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Ravioli with tomato sauce.
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Ravioli with Tomato Sauce Recipe

My ravioli with tomato sauce is an easy, flavorful dish perfect for weeknights or family dinners. This rich red sauce for ravioli comes together quickly with simple ingredients, making it the ideal sauce for ravioli that everyone will love!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: main course, ravioli
Servings: 2
Calories: 424kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small onion Sweet vidalia, or red
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 large tomato chopped
  • 1 can 28 ounces whole peeled San Marzano DOC tomatoes or crushed tomatoes
  • 1-2 teaspoons sea salt
  • fresh basil chopped
  • Italian parsley chopped optional
  • ¼ teaspoon red-pepper flakes optional
  • homemade or store-bought ravioli

Instructions

  1. Heat oil: In a large saute' pan or medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium-high until it's shimmering.
  2. Add onion: Add the onion to the oil and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add some garlic: If using garlic, add garlic and cook until fragrant (no more than a minute, or it will brown).
  4. Tomatoes: Add in the fresh tomatoes and the canned tomatoes. If you're using crushed tomatoes, stir it and combine. If you're using plum tomatoes, I break up the tomatoes with my hands, removing the hard end before adding to the sauce. Break up the tomatoes more with your wooden spoon and stir to combine.
  5. Bring to a boil: Bring the sauce to a boil and use a wooden spoon to stir, breaking up the tomatoes while they're cooking.
  6. Lower heat: Once the sauce comes to a boil for a few minutes, lower heat to a simmer.
  7. Season sauce: Season with the salt, and let the sauce cook and thicken.
  8. Check the consistency of sauce: If it's getting too thick, add a little bit of water (start with a ¼ cup).
  9. Add fresh basil: Finally, stir in the fresh basil and stir to combine.
  10. Simmer sauce: Let sauce simmer for 20 minutes total. Check the salt and add more if needed. Add hot pepper flakes, if you like it spicy.
  11. Cook the ravioli: Boil large pot of salted water. If you're using homemade ravioli, depending on how thin or thick you made your pasta dough, it could take 2-5 minutes to cook. If you're using store-bought ravioli, check the cooking time on the package.
  12. Strain: Scoop out the ravioli with a slotted spoon and add to a bowl or plates.
  13. Add sauce: Spoon the sauce onto the ravioli and stir to gently combine.
  14. Serve ravioli: Add in some more chopped fresh basil for serving. ENJOY!

Nutrition Disclaimer

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.

Notes

Substitutions & Variations for sauce for ravioli recipe:

Here are some tasty variations and substitutions you can try with your Ravioli with Tomato Sauce recipe to switch things up:

1. Creamy Tomato Ravioli

  • Add a splash of heavy cream or cream cheese to the tomato sauce for a richer, creamy tomato flavor. This creates a velvety sauce that clings beautifully to the ravioli.

2. Spicy Marinara Ravioli

  • Increase the amount of red pepper flakes or add a dash of hot sauce for a spicier version. You can also include spicy Italian sausage in the sauce for a heartier, spicy kick.

3. Vegetarian Ravioli with Roasted Vegetables

  • Swap out the standard ravioli filling for vegetable-stuffed ravioli like spinach or mushroom. Add roasted veggies like zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers to the sauce for a delicious, veggie-packed meal.

4. Cheese-Filled Ravioli with Pesto Tomato Sauce

  • Mix basil pesto into the tomato sauce for a fresh, herbaceous twist. The combination of the creamy Parmigiano in the ravioli and the bright pesto flavor adds a new layer of complexity.

5. Meat Sauce Variation

6. Ravioli with Garlic Butter Sauce

  • For a lighter option, swap the tomato sauce for a simple garlic butter sauce. Sauté garlic in butter with a pinch of red pepper flakes and a splash of lemon juice, then toss with the ravioli and finish with Parmesan cheese.

7. Tomato Sauce with Fresh Herbs

  • Instead of using dried herbs, substitute with fresh basil, thyme, or oregano for a more vibrant, aromatic sauce. Add them toward the end of cooking to preserve their flavor.

8. Gluten-Free Ravioli

  • For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free ravioli available in many grocery stores. The sauce remains naturally gluten-free, so this is an easy switch.

9. Tomato Basil Ravioli with Ricotta

  • Finish your dish by dolloping a spoonful of fresh ricotta on top of the plated ravioli. The creamy ricotta adds a luxurious texture and complements the bright tomato sauce perfectly.

10. Tomato Ravioli with Balsamic Drizzle

  • For a gourmet twist, drizzle some balsamic glaze over the finished dish. The sweet acidity of balsamic pairs well with the richness of the tomato sauce and ravioli.

Nutrition

Calories: 424kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 31g | Sodium: 2332mg | Potassium: 186mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg
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