18 Homemade Pasta Sauces That Aren’t Marinara

homemade pasta sauces

Step aside marinara, there are new pasta sauces in town. Easy and oh-so-good, these from-scratch pasta sauces will be your new go-to’s. No more jarred sauces for you! Homemade pasta sauce might require a little extra effort, but the family will taste the love in every bite.

Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

“Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce is hands down one of the best pasta sauces out there. This copycat recipe is only 5 steps to make, and it tastes just like Olive Garden’s delicious original recipe. It’s creamy, cheesy, and super easy to make right from the comfort of home.” – Stephanie

Vodka Sauce

“This homemade Vodka Sauce recipe is restaurant quality and easy to make. Creamy Italian tomato sauce with heavy cream, vodka, tomatoes, and crushed pepper flakes.” – Sabrina

Homemade Creamy Four Cheese Garlic Spaghetti Sauce

“This Homemade Creamy Four Cheese Garlic Spaghetti Sauce is the most delicious and the easiest white cheese Italian pasta sauce recipe!” – Julia

Creamy Pesto Pasta

“This creamy pesto pasta sauce is so simple and uses a minimal amount of ingredients! This easy creamy pesto pasta recipe will be a weeknight staple, the perfect sauce to go on your favorite pasta.” – Stephanie

Roasted Pepper Sauce

“Rich and creamy, hearty and so flavorful, this Shrimp Fettuccine with Roasted Pepper Sauce tastes better than a restaurant-cooked meal. Made in under 30 minutes! “ – Tania

Lemon Garlic Pasta

“Lemon Garlic Pasta delivers bold, vibrant flavor with minimal effort. It’s the kind of pasta dish you turn to on busy weeknights when you want a satisfying dinner on the table in 20 minutes flat.” – Marissa

Creamy Vegan Tomato Basil Pasta

“Made with fresh tomatoes, basil, and deliciously dairy free, this creamy vegan tomato basil pasta is simple enough for a weeknight, but decadent enough for a date night in!” – Claire

White Wine Pasta Sauce with Garlic & Herbs

“This garlic white wine pasta sauce is bright, flavorful, and absolutely divine! Made with pantry staple ingredients for a simple pasta anytime. Can easily be made gluten free and vegan too – so it’s perfect for anyone at your table.” – Kelly

How To Make Italian Pomodoro Sauce

“Pomodoro is THE Italian tomato sauce! It’s thick and smooth and the basis for so many amazing recipes. You’ll love this very traditional version of the recipe using just a handful of simple ingredients brought together for the best flavor.” – AnneMarie

Pink Sauce Pasta

“The perfect blend of tomato and cream sauce, this pasta with pink sauce is one of our favorite dishes to make and comes together so quickly! Just a handful of ingredients and a quick cooking time gets lunch or dinner on the table in a flash.” – Farah

One Pot Ricotta Lemon Pasta

“This easy, delicious One Pot Ricotta Lemon Pasta is ready to eat in only 20 minutes and is a family favorite for busy nights. Pasta is tossed with a simple creamy ricotta sauce made with lemon, garlic and Parmesan. It pairs well with a green salad and a side of crusty bread.” – Kristina

Fried Garlic and Red Pepper Olive Oil Pasta

“A super simple pasta dish that has loads of flavor and smells amazing! You will be a fan of this from the start!” Julie

Spaghetti with Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce

“This recipe for Spaghetti with Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce kicks off my Simple Summer Suppers series. A series of six light summer meals designed to get you out of the kitchen as fast as possible so you can spend time with your family and friends and enjoy our beautiful warm summer evenings.” – Sharon

Velvety Garlic & Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

“Gluten free penne cooked and coated in a thick and velvety garlic and roasted red pepper pasta sauce. Make this dish in about 20 minutes with only 10 total ingredients – most of which you likely already have on hand!” – Sarah

Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce

“This creamy vegan Butternut Squash Sauce with sage is a quick and easy, delicious accompaniment to your favorite pasta! It’s healthy, customizable, and need I say simply delicious!” – Julie

Copycat Carbone’s Spicy Pasta

“Copycat Carbone’s Spicy Pasta is an easy but flavorful dish to prepare that was inspired by the popular Spicy Rigatoni recipe on Carbone’s restaurant menu. Perfectly cooked pasta is tossed in with a rich and creamy red tomato sauce that is ready to serve in about 30 minutes.” – Amanda

Pesto Cream Sauce

“This 5-minute pesto cream sauce is genius: just simmer pesto and cream until a thick sauce forms! It’s perfect for serving with pasta or fish.” – Sonja

Cream Cheese Alfredo Sauce

“Homemade Cream Cheese Garlic Alfredo Sauce is always a family favorite and you only need a few simple ingredients to make it! Serve over pasta noodles or use in any recipe that calls for alfredo sauce.” – Jessica