A Guide to Cooking with Pasta Sauce: Delicious Dinner Ideas

Pasta sauce is one of the most versatile components of a great dinner. Whether it’s a rich tomato-based marinara or a creamy alfredo, pasta sauce can transform an ordinary dish into an extraordinary one. In this article, we’ll explore some delicious dinner ideas using pasta sauce that go beyond the classic spaghetti.

Reinventing the Classic Marinara Sauce

The classic marinara sauce is a staple in many kitchens. This rich, tomato-based sauce is perfect for a variety of pasta shapes, from spaghetti to rigatoni.

Recipe: Sausage and Peppers with Marinara Sauce

Ingredients:

• 4 Italian sausages
• 2 bell peppers, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 jar of marinara sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a pan, cook the sausages until browned.
2. Add the sliced peppers and onion and sauté until soft.
3. Pour in the marinara sauce and simmer until heated through.
4. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Creamy Alfredo Transformed

Creamy Alfredo sauce is a popular choice for pasta, but it can also be used in creative ways to spice up your dinner.

Recipe: Alfredo Chicken Bake

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 jar of Alfredo sauce
• 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup of parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish and pour over the Alfredo sauce.
3. Sprinkle with the cheeses and season with salt and pepper.
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve hot.

Pesto Beyond Pasta

Pesto sauce, with its fresh basil flavor, can be a tasty addition to many dishes. Here’s a recipe that uses pesto in a whole new way.

Recipe: Pesto Shrimp Skewers

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 jar of pesto sauce
• Lemon slices, for garnish

Directions:

1. Marinate the shrimp in the pesto sauce for at least one hour.
2. Thread the shrimp onto skewers.
3. Grill on each side for 2-3 minutes or until pink. Serve with lemon slices.

Let these recipes inspire you to get creative with pasta sauce in your kitchen. These sauces aren’t just for pasta anymore – they can be a key component in many delicious dishes. Enjoy your cooking adventure!

Tomato Sauce as a Versatile Soup Base

Tomato sauce isn’t just for pasta – it can serve as a fantastic base for a variety of hearty, comforting soups.

Recipe: Minestrone Soup with Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1 can of cannellini beans
• 1 can of tomato sauce
• 4 cups of vegetable broth
• 1 cup of small pasta
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Freshly grated Parmesan and basil leaves for garnish

Directions:

1. In a large pot, sauté the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until softened.
2. Add the zucchini and sauté for another minute.
3. Pour in the tomato sauce and vegetable broth, then bring to a boil.
4. Add the pasta and cannellini beans, then simmer until the pasta is al dente.
5. Season with salt and pepper, then serve hot with Parmesan and fresh basil.

Taking Bolognese Beyond Spaghetti

A traditional Italian Bolognese sauce is not only for spaghetti. Its meaty and robust flavors can perfectly complement other dishes.

Recipe: Bolognese Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients:

• 4 bell peppers, tops removed and deseeded
• 1 pound of ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 can of Bolognese sauce
• 1 cup of cooked rice
• 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a pan, cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic until the meat is browned.
3. Stir in the Bolognese sauce and cooked rice, then simmer until heated through.
4. Stuff the bell peppers with the Bolognese mixture, then place in a baking dish.
5. Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese, then bake for 30-35 minutes or until the peppers are tender. Serve hot.

Rethinking White Sauce

Creamy white sauce, or bechamel, is often seen as a topping for lasagna. But it can also work as a wonderful base for a luxurious seafood gratin.

Recipe: Seafood Gratin with White Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of mixed seafood (shrimp, scallops, etc.)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 cup of white sauce
• 1 cup of breadcrumbs
• 1 cup of grated Gruyère cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. In a pan, sauté the onion and garlic until softened. Add the seafood and sauté until just cooked.
3. Stir in the white sauce until the seafood is well coated.
4. Transfer the mixture to a gratin dish. Top with breadcrumbs and Gruyère cheese.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden and bubbling. Serve hot.

Remember, the possibilities with pasta sauces are endless. So go ahead, open that jar, and let your culinary creativity shine!

Alfredo Sauce with a Twist

While most people think of fettuccine when they hear Alfredo sauce, this creamy sauce can make an amazing base for a chicken pot pie.

Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie with Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of chicken breast, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 cup of peas
• 1 jar of Alfredo sauce
• 1 sheet of puff pastry
• 1 egg, beaten
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a pan, sauté the chicken, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are softened.
3. Stir in the peas and Alfredo sauce, then simmer until heated through.
4. Transfer the mixture to a pie dish. Cover with the puff pastry, trimming any excess.
5. Brush the puff pastry with the beaten egg, then bake for 25-30 minutes or until the pastry is golden and flaky. Serve hot.

Pesto Beyond Pasta

Pesto sauce, typically served with pasta, can add a burst of flavor to roasted chicken.

Recipe: Pesto Roasted Chicken

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 jar of pesto sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cherry tomatoes and basil leaves for garnish

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then coat them with the pesto sauce.
3. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish, then bake for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
4. Serve hot, garnished with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil leaves.

Using pasta sauce in unconventional ways can elevate your everyday meals to gourmet dishes. So next time you have a jar of pasta sauce, think beyond pasta and let your culinary imagination take you on a delicious journey!