5-Ingredient Pasta Sauce
A savory and fragrant 5-Ingredient Pasta Sauce, made with leftover summer tomatoes, with a hint of Parmesan. An easy recipe for any pasta!
Oh, what an easy pasta sauce recipe! How to make homemade pasta sauce? This homemade pasta sauce is well worth the time involved (simmering) for the best flavor.
For most of the year, tomatoes in the grocery store are sub par at best; they lack flavor, savory sweetness, and often have a mealy texture. This is why tomato season is so dear to my heart, as I can go to the grocery store and pick any tomato, knowing that its flavor will surpass my expectations.
Why we love this recipe
Quick and easy!
Much tastier than from a jar.
Only 5 ingredients.
5-Ingredient Pasta Sauce
This pasta sauce with 5 ingredients, is a celebration of this special time of year, and a reminder that when cooking with ripe, delicious, seasonal produce, less really is more!
This recipe makes two large portions, so just double it for four. Or quadruple it for making a big homemade lasagna! Or on top of this Best Four Cheese Pasta Bake!
Make this 5-Ingredient Pasta Sauce and serve it with your favorite pasta and Parmesan cheese on top. Or use this sauce in a delicious lasagna. There’s nothing quite like homemade pasta sauce!
All you need are these 5 ingredients:
- Olive oil + garlic
- Ripe cherry tomatoes: Sungold, Black Cherry, Juliet, etc.
- Basil leaves
- Salt and pepper to season
- Parmesan rind
For the pasta plus 5-Ingredient Pasta Sauce
- 5 Ingredient Pasta Sauce
- Fresh Parmesan
- Pasta, cooked al dente (we use Delallo brand)
- Fresh basil leaves
Easy homemade pasta sauce recipe
Do you ever feel like you’re lagging behind, like it’s hard to keep up? It reminds me of being a kid, and having to clean house. My mom taught us well, and eventually I could take the lead and move quickly. Sometimes we feel that way with cooking, too. Right?
That’s why I’m sharing an easy 5-Ingredient Pasta Sauce that anyone can make!
How to make homemade pasta sauce
- In a small saucepan or skillet, add the oil and heat over medium. Once shimmery, add the garlic, and cook until fragrant and lightly golden.
- Add the tomatoes and Parmesan rind; stir and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Season lightly with salt, because the tomatoes will reduce, and the flavor will concentrate (you can always add more later).
- Bring the tomatoes to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer. Halfway through, stir in the basil.
- The tomatoes should be jammy and fragrant after an hour or so. Remove the Parmesan rind, then transfer to a food processor or blender until smooth. Taste for additional seasonings.
- Before serving with pasta, add 1/2 cup of pasta water to the sauce and reduce it down. (Cook it down until it becomes denser.)
Serve the sauce with your favorite (al dente) pasta, more fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese!
Here are a few of my favorite Delallo pasta recipes:
Mexican Ground Turkey Olive Pasta Bake, Best Italian Pasta Bake (soooo good), Comfort Brussels Sprouts Bacon Pasta Bake. And this Pizza Pasta Salad and this Arugula Pasta Salad.
Get the Recipe:
5-Ingredient Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ c olive oil
- 5-6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 lb ripe cherry tomatoes: Sungold, Black Cherry, Juliet, etc., halved
- 8 large basil leaves plus more to serve
- Salt and pepper to season
- Fresh Parmesan to serve and Parmesan rind, optional
- 2 servings of pasta, cooked al dente (reserve some of the pasta water - we buy Delallo brand)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta, al dente, reserving some of the pasta water.
- In a small saucepan or skillet, add the oil and heat over medium. Once shimmery, add the garlic and cook until fragrant and lightly golden—2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and Parmesan rind; stir and season with a pinch of salt, about 1 tsp, and a few cracks of pepper. Season lightly with salt, because the tomatoes will reduce, and the flavor will concentrate (you can always add more later). Bring the tomatoes to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 45 min to 1 hour. Halfway through, stir in the basil.
- The tomatoes should be jammy and fragrant after an hour or so. Remove the Parmesan rind, then transfer to a food processor or blender until smooth. Taste for additional seasonings.
- Before serving with pasta, add 1/2 cup of pasta water to the sauce and reduce it down for 8-10 more minutes.
- Serve the sauce with your favorite (al dente) pasta, more fresh basil, and Parmesan!
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
