in a blanket of cheese, cauliflower and breadcrumbs too, but we can’t all be as lucky as these noodles.

Dana Carpender/Keto for One

Yep, pasta is on your diet. (Shh, it’s all thanks to low-carb shirataki noodles.)

Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Caroline Lange

Mac and cheese from scratch with just five ingredients? You gouda be kidding us. (Sorry, had to!)

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillenis PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...