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    Home » Recipes » Entrees

    Angel Hair Pasta With Blush Sauce

    First Published: February 12, 2021 . Last Modified: August 30, 2022 lisa29 Comments This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    This creamy tomato sauce is luscious and flavorful. My Angel Hair Pasta recipe with Blush Sauce (AKA Pink Sauce Pasta) is easy to prepare, delicious and is sure to make your tummy happy.

    A beautiful plate of pasta with blush sauce.

    Comfort food always makes me feel better. To me, nothing is more comforting than a big bowl of pasta.  This week I had a case of the Monday winter blues and this was the perfect dish to make. The ingredients are simple and I typically always have them in my fridge and pantry. 

    Angel Hair Pasta with Blush Sauce is a staple recipe in my house. It's an easy vegetarian dinner that is very satisfying.

    What is Blush Sauce?

    Blush sauce is simply a tomato cream sauce.  I use a can of crushed tomatoes in this recipe and it is seasoned with crushed garlic and dried Italian seasoning. I also add a splash of white wine for a robust flavor.

    While some cooks might add heavy cream to their blush sauce, I like to save some calories for dessert so I used half and half instead. I am not saying this is a low-calorie dish because it's not. This creamy tomato sauce is tangy and perfect for a cold winter night.

    Lately I noticed that many restaurants have pasta with blush sauce on their menu and it is also referred to as pink sauce. Obviously that's the perfect name as it is a pinkish color. 

    I could eat this pink sauce pasta dish once per week! 

    Ingredients

    • pasta - I like angel hair but feel free to use any kind of pasta you like.
    • olive oil - This is my favorite but you could use another light neutral oil.
    • crushed garlic - I crush whole cloves.
    • canned crushed tomatoes - Find these in your grocery store.
    • dried Italian seasoning - Adds lots of delcious flavor.
    • white wine - This gives more flavor to the delcious sauce. You can substitute vegetable or chicken broth if you don't want to cook with alcohol.
    • salt and crushed red pepper to taste
    •  half and half - I like to keep this creamy pasta dish on the lighter side but use heavy whipping cream for a richer and thicker sauce.  
    • fresh basil - Dried basil leaves are fine if you can't get fresh for garnish. You can also use fresh parsley.
    • Parmesan cheese - Just a little goes a long way. I prefer freshly grated cheese.

    How to Make Blush Sauce with Pasta

    There are 3 easy steps in making this angel hair pasta recipe.

    1. Boil dry pasta in a large pot on medium-high heat or according to package instructions. Reserve some pasta water for later.
    2. Make the blush sauce in a large skillet.
    3. Toss the pasta with the creamy sauce and reserved pasta water.

    See printable recipe card below for exact ingredients and instructions.

    Recipe Tips

    • I love the thin strands of angel hair pasta and the fact that it gets coated with lots of sauce. But it is a very delicate pasta and you really have to be careful not to overcook it. If you are worried about this, you can use another pasta. Feel free to switch up the pasta to a more sturdier one like spaghetti, fettucine or linguine. 
    • If you would like to add a vegetable like fresh or frozen broccoli or spinach, you can cook it with the sauce then toss it with the pasta. This adds extra color and nutrition to the dish. Or you could add some extra protein like cooked chicken breast or shrimp.
    • I love to add fresh herbs and fresh basil goes so well with this dish. I happen to keep a fresh basil plant on my window sill during the winter months so chopped basil is what I use. But leave it out if you don't have any or use another fresh herb like parsley if you can get it. 

    Serving Suggestions

    • I always like a fresh sprinkle of Italian cheese on pasta. Use your favorite such as Parmesan, Romano or even shredded mozzarella cheese.
    • If you need to include meat in your dinner (like my husband and son enjoy), serve some meatballs or sausage on the side. And when dinner is ready, get yourself a nice glass of wine and enjoy!  
    • Add veggies to the pasta. My family's favorite is blanched broccoli or spinach.
    • Serve garlic bread and/or a simple salad on the side. Or try some side dishes below.
    Parmesan cheese being grated over angel hair pasta recipe with creamy tomato sauce

    Side Dish Recipes to Serve

    The creamy tomato sauce on this pasta is so yummy and satisfying you could easily count that as your veggies and call it a day. I won't judge if you fill a big bowl and just chow down! If you want to serve more than blush pasta sauce over pasta, I recommend these side dishes:

    • Oven Roasted Vegetables 
    • Beet and Goat Cheese Mesclun Salad
    • Strawberry Avocado Salad
    • Panko and Parmesan Roasted Asparagus
    • Caprese Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette

    More Pasta Recipes You Will Love

    • Straw and Hay Pasta Recipe
    • One Pot Spinach and Artichoke Bucatini
    • Vegetarian Pasta Recipe - Penne with Artichokes, Sun Dried Tomatoes & Peas
    • Pappardelle Pasta Recipe with Bacon, Egg & Cheese
    • Lemon Asparagus Pasta from Piping Pot Curry
    • Shrimp Spaghetti with Spinach and Tomatoes

    We all have tough days or days when we need a comforting meal when we come home.  This angel hair pasta with creamy tomato sauce is sure to top your list of go-to meals.

    Angel Hair Pasta recipe with blush sauce

    If you like this Angel Hair Pasta with Blush Sauce recipe, please give it a 5-star rating below.

    RECIPE

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    5 from 10 votes

    Angel Hair Pasta With Blush Sauce

    Angel Hair Pasta with Blush Sauce is easy to prepare, full of flavor and perfect comfort food.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time35 minutes mins
    Total Time40 minutes mins
    Course: pasta
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 381kcal
    Author: Jersey Girl Cooks (Lisa Grant)

    Ingredients

    • 16 ounces Angel Hair pasta
    • 2 TBS olive oil
    • 2 teaspoon crushed garlic
    • 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
    • 1 TBS dried Italian seasoning
    • ½ cup white wine
    • salt and crushed red pepper to taste
    • ¾ cup half and half
    • Chopped basil (dried is fine if you can't get fresh) for garnish
    • Grated cheese for garnish

    Instructions

    • Cook the pasta al dente in a pot of boiling water according to package directions. It should be slightly undercooked. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain pasta when done.
    • In a large frying pan, heat the oil on medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for two minutes.
    • Add the tomatoes, seasoning and wine. Bring to a simmer and cover. Cook for 15 minutes or until sauce is very thick while stirring well. Add salt and red pepper to taste.
    • Add the half and half to the pan and cook until bubbly. Stir well.
    • Add the pasta and water to the pan. Toss and cook for a few minutes or until sauce is thick and pasta is well coated. ***(See note)
    • Serve in bowls garnished with basil and cheese.

    Notes

    Angel hair pasta is very delicate so I prefer to slightly undercook it when boiling the pasta. As you add it to the pan it will cook a bit more. Be careful not to toss it too much where the noodles break up.  

    Nutrition

    Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 232mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 120IU | Vitamin C: 0.6mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 1.4mg

    Thanks for stopping by! Subscribe to Jersey Girl Cooks if you would like more recipes and cooking tips sent to your email. You can also order my Super Easy Cookbook for Beginners and follow me on social media - Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

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    Comments

    1. teresa says

      February 06, 2013 at 3:44 pm

      oh my goodness, i want to make this immediately! it looks SO good, and yes, comforting!

      Reply
    2. Kate says

      February 07, 2013 at 12:13 am

      I must be the same way, since we've been eating a lot of pasta lately!

      Reply
    3. DessertForTwo says

      February 07, 2013 at 12:30 am

      5 stars
      Sounds scrumptious! 🙂

      Reply
    4. Zee says

      February 07, 2013 at 3:11 am

      wow! delicious!

      Reply
    5. Pam says

      February 07, 2013 at 12:14 pm

      That is my kind of comfort food! I like that you added half & half instead of heavy cream. It looks delicious.

      Reply
    6. debbie says

      February 07, 2013 at 4:53 pm

      Now if I could just figure out how to dig my fork into that picture!!! This really looks great!

      Reply
    7. Danielle says

      February 07, 2013 at 7:37 pm

      Fat free half and half would DEFINITELY lighten it up! So jealous of your fun weekend away 🙂

      Reply
    8. Ramona says

      February 08, 2013 at 12:02 pm

      I'd love it. The hubby would be hollering for meat.

      Reply
      • Vicki says

        October 16, 2021 at 6:21 am

        Toss in some shrimp or rotisserie chicken

        Reply
        • lisa says

          October 16, 2021 at 2:27 pm

          Great idea! I like to do occasional vegetarian recipes but todding in some protein is good too!

          Reply
    9. Katrina says

      February 09, 2013 at 1:48 am

      Mmm, that does sound perfectly comforting. And I'm with you, save a few fat/calories on the meal so I can have dessert! 😉

      Reply
    10. Rachel says

      February 27, 2014 at 2:02 am

      Just discovered this fabulous recipe. I am really excited to try the blush sauce. Sometimes I need a break from red sauce and this sounds perfect. So glad I discovered your site. 🙂

      Reply
    11. Wanda says

      February 21, 2021 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      This looks fantastic. I'm going to try making this pasta for Meatless Monday!

      Reply
    12. colleen kennedy says

      February 24, 2021 at 1:09 pm

      5 stars
      Cane out perfect, close to vodka sauce without the bite which my son loved!

      Reply
    13. Eileen Robson says

      July 05, 2021 at 3:42 pm

      The sauce is amazing. I made it with ravioli. So good. My hubby asks for it a lot.

      Reply
      • lisa says

        July 06, 2021 at 2:18 pm

        Glad you like it and thank you for the kind comment Eileen!

        Reply
    14. Lima Ekram says

      July 29, 2021 at 2:50 pm

      5 stars
      Loved, loved loved the blush sauce! So tasty! Will be making again!

      Reply
    15. Jenn says

      July 29, 2021 at 3:28 pm

      5 stars
      This simple pasta dish is my go-to when I want something quick and tasty! I love this with leftover grilled chicken, too. Yum!

      Reply
    16. Mairead says

      July 29, 2021 at 5:42 pm

      5 stars
      You've me inspired me to make this pasta tonight! I always have these ingredients on hand and this blush sauce looks absolutely amazing.
      Thank you!

      Reply
    17. Beth says

      July 29, 2021 at 7:35 pm

      5 stars
      What a delicious and very flavorful recipe! My family absolutely loved this recipe. It was a huge hit here and I'll definitely be making this again!

      Reply
    18. Chenée says

      July 29, 2021 at 8:06 pm

      5 stars
      I love everything about this recipe! Especially that amazing blush sauce!

      Reply
    19. Sandra says

      July 18, 2022 at 3:09 pm

      Can you freeze this sauce?

      Reply
      • lisa says

        July 18, 2022 at 4:13 pm

        Hi Sandra. Freezing this sauce would not be a great idea because the light cream in it would separate.

        Reply
    20. Juanita Spitzock says

      February 13, 2023 at 7:20 am

      5 stars
      Love this sauce. I love any kind of pasta oil, seasoning, lots of garlic and white wine. Another great sauce. Love the gersey girl recipes. Easy and simple food. Makes a great meal.

      Reply
      • lisa says

        February 13, 2023 at 10:38 am

        Juanita,
        I appreciate your review and kind words!
        Happy cooking!
        Lisa

        Reply
    21. Jules says

      February 27, 2023 at 9:05 pm

      What can I substitute for the white wine?

      Reply
      • lisa says

        February 28, 2023 at 7:23 am

        Hi Jules,

        You could do a vegetable or chicken broth, preferably low sodium.

        Enjoy!
        Lisa

        Reply
    22. Jordan Volanti says

      April 17, 2024 at 8:23 pm

      5 stars
      So good!

      Reply
      • lisa says

        April 18, 2024 at 9:25 am

        Glad you enjoyed!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lisa

    I love creating recipes and cooking for my family and friends. It's great to bring everyone to my kitchen to talk, laugh and eat. I also like to spread my love for cooking to others. So grab an apron and let's do it together. I promise my recipes will be easy and delicious!

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