Recipes Everyday Cooking Make-Ahead Freezer Best Make-and-Freeze Pasta Sauces for Quick Dinners Any Time By Jackie Freeman Jackie Freeman Jackie Freeman is a professional chef and cookbook author with over 20 years of experience in the food industry. Her talents include a wide range of skills such as a cheesemaker, farmhand, culinary instructor, recipe developer, TV and radio personality, and food stylist. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on August 17, 2020 Trending Videos Close this video player Arrabbiata Sauce. Photo: Allrecipes One of the best ways to get weeknight pasta dinners on the table in a hurry is to have a stockpile of heat-and-serve sauces stashed in the freezer. They'll always taste better than anything out of a jar, and all you'll have to do is boil the pasta while the sauce heats up. That could slash a good 45 minutes to an hour off your meal prep. Here are some of our best recipes for make-ahead pasta sauces, plus tips for freezing, thawing, and reheating them. 01 of 06 Tomato Sauces Photo by Matthew Eccleston. When we think of pasta sauce, we often think of tomato-based sauces. And for good reason: Bright tomatoes and aromatic herbs pair perfectly with starchy noodles and savory, grated cheese. Tomato sauce can be made with fresh tomatoes when your garden is overflowing, or canned tomatoes when you're short on time and ingredients. Best Marinara Sauce Yet Just like the name implies, we think this is the best! This sauce is super-easy to make, with common ingredients found in your cupboard and fridge. Mix it up by adding fresh herbs (like basil, oregano, or marjoram), cooked ground beef or turkey, or use it on your favorite pizza crust instead of pasta. You might also like: Tomato Cream Sauce for Pasta Homemade Tomato Sauce I Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs More Tomato Sauce Recipes 02 of 06 Meat Sauces Photo by CookinBug. Whether you prefer your meat ground or formed into a ball, slowly simmering beef, pork, or turkey in tomato sauce is a classic favorite the world over. Meat-Lover's Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce Made with ground beef, Italian sausage, and a ton of herbs, this hearty sauce simmers to perfection in your slow cooker without heating up the house. Plus, the longer it cooks, the better it tastes. If it's not sweet enough, feel free to add a pinch or two more sugar. You might also like: Spaghetti Sauce with Ground Beef Kay's Spaghetti and Lasagna Sauce Pasta Sauce with Italian Sausage More Meaty Pasta Sauce Recipes 03 of 06 Pesto Sauces 5boys2cook4 Best served at room temperature, traditional Italian pesto is an aromatic blend of basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil. But pesto can be made from a huge range of herbs, nuts, cheeses, and other ingredients: Let your garden and pantry be your guide. Pesto This traditional recipe combines all of the standard stars, plus fresh parsley. Toasting the pine nuts (and letting them cool) before blending is key, as it brings out their natural oils, which means more flavor in your sauce. In addition to pasta, use this pesto on top of grilled fish or chicken, or spread it on a grilled cheese sandwich. You might also like: Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Pesto with Arugula Yummy Vegan Pesto Classico More Pesto Sauce Recipes 04 of 06 Cream Sauces Rabithabit Cheese, cream, and butter combine into a bite of heaven. Whether you keep it simple, like Alfredo sauce, or mix in tomatoes, mushrooms, or squash, you'll find these recipes deserve a spot on the table, and even the kids will sing your praises. Quick and Easy Alfredo Sauce Cream cheese makes this rich white sauce extra smooth. Make sure to use low heat and be patient when stirring in the milk, so nothing burns or curdles. You can also use this sauce to top broccoli, cauliflower, or any of your favorite vegetables, for a creamy, cheesy, and elegant side dish. You might also like: Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce Basil Cream Sauce Garlic Butter Sauce I More Creamy Pasta Sauce Recipes 05 of 06 Vegetarian Sauces Arrabbiata Sauce. Allrecipes Sometimes we're in the mood for something a little lighter, or have a bunch of veggies in the fridge that need to be used. In either case, vegetarian pasta sauce is the answer. Arrabbiata Sauce If you like things a little spicy, then this is the sauce for you. Onions, garlic, and red pepper flakes are cooked in olive oil and tomatoes, for a light and refreshing pasta topper. Want to add additional color and flavor? Toss in a handful of pitted Kalamata olives or fresh spinach. You might also like: Peanut Sauce II No Tomato Pasta Sauce Sicilian Lentil Pasta Sauce Vegetarian Pasta Sauce Recipes 06 of 06 More to Explore Authentic Homemade Italian Egg Pasta Dough | Photo by Allrecipes. Fresh Pastas Paired with the Perfect Sauces The Reason Why Tomato Sauce With Vodka Tastes so Good How to Make Pesto Sauce Deliciously Different Things to Do with a Jar of Spaghetti Sauce Easy One-Pot Pasta Dinners Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit