Pink Sauce Mac & Cheese

This Pink Sauce Mac & Cheese is the ultimate creamy comfort dish. A savory tomato-cream sauce forms the base, enhanced with garlic, butter, and a rich trio of cheeses—cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Tossed with your favorite pasta and finished with fresh basil, it's a warm, indulgent take on mac & cheese that brings together the best of red and white sauces.

Author: These Carbs Don't Count

Category: Pasta

Cuisine: American

Difficulty: MEDIUM

Prep. Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 2 bowls

Calories: 1,393 kcal per serving

Ingredients

½ pound - pasta
4 tablespoon - unsalted butter
1 tablespoon - olive oil
3 cloves - garlic
3 tablespoon - tomato paste
1 cup - tomato sauce
1 ½ cup - heavy cream
⅛ - Salt
⅛ - Black pepper
½ teaspoon - garlic powder
½ teaspoon - onion powder
1 cup - cheddar cheese
¾ cup - mozzarella cheese
½ cup - Parmesan cheese
1 handful - fresh basil
½ cup - reserved pasta water

Instructions

Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
In a large pan, melt butter with a splash of olive oil over medium heat.
Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste and cook until deep red, then pour in tomato sauce.
Simmer briefly, then add heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Add cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan, and fresh basil. Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.
Toss in the cooked pasta and a splash of reserved pasta water. Simmer for a few more minutes to combine.
Top with extra Parmesan and enjoy warm.