Creamy Tuscan Pasta Sauce {Quick 20-Minute Dinner}
This from-scratch, easy, creamy Tuscan pasta sauce is delicious served over pasta and comes together in less than 20 minutes!
One of our favorite meals in the history of ever, this creamy, flavorful pasta sauce is a home run. Not just because everyone agrees it’s amazing, but because it makes weeknight dinners easy and fast!
Easy Creamy Alfredo Sauce
This creamy tuscan pasta sauce is based off the ever-popular homemade alfredo sauce recipe…with a few key changes to give it a Tuscan flair:
- adding dried basil to the cream cheese/butter sauce and fresh basil for serving (can skip the dried basil altogether and add lots of chopped fresh basil to the sauce near the end of cooking)
- stirring in chopped sun-dried tomatoes
I use an entire 8-ounce jar of sun-dried tomatoes for this recipe. Drain them, rinse them, chop them! They add amazing flavor to this pasta sauce!
Freshly Grated Parmesan
The Parmesan cheese helps thicken the sauce. It’s really important to use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for a smooth and creamy sauce.
Pre-shredded Parmesan won’t melt very well and most likely will result in a clumpy, grainy pasta sauce.
Pro Tip: for an even thicker sauce, add 1 to 2 tablespoons flour to the butter/cream cheese mixture. Just remember to whisk vigorously to minimize lumps!
How to Serve Tuscan Pasta Sauce
We always serve this creamy, dreamy tuscan pasta sauce over bowtie pasta. But almost any pasta shape will work well here!
Highly recommended: sprinkling extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil over each serving (diced, fresh tomatoes are delicious, too!). YUM.
Other rave reviews on this easy creamy Tuscan pasta sauce:
Alli says: This is very, very good. I have made it multiple times for company and everyone loves it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Krystyna writes: Just made this, and it was delicious! It took no time at all, but tastes like I spent hours in the kitchen. Going to make this again! Thanks! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shannon says: I’ve wanted to make this for so long and the stars aligned tonight (we had all the ingredients including fresh basil, yum!). If my husband licking his plate doesn’t indicate that we can’t get enough of the creamy garlicky sauce, then I don’t know what will! It was a hit. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What to Serve With This
One Year Ago: Brown Sugar Crackle Cookies
Two Years Ago: Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes
Three Years Ago: Honey Lime Fruit Salad
Creamy Tuscan Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed through a garlic press (about a tablespoon)
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened and cut into 8 pieces
- 1 (8-ounce) jar sun-dried tomatoes, rinsed, drained and chopped
- 2 cups milk (preferably not skim)
- 1 ½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving, if desired
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- In a medium pot or skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly, taking care not to let the garlic burn.
- Stir in the dried basil. Add the cream cheese, stirring constantly with a whisk until the mixture is smooth. It will look curdled at first, but with constant whisking for 2-3 minutes, it should come together to form a smooth, creamy paste. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes.
- Over medium heat, add the milk gradually, about 1/4 cup at a time, whisking quickly and constantly until each addition is incorporated fully into the sauce.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese, pepper and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring until the cheese is melted and the sauce is the desired consistency, 5-10 minutes. Serve over hot, cooked noodles.
Notes
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
Recipe originally posted April 2013; updated February 2023 with new photos, recipe notes, etc.
113 Comments on “Creamy Tuscan Pasta Sauce {Quick 20-Minute Dinner}”
Hello! Maybe I missed it, but how much pasta do you use? Thank you!
Hi Jean, I usually serve this over 12-16 ounces of pasta.
I love this recipe. It is REALLY rich so it goes a long way. Every time I make it for someone new they always ask for the recipe.
This was a great, crazy tasty recipe! I hosted my sister, BIL, and nephew for dinner on Sunday and I made this with fettuccine, your crazy good Buttery Bundt bread and your spiderweb cheesecake. Almost every recipe was yours (besides the apple cider minosas!). Ps I made the mistake of bringing the Bundt bread out to the table before I was putting the finishing touches to the Tuscan sauce and they ate more than half of it before I brought the plates out!! (In less than 5 minutes!) All in all, fantastic meal!
Wow – wonderful flavor. Followed the recipe (didn’t have quite enough parmesean, but it was fine). I might add onion next time. Oh – I did add cooked chicken and shrimp. Really, really good. Would definitely make again. I’m not a HUGE fan of sun-dried tomatoes, but this was very tasty! I used Farfalle, but almost any kind of pasta would be fine.
I am not a great cook, so when I’m trying something new, I always come to your recipes! Thank you for all the recipes, details, notes, and tips. I made this sauce tonight for the first time and it was delicious! Both of my kids (6 and 12 yrs) picked out the sun dried tomatoes but added the fresh diced tomatoes on top. I added grilled chicken right into the sauce before serving it. Another successful night with a last minute dinner. Thank you for coming to the rescue once again (as you do MANY last minute nights)!
so good!
This was excellent and very easy to prepare, even for someone who doesn’t cook often and the ingredients I already had.. I used whipping cream instead of milk and added parsley and sum other Italian spices and was surprised at the ease, taste and wondered why I had not thought of this 30 yrs ago…what a waste of money on that store bought crap or going out to eat. This was faster than the service that I get out and just as tasty. It was so good, I tipped myself ! ! This will be a recipe I use more often than not.
This was delicious and so quick!! I am 39 weeks pregnant and anything I can do to minimize time on my feet is so welcome. Thank you Mel for helping me feed my family!!
Have you ever tried freezing this?
I haven’t – sorry!
Thought I’d finally do my duty and leave a comment…I’ve been making this recipe since I first got married 6 years ago. I truly conned my husband into thinking I was a chef with this recipe. So simple, fast, and absolutely delicious!!! 2 kids and another on the way and here I am, still making this recipe. This will be one I pass down to my kids! Thanks you for sharing this goodness.
You’re amazing, thanks for the comment, Ella!
This is very, very good. I have made it multiple times for company and everyone loves it.
Just made this, and it was delicious! It took no time at all, but tastes like I spent hours in the kitchen. Going to make this again! Thanks!
This is absolutely delicious! I used whole milk and full fat cream cheese !
Excellent sundried tomato sauce! I dont have an emersion blender so I scooped out the sundried tomatoes with a slotted spoon, after they cooked in the sauce 5 min, and pureed them in a blender. Then added them back to the sauce. Then I added sauteed mushrooms. I don’t process lactose well so I’ll experiment with subbing the cream cheese for somethinig nondairy or greek yogurt next time. Almond milk worked just fine instead of dairy milk though.
This was delicious! Will definitely make again.
I made this for dinner last night and while my husband and I LOVED it my kids not so much. I did tweak the recipe a bit by adding some mushrooms to the sauce and cooking the pasta with some broccoli. My kids were turned off by the sundried tomatoes. I’m thinking about next time trying to pulse the sundried tomatoes in the food processor. I also wonder how it’ll taste with a little big of red pepper flakes added for heat. I loved this dish meatless, but my husband wondered how it’ll taste with blackened Cajun chicken or a grilled sausage.
I am a pasta sauce snob and I have to say this is hands down the best I have ever had! This is my go to for a creamy, rich, and flavorful sauce! Thank you for sharing this recipe. It is absolutely divine!
Very easy and quick pasta sauce. I used 3 frozen-fresh basil cubes (from Trader Joe’s, and many supermarkets) and added them with the garlic and butter. It made the sauce amazing with so much more flavor.
This recipe is the next best thing to Olive Garden….thank you so much for sharing this…this was my first ever pasta dish and you made it so simple even my 15 year old daughter wants to make it for dinner next time…I added garlic sausage and grilled chicken and it was the best….
This looks awesome! Love Mel’s recipes and I know my family will enjoy!
Oh my!!! I just made this for my lunch this week. I added sautéed onions and bell peppers because I love them in as many dishes as possible. I had to do a taste test and this is absolutely delicious. Will definitely make again!
I was wanting some creamy pasta last night, so we tried this recipe. As I was making it I realized, “Oh man. My kids are really going to resist this one because of the chunks of sundried tomatoes all throughout.” So, when it was all done, I dumped it into the blender for a minute. It made the sauce an orange color and it was nice and smooth and creamy. My kids scarfed it down and one of my boys even said, “This is like Mac n cheese, but better.” What?! That’s like the ultimate culinary compliment around here. 🙂 Thanks for all the yumminess!
Heck ya
Hi , I would like So much to try this sauce but I would like to know what type of cream cheese you are using
Please be specific about the brand name and give me a couple of alternatives
I use the cream cheese that comes in 8-ounce packages and have used too many brand names to really specify. Any should work fine (like Philadelphia).
Hi , I’ve tried this recipe and it was amazing ,
Thanks a lot I’m a very big pasta fan
I don’t know where my first comment went but it never posted! It was supposed to go before the PS. This was my comment:
Today was one of those days I just did NOT feel like cooking and left dinner prep until the last minute. Then at 6 pm when I was slowly getting my butt in gear and trying to appease a hungr, tired, crying baby who would have no one but mommy, my daughter asked me what time her kids club was. Trigger panic! Ahhhhhhhh! I forgot and we have to leave here in 35 minutes! Well guess what I made, and it was yum to boot! Thank you for a dinner saver so I didn’t have to turn to boxed Mac and Cheese or scrambled eggs! (and I even prepared it one-handed with a baby on my hip!)
A keeper for sure! And the leftovers are going to work tomorrow with my hubby who was all smiles and approval when he asked what I’d be doing with it!
Evenings like that are NUTS, Tara. I’m super impressed you got dinner on the table in spite of your daughter’s announcement!
PS: I had no sun-dried tomatoes so I just measured 8oz of diced canned tomatoes and it was still delish! And I used light cream cheese and low-fat milk. I’m sure with full fat it would be even more delectable!
Today was one of those days I just did NOT feel like cooking and left dinner prep until the last minute. Then at 6 pm when I was slowly getting my butt in gear and trying to appease a hungr, tired, crying baby who would have no one but mommy, my daughter asked me what time her kids club was. Trigger panic! Ahhhhhhhh! I forgot and we have to leave here in 35 minutes! Well guess what I made, and it was yum to boot! Thank you for a dinner saver so I didn’t have to turn to boxed Mac and Cheese or scrambled eggs! (and I even prepared it one-handed with a baby on my hip!)
A keeper for sure! And the leftovers are going to work tomorrow with my hubby who was all smiles and approval when he asked what I’d be doing with it!
I’ve wanted to make this for so long and the stars aligned tonight (we had all the ingredients including fresh basil, yum!). If my husband licking his plate doesn’t indicate that we can’t get enough of the creamy garlicky sauce, then I don’t know what will! It was a hit. I loved the sun dried tomatoes, but apparently for kids they are a little of an acquired taste. They’ll acquire it soon if I have anything to do with it!
After stalking your recipes for months, & experiencing unbeatable tastebud benefits, I decided it was due time to thank you. In my household you are referred to as “domestic goddess,” because we seriously are obsessed with every recipe of yours we’ve tried. Every time I whip up something which is a hit, my husband assumes that it is from your site (and is right 95% of the time.) THANK YOU THANK YOU for providing easy to follow instructions which predictably incredible results. I contribute my graduation from Kraft macaroni dinners entirely to you. 🙂
Haha! Thanks, Jenni – your comment made my day!
I made this last night and it is now one of my new favorite recipes from Mel. It reminds me a lot of the sauce on Olive Garden’s “Ravioli di Portabello”. Absolutely DELISH! I’m gonna have to try it on some kind of pasta with mushrooms now. Thanks for a great, easy recipe, Mel!
I love to sauce. I actually used it as a sauce on turkey sandwiches. it was great.
disregard my previous comment. I just re-read and saw your notation about cream cheese.
have you ever used reduced fat cream cheese for this recipe?
We made this for dinner last night and it met with rave reviews! Thanks! We always know that a recipe from Mel will be delicious!
If it is possible, would you consider maybe taking pictures of some of the more confusing ingredients, for you international readers? I am from sweden, and we are always trying to decipher what the swedish equivalent of your ingredients are. It would be so much easier with pictures and I would be ever grateful!! 🙂
Also, to make things clear: cream cheese is like philadelphia cheese right? What exactly does it mean to “soften it and cut into 8 pieces”? Our philadelphia is already very soft and comes in very small packages for putting on crackers and bread. Is your philadelphia kind of hard, like butter or ice cream?
Hi Hanna – our cream cheese is soft and can be spread on a bagel or toast but I like to soften it even more to add to this recipe so it melts nicely in the sauce without clumping up.
This was amazing – totally saved my original meal plan of plain old boring burritos. It was quick, easy, I added some grilled chicken – BAM!!! – great great recipe!! 3 out of 4 kiddos loved it, hubby and I LOVED it…this one is going in the recipe box.
We LOVE this sauce at our house. I’m about to have a third baby and am looking for meals I can freeze and/or crock pot. I saw in an earlier comment that you don’t think it will freeze well but do you think this would be adaptable to a crock pot? If so, do you have any suggestions on how to do that?
I actually made the other version of this (the plain garlic alfredo) the other day and kept it warm in the crockpot and it was kind of a disaster – it separated and kind of curdled so I don’t think the slow cooker is your friend on this particular recipe, darn it.
I made this recipe and had a sauce left over, which I froze in individual portions, just to see how it would work to thaw it. I thought it thawed surprisingly well! I was expecting it to be grainy or separated, but I didn’t notice any of that after it thawing it overnight in the fridge and reheating it with some noodles on the stove.
this is so so yummy! Question: can I freeze the left overs? Anyone ever try that?
I haven’t frozen this sauce but I have a feeling it might get a little grainy out of the freezer since it’s so dairy-based.
Made this just last night and it’s outstanding! Definitely a keeper.
Quick question: do you think pulsing the sundried tomatoes in a food processor would be a good way to chop them up quickly, or will they end up a mash? Thanks!
I think quick pulses would work but I can see them quickly turning into a paste if the food processor goes too long.
This recipe is great! I’ve never cooked with sundried tomatos before so I wasn’t sure if I would like it (not a fan of tomatos unless chopped very small) but it was really good. I will have to look for more ways to try using sundried tomatos in the future.
Oh and while I was looking for different versions of cream sauces, I found this recipe almost word for word on another site cdkitchen.com. They didn’t reference where it came from and I wasn’t sure if it would bother you being used without acknowledgement.
Loved this! I threw in baby spinach at the end to get veggies into our dinner. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Have you ever added in mushrooms to the sauce? I purchased some thinking it may be a nice add but wasn’t sure how it would work.
Thanks!
Lauren – I haven’t added mushrooms but I think it would be delicious.
Can the recipe be cut in half for 2 ppl or will it not come out as good?
Mimi – I haven’t tried that but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work just fine.
This is one of my all-time favorite recipes. I can’t even think about it without my mouth starting to water. SO DELICIOUS!
This was absolutely fabulous! Topped with grilled chicken, my whole family enjoyed it and asked for seconds. Another winning recipe! Thanks!!
Mel!! I doubled this for my hubby’s birthday dinner, and it was delicious, but today I made your fast pizza dough, and used this as a sauce on grilled pizzas. No words. It’s amazing. I wasn’t lucky enough to win the pizza oven for our new house, but grilling works!!
This sauce is so beautiful! Just made it (subbed cream for half the milk and used roasted bell peppers and peas instead of sundried tomatoes, but I do want to try the tomatoes in the future), and I didn’t have the usual problem of the sauce getting clumpy because of your good directions. It’s so smooth and silky and just delicious! Will definitely make again.
Delicious. Loved it!
This was so good! I used 2% milk and low fat cream cheese and it was still very creamy and delicious. I added Italian sausage right before serving the sauce and it was a great addition, it was so yummy! Thanks for a great pasta sauce!
I have dried Sundried tomatoes. Can I substitute them? How would you re-hydrate them?
Heather – usually you can rehydrate the dried tomatoes in hot water (submerge them in hot water for 10-15 minutes). Drain and then chop – then use them in the recipe. Good luck!
Absolutely delicious! Next time I would add sauté chicken pieces & no salt because I think the cheese adds enough salt. Taste the dish before you put it in. Also, I added steamed broccoli to the menu & it was so good mixed in with the pasta.
Huge hit with my family! In fact, every huge hit with my family comes from your website. You are my go-to source when I’m menu planning.
Made this exactly according to the recipe, just threw in some leftover grilled chicken and two cups of chopped spinach at the end (always trying to sneak in more veggies). I ate mine over sauteed shredded zucchini. Kids and hubby had it with pasta/zucchini combo. And we should have enough for some leftovers later in the week. Thanks for another fabulous recipe!
I have made this twice now and my family loves it! Mine has turned out really, really thick both times. I followed the recipe exactly except for using Neufchatel cheese. I did add grilled chicken at the end as well. I watched the cooking time very closely to make sure that wasn’t the problem with the thickness. It was still delicious, but in your picture it looks much thinner, which I would prefer. What would you suggest to thin it? Less parmesan? More milk?
Hi Andrea – I think if you added just a touch more milk to thin it out at the end, it should work just fine.
Reserve your pasta cooking water and use it as a thinner to your desired sauce consistency. Lovely recipe, thanks!
To Shannon and Mel- I made the heavy cream substitution tonight! Worked fine! I unfortunately did not have sun dried tomatoes (so bummed!) but I did have canned roasted tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano- they worked fine too-only used a cup of the heavy cream because of juice in canned roasted tomatoes. This sauce came out delicious!!! Love the flavor, wished I had had the sun dried tomatoes, will try it again with those next time! I’m pin’n this one!
I thought I had tried every pasta sauce known to man…but this one is new to me and I am so into it!! Def on my list of “must try!”
I just made this and was literally smacking myself it was so delish! My kids devoured it as did hubby and it was given 10 stars by the WHOLE family!!! Thank you!!!
Made this dish and it was a success. I added mushroom and broccoli with it and all I can say is YUMMY TO MY TUMMY! Thank you Mel for this A——MAZING recipe. It sure is a keeper in this mama’s kitchen 🙂
I made this last night. It is one of the most delicious things I have ever put in my mouth. The cream cheese makes it amazing. I added some bacon bits to my sauce and used some petite diced tomatoes instead of sun dried.
Thank you for this recipe, it is fantastic.
How many ounces of uncooked pasta is this sauce recipe for?
Tanvi – probably about 12 ounces to a pound depending on how saucy you like your pasta.
Yummy! I love sun dried tomatoes but my kids don’t. Usually when I make pasta I make both red sauce and Alfredo sauce because my husband likes to mix them. Some of my kids only like Alfredo and some only like red sauce. Tonight I just made this and I blended it up, hoping to disguise the tomatoes. To my surprise, all 5 kids loved it! Woot woot! They gobbled it up. Thanks for another winner!
I just made this, and absolutely love it…considering just eating the sauce like soup…yeah, that yummy!
I didn’t use heavy cream and just used the cream cheese. I am glad I didn’t. It’s was so good, and my dad loved it. Fabulous recipe.
I’ve already had dinner – and an ice cream come – now I want a plate of this pasta!! Looks so delicious!
I have a question. Instead of the cream cheese, can I sub heavy cream for the cream cheese?
Shannon – I haven’t made that substitution and so I can’t attest for the results. It will likely change the consistency of the sauce (make it much thinner) so you’ll have to experiment and see. I highly recommend using the cream cheese if you can.
This was fantastic! I had hubby grill some chicken to put on top and it was so yummy!
Loved this! Another easy, delicious dinner thanks to you! I added some grilled chicken for my “there has to be meat for it to be a meal” husband. Divine! I’m eating the leftovers right now as a matter of fact! You rock as always!
Winner! And ready to go so very quickly! Thanks Mel – this is a fabulous addition to my weeknight dinners.
Man, I love me some Pizza Ranch though. Where I moved, we are lacking. But this recipe looks awesome and is definitely going into the queue.
YUM. I have been scouring your site for a couple of days and made this (my first Mel recipe) last night. Best pasta sauce I’ve ever made, hands down! I can’t wait to try many more of your recipes!
This looks good and easy to make. My only concern is the cream cheese. The cream cheese has to take this meal off the healthy chart big time!!
We loved this. I used just a small bag of sun dried tomatoes, and it still worked wonderfully. We served it over regular pasta and GF pasta (for me). Delicious!
Made this last night. Tossed in some grilled chicken and it was so yummy. Maybe I haven’t eaten out in a while but I thought this sauce was better than anything I have eaten in a restaurant in quite some time! Husband and BIL agreed! Fast and easy to whip up. My kids didn’t make a peep while eating and asked for seconds.
Keeper! I think I like this even more than the pure Alfredo version, and I make that a lot. This was delicious and came together so quickly. I think it would be a nice side for a more-than-20-minute-dinner night with your lemon garlic chicken and some green beans. I’ll just have to make sure to always have a jar of sun-dried tomatoes on hand now . . .
Made this last night and it was wonderful! I’ve never used sun dried tomatoes before, and because my family won’t eat tomatoes if they can see them (sigh), I used my P.C. chopper to chop them up really small…worked like a charm!
Mel! I love you! I made this today and everyone loved it! My hubby said he’ll take this over his favorite (time-consuming) steak Gorgonzola pasta any time. Thanks!!
Delicious! I have some of the sauce left over which is a huge plus. My husband and 1 year old also loved this.
Thanks for this recipe! I made it today and added braised, shredded short ribs. So tastey!!!!!!
Made this tonight and we have no leftovers!!! I loved that I truly was in and done in about 20 minutes and it was so tasty. We used some dried tomatoes I have kept in the freezer. Perfect. All the kids gave a thumbs up to making it again. I am not a fan of alfredo sauces in general but this one is a BIG exception. Thanks so much!
Yup! made it last night and it went straight to my recipes we liked board on pinterest. Thanks! I love quick, easy, and yummy recipes like this!
Thanks! Just have to say you blog looks great but I like when you can see the full version of the newest recipe instead of having to click to read more.
Mel, this looks so mouthwatering! Funny you posted this. I added cream cheese to my usual pasta sauce recipe recently, and it took it to a WHOLE other level! So amazing. Thanks for sharing!
I cry when I think about making your creamy alfredo sauce, it is so easy and delish! I think I’ll give this one a shot too!
I think I must make this tonight! Thank you!
You always come through. Just this morning I was thinking how I need to expand my pasta sauce repertoire! Thanks!
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it.
This looks yummy and very easy. We’ll probably serve it over cavatappi. (Not like it matters to you, Mel, but my husband shudders every time he hears the word ‘noodles’ in connection with a pasta dish. He says “The Chinese have noodles, the Italians have pasta.”)
Christine, if you have a Costco or similar near you it’s a great place to buy Parmigiano Reggiano (super authentic, out of this world taste, Parmesan cheese) in wedges. I usually grate the whole thing at once, then put the cheese in a zip bag in the freezer and take out what I need.
That picture, that description….sold! Thanks again!
This looks so easy and delicious! My husband isn’t a fan of sun dried tomatoes. Think it would have enough flavor without them? Would you substitute with anything else? Love the updated website!!!
Hi Leslie – you could leave them out but it would be more like the classic creamy alfredo sauce on my blog (which is still delicious).
Love quick meals, especially when the look as delicious as this one!
This sounds so yummy! I’d love to try to make it tonight. I do have one question, on the Parmesan cheese. When you say grated, is that the kind that is in the green container by Kraft?
Hi Christine – I use freshly grated Parmesan cheese from a wedge of Parmesan.
Story of my life. Northern Vermont winters can be long and brutal. We are just starting to see buds on the trees. Yay for spring!
Your 20 minutes dinners always save me! And they’re always delicious!