One dish every home cook needs in their back pocket: A rich, creamy, decadent pasta sauce recipe. These easy sauces are perfect for weeknights (and most are easy to meal prep ahead of time!)
These creamy sauce ideas don't stop at pasta, either: Drizzle these simple cream sauces over grilled chicken, use them as a base for homemade pizza, serve with roasted veggies, or pour over a bit of roasted spaghetti squash.
Three tips for cream sauces
- Cut the richness. Add salt, herbs, or a bit of acid (like lemon juice, vinegar, or white wine) to help rich sauces feel more balanced.
- Shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is often coated with preservatives that prevent it from melting smoothly. For best results, buy a block of cheese at the store, and shred it yourself!
- Add a splash of pasta water to your cream sauce! Starchy pasta water thins out your sauce and helps it cling to the pasta noodles. This quick trick helps even the simplest cream feel straight-from-a-restaurant!
Our favorite creamy pasta sauce recipes
Easy Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Easy, creamy mushroom sauce - perfect for busy weeknights! Great for pasta, gnocchi, and chicken. With plenty of substitution notes!
Photo & Recipe: Life As A Strawberry
Cajun Alfredo Sauce
Homemade alfredo sauce with cajun spices. Toss this decadent sauce with fettuccine and add blackened chicken or shrimp. Ready in 30 minutes!
Photo & Recipe: Lauren From Scratch
Warm Sour Cream and Chive Sauce
This warm sour cream and chive sauce is perfect with pierogi, potatoes, and more! With step by step photos and lots of serving suggestions.
Photo & Recipe: Life As A Strawberry
Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
This Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce is the perfect way to add a full serving of veggies to a delicious, satisfying pasta dish. With a combination of roasted garlic, sage, and thyme.
Photo & Recipe: Midwest Foodie
Homemade White Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Creamy, silky smooth, and darn good, this cheddar cheese sauce is a big winner. Perfect for mac and cheese or as a dipping sauce for pretzel bites!
Photo & Recipe: Sweet Tea & Thyme
15 Minute Garlic Sauce
This garlic parmesan sauce is excellent on pasta, pizza, or as a dipping sauce. With butter, fresh garlic, vegetable broth, parmesan cheese, and heavy cream.
Photo & Recipe: Midwest Foodie
Simple White Sauce
A simple white sauce is an essential back-pocket recipe! Whip this parmesan sauce up in 30 minutes and use it with pasta, pizza, and more. No heavy cream!
Photo & Recipe: Life As A Strawberry
Cauliflower Cream Sauce
This magical cauliflower cream sauce purée is easy to meal prep and perfect for adding an extra serving of veggies to your favorite dishes! Vegan/Dairy-free.
Photo & Recipe: Life As A Strawberry
Roasted Garlic Alfredo Sauce
Creamy Alfredo sauce with savory roasted garlic. This homemade alfredo is made without heavy cream. Great for chicken Alfredo, shrimp Alfredo, or white lasagna.
Photo & Recipe: Lauren From Scratch
We hope you loved this guide to creamy pasta sauces! For more easy dinner ideas, check out our full recipe index.
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