What Sauce Goes with Pappardelle Pasta? (8 Best Sauces)

If you’re here because you’ve been wondering what sauce to serve with pappardelle pasta, then you’re in luck!

I’ve rounded up 8 of the best sauces to serve with this wide and flat noodle.

Whether you’re looking for a classic tomato sauce, a creamy Alfredo sauce, or something in between, there’s sure to be a recipe on this list that you’ll love.

So go ahead and give one (or all!) of these sauces a try the next time you make pappardelle pasta!

What Sauce Goes with Pappardelle Pasta?

Some of the best sauces to pair with pappardelle pasta are ragu, carbonara, alfredo, and pesto. For a heartier dish, try serving pappardelle with a meat-based sauce like ragu or carbonara. If you want something lighter, go for alfredo or pesto.

 Looking for more?

Then keep reading!

Here are 8 sauces that go well with pappardelle pasta:

1. Bolognese Sauce

If you want your meal to be extra filling and comforting, then you can’t go wrong with a hearty Bolognese sauce served over pappardelle pasta.

This dish is traditionally made with a ground meat (usually beef), tomatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic.

I like to add in a splash of red wine for extra flavor, but you can omit this if you prefer.

I also like to top mine with some freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.

You can really customize this dish to your liking by adding or omitting any ingredients that you don’t like.

Pro Tip: If you want a smoother sauce, you can use an immersion blender to blend the sauce until it reaches your desired consistency.

2. Puttanesca Pasta Sauce

I recommend making a big batch of this sauce and freezing it in smaller portions so you can enjoy it any time you want.

This sauce is also great on chicken or fish.

Personally, I love to serve it with pappardelle pasta, but you can really use any type of pasta that you like.

3. Pesto Pasta Sauce

Whether you like basil pesto, sun-dried tomato pesto, or kale pesto, this pasta sauce is a great way to change up your usual red sauce.

See Also: What Salad Goes With Pesto Pasta? 10 Best Salads

Pesto is traditionally made with olive oil, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and pine nuts (basil pesto), but there are endless variations of this classic sauce.

I like to use pappardelle pasta with my pesto sauce because the wide noodles pair well with the thick sauce.

To customize your pesto pasta sauce, start by adding in your favorite herbs and spices.

If you’re using sun-dried tomatoes, add in some crushed red pepper flakes for a little heat.

If you want a creamier sauce, add in some heavy cream or half and half.

And finally, top it off with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Pro Tip: When making pesto at home, always use fresh herbs for the best flavor.

4. Ragu Sauce

Meaty and full of flavor, ragu sauce is the perfect partner for pappardelle pasta.

I like to make mine with a mix of ground beef and pork, but you can use all beef or all pork if you prefer.

I also add in some chopped pancetta for extra flavor.

1. To make the sauce, start by sautéing onions and garlic in olive oil, then add in the meat and cook until browned.
2. Add a can of crushed tomatoes, some chicken broth, and a splash of red wine.
3. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, then let the sauce simmer for at least 30 minutes.

The longer it simmers, the more flavorful it will be.

Pro Tip: If you have time, make the sauce a day ahead and let it sit overnight in the fridge.

This will give the flavors time to really develop.

5. Salsa Sauce

Made with fire roasted tomatoes, garlic, and onion, this Salsa Sauce is a great way to spice up your pappardelle pasta.

I like to add a little bit of cream to mine, but you can leave it out if you want a lighter sauce.

If you’re looking for an extra kick, try adding some crushed red pepper flakes.

And if you’re not a fan of spice, simply leave them out.

You can also add in some chopped fresh basil or parsley for a little bit of color and flavor.

Pro Tip: One of the best things about this sauce is that it’s so versatile.

If you’re not in the mood for pasta, try using it as a dipping sauce for breadsticks or as a topping for grilled chicken or fish.

6. Alfredo Sauce

This is the BEST Alfredo Sauce you will ever make! It’s so rich and creamy, and it only takes a few minutes to make.

I like to serve it with pappardelle pasta, but you can use any type of pasta you like.

The sauce is also very versatile, so you can customize it to your liking.

For example, if you want a thinner sauce, you can add more milk.

If you want a thicker sauce, you can add less milk.

You can also add different herbs or spices to give the sauce more flavor.

Pro Tip: If you’re using this sauce for a pasta dish, I recommend cooking the pasta in the sauce instead of boiling it separately.

This way, the pasta will absorb all the delicious flavors of the sauce!

7. Amatriciana Pasta Sauce

This recipe calls for just 6 main ingredients, and is guaranteed to kick your pasta nights up a notch.

Amatriciana is a traditional Italian pasta sauce from the town of Amatrice, and is typically made with pancetta (Italian bacon), tomatoes, onions, and red chili flakes.

I like to add in a bit of garlic and some white wine for extra flavor.

This dish is usually served with bucatini or spaghetti, but I think pappardelle noodles are the perfect vessel for this sauce because they’re nice and wide and really soak up all that deliciousness.

Pro Tip: If you can’t find pancetta at your local grocery store, you can substitute it with bacon.

Just make sure to cook it until it’s nice and crispy so it adds some texture to the dish.

8. Marinara Sauce

The best marinara sauce is always a homemade one.

It’s easy to make and you can control the quality of the ingredients that go into it.

Plus, it tastes so much better than anything you can buy at the store!

1. To make a basic marinara sauce, start by sautéing some garlic in olive oil.
2. Then add in canned tomatoes (I like to use San Marzanos), a splash of red wine, and some salt and pepper.
3. Let the sauce simmer for about 30 minutes, then taste it and adjust the seasoning as necessary.

You can also add in other herbs like basil or oregano if you want.

Pro Tip: One of my favorite things to do with this sauce is to add some cooked shrimp to it right before I serve it.

It makes a great pasta dish that’s light but still satisfying.