Pink Sauce Mac & Cheese

This Pink Sauce Mac & Cheese combines the savory richness of mac and cheese with the vibrant flavor of tomato cream sauce. Butter and garlic form the base, then tomato paste and sauce are layered in to deepen the flavor. A mix of cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese melts into a creamy blend, brightened with fresh basil and finished with starchy pasta water. It’s a bold, cheesy, deeply satisfying pasta you’ll crave again and again.

Author: These Carbs Don't Count

Category: Pasta

Cuisine: American

Difficulty: MEDIUM

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 3 bowls

Calories: 1,037 kcal per serving

Ingredients

½ pound - pasta
⅛ - Salt
4 tablespoon - butter
⅛ Dash - 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
⅛ - Reserved pasta water

Instructions

Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain.
In a large pan over medium heat, melt butter with a dash of olive oil.
Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Stir in tomato paste and cook until it turns a deep red color, about 2–3 minutes.
Add tomato sauce and bring to a gentle simmer.
Pour in heavy cream, then season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir well.
Add cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses. Stir until completely melted and smooth.
Stir in chopped basil.
Add the cooked pasta and a splash of reserved pasta water. Mix everything together and let it cook for 2–3 minutes to thicken.
Top with more Parmesan and serve hot.