Carrot Pasta Sauce

This Carrot Pasta Sauce is a delicious and nutritious way to add more veggies to your meal. The smooth texture and natural sweetness of the carrots result in a sauce that is sure to be a hit at your dinner table.

Pasta is a popular food choice for kids, and incorporating pureed vegetables into pasta sauces is an excellent way to boost the nutritional value of your meal. The variations are endless, from mixed veggie pasta sauce to cauliflower mac and cheese, butternut squash mac and cheese, broccoli pesto pasta to avocado spinach pasta.

If you love vegetable-based pasta sauces then this carrot pasta sauce is a must-try.

Jump to:

• Reasons to Love this Sauce
• Video Tutorial
• Ingredient Information (and Alternative Suggestions)
• Step By Step Instructions
• Pro Tips
• Serving Suggestions
• Recipe FAQs
• More Pasta Recipes
• Carrot Pasta Sauce

Reasons to Love this Sauce

• Nutrition - This carrot sauce is a nutrient-dense sauce that provides a range of vitamins and minerals, making it a great addition to pasta.
• Simple Ingredients: Made from simple, wholesome ingredients.
• Flavour - Roasted carrots and onions give this sauce a wonderful natural sweetness with a rich flavour. The sweetness of the vegetables is balanced by the savoury flavours of garlic, stock/broth and tomato paste.
• Great for Picky Eaters - The sauce is pureed to a smooth consistency, which is more appealing to those who do not like finding chunks of vegetables in their food.
• Make-Ahead - Carrot pasta sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator or freezer for later use, making it a convenient option for busy weeknights.

Video Tutorial

Ingredient Information (and Alternative Suggestions)

For the full recipe, with ingredient amounts, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Carrots - Choose ones that are firm with bright orange colour.
• Onion - I've used red, which has a less intense flavour but the choice of onion is a personal preference.
• Garlic - Adds a lovely rich, savoury flavour to the sauce.
• Chicken/ Vegetable Stock/Broth - Helps thin the sauce and adds flavour. To keep sodium levels down use homemade chicken stock or homemade vegetable stock or buy low sodium.
• Tomato Paste - Adds a robust and tangy taste to the sauce and helps balance out the sweetness of the carrots and onions.
• Olive Oil - Used to roast the vegetables in.
• Salt &Pepper - Seasoning should be skipped if making for a baby/toddler.
• Parmesan cheese & Parsley (garnish) - Parmesan adds a lovely umami taste to the carrot sauce and helps to enhance the other flavours in the dish. Parsley adds a burst of freshness.

Step By Step Instructions

• Place chopped carrots, onion and garlic on a lined baking tray. Drizzle with the olive oil and gently toss. Roast for 25 min

• Remove the skins from the garlic and add to a blender along with the carrots, onion, stock and tomato paste. Blend until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Serve with cooked pasta of your choice.

Pro Tips

• Use a high-speed blender - for a velvety, smooth sauce you really need a blender that is powerful enough to fully puree the vegetables.
• Taste and adjust seasoning - Taste the sauce after blending and adjust the seasoning as needed. Depending on the vegetables, you may find you need to add a little more salt to balance out the flavours. Remember that the parmesan garnish will also add saltiness.
• Reserve some pasta water - Once the pasta is cooked, reserve a cup of the pasta water in case you find you need to thin out your sauce. The pasta water will help loosen the sauce and create a silky sauce that coats the pasta well.
• Don't forget to garnish - The garnishes are crucial to completing the dish. Chopped parsley provides a fresh and vibrant taste to the sauce, while Parmesan add a rich savoury umami flavour. Adding red pepper flakes is also an excellent option that gives a hint of spiciness that perfectly complements the sweetness of the carrots.

Serving Suggestions

This versatile pasta sauce complements a variety of pasta shapes, depending on personal preference. Try it with spaghetti, penne, fusilli, farfalle, rigatoni or orecchiette. If serving a baby, opt for a pasta shape that is easy to pick up such as large spirals.

You can serve the carrot pasta dish as is, or use it as a base for your own add-ins. Try tossing through some slow-cooker shredded chicken, roasted vegetables or toasted pine nuts.

This sauce isn't limited to pasta. It is also a great alternative to traditional pizza sauce, a delicious dipping sauce, or can be thinned out and enjoyed as a soup.

Recipe FAQs

More Pasta Recipes