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    Home » Dips, Dressings & Sauces

    Creamy Tomato Sauce with Cream Cheese

    5 from 3 votes
    Posted May 3, 2019 by Wendy Polisi

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    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Creamy Tomato Sauce with Cream Cheese is a swoon-worthy sauce that is perfect for pasta or zucchini noodles! (I adore it on this Zucchini Ravioli!) Looking for a new topping for chicken? This is one you are going to love. It comes together in less than ten minutes, making this rich and creamy sauce perfect for a weeknight meal.

    Photo of creamy tomato sauce in a white bowl garnished with basil.
    First Published: May 11, 2018... Last Updated: May 3, 2019

    Cream Cheese Tomato Pasta Sauce Backstory

    I have always loved anything rich and creamy.

    In my younger years, I counted sour cream as one of my favorite foods.

    (And truthfully I still love it.)

    Despite my love for all things creamy, I've always tended towards using traditional marinara sauces in pasta recipes. (This Slow Cooker Marinara is a go-to favorite.)

    The challenge is that as I've gotten older, eating a red sauce to late as lead to...unpleasant side effects.

    The acid late at night is just too much for me.

    I end up awake most of the night regretting my dinner.  (And the fact that I ate so close to bedtime.  This is something I am working on.)

    Luckily I have found that if I cut the acid with a little creaminess, I can still enjoy all of my favorite dishes. And that is where this Cream Cheese Tomato Pasta Sauce comes in.

    This Creamy Tomato Pasta Sauce is so rich!

    I love that you can adapt it to suit most any kind of diet.

    Keto? No problem, use heavy cream.

    Want to make this creamy tomato sauce lower fat? Use my quinoa cream and switch out the cream cheese for Neufchatel cheese.

    Since this is so rich, it doesn't take much to really make a pasta dish. (I have a Zucchini Ravioli recipe coming up for you that uses this Creamy Tomato Sauce. It is out of this world - I promise that you won't miss the pasta.)

    I can stretch a single recipe of this to about three or four different dishes. I like to freeze it in mason jars and thaw overnight in the fridge prior to heating and serving.

    It is perfect to toss with some pasta or zucchini noodles and spinach for an easy meal.

    How to Make Cream Cheese Tomato Sauce

    Gather Your Ingredients

    Photo of tomato sauce, cream cheese, red onion, garlic, butter, cream, and seasonings in small white prep bowls.

    Melt the Butter

    Melt the butter in a medium saucepan

    Cook Onion

    Photo of butter melted in a sauce pan and onion that has just been added.

    Cook onion for eight minutes; stir in garlic and cook another 30 seconds

    Add Tomato and Seasonings

    Tomato sauce and seasonings being added to a sauce pan with butter, onion, and garlic.

    Add tomatoes and seasonings and bring to a boil.

    Simmer

    Reduce to a simmer and cook for five minutes.
    Add Cream Cheese

    Photo of cubes of cream cheese being added to a pot with tomato sauce.

    Add cubed cream cheese to the pot. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring often, until melted.
    Add Cream

    Remove from heat and stir in cream.

    Creamy Tomato Sauce in a saucepan garnished with basil.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can You Substitute Milk for Heavy Cream?

    Absolutely! Heavy cream makes this sauce richer, but you can substitute milk or half-and-half if you like. Another great option if you are not watching carbs is to use my Quinoa Cream.

    Do You Put Sugar in Tomato Sauce?

    Whether or not you put sugar in your tomato sauce is completely up to personal preference! I haven't used any here because I feel like the cream cheese and cream cuts the acid sufficiently. If you would like to add some, feel free. I like Swerve for a low-carb/sugar-free option.

    Variations for This Recipe

    • For a touch of heat, add ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper.
    • For a unique flair, stir in 1 cup of feta cheese with the cream cheese. Add in ¼ cup tomato paste.

    Tips for Making Creamy Tomato Sauce with Cream Cheese

    • Make sure you stir almost constantly when you add the cream cheese. A whisk works best to achieve a smooth, creamy sauce.
    • Don't forget to remove your pan from the stove before whisking in the cream.
    • This sauce may be made ahead and frozen.  I like to freeze it in mason jars.  To serve, thaw overnight in the fridge and then reheat.

    Tools for Making This:

    The following are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I make a small commission at no additional charge to you.

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    • Medium Saucepan
    • Garlic Mincer
    • Whisk

    Cream Cheese Tomato Pasta Sauce

    Close up square overhead photo of a saucepan with a 10-minute creamy tomato sauce with cream cheese in it.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    20-Minute Creamy Tomato Sauce with Cream Cheese

    This Creamy Tomato Sauce with Cream Cheese is a swoon-worthy tomato sauce that is perfect for pasta or zucchini noodles! It also makes a fabulous topping for chicken.  Since it comes together in less than twenty minutes, it is perfect for a weeknight meal.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time15 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Keto, Low Carb
    Keyword: creamy tomato sauce, creamy tomato sauce with cream cheese
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 181kcal
    Author: Wendy Polisi

    Ingredients

    • ¼ cup butter grass-fed or Garlic Ghee
    • ½ red onion diced
    • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
    • 14.5 ounces crushed tomatoes
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
    • 8 ounces cream cheese
    • 1 cup heavy cream or quinoa cream
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Heat butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
    • Add onion, and cook for 8 minutes.
    • Stir in garlic, and cook for 30 seconds.
    • Add tomatoes, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
    • Reduce to a simmer and cook for five minutes.
    • Cut cream cheese into small cubes and add to the saucepan.
    • Reduce heat to low, and cook until melted stirring often.
    • Remove from heat and stir in cream.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 244mg | Potassium: 148mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 735IU | Vitamin C: 3.8mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 0.6mg
    If you like this recipe don't forget to leave a 5 star rating and let me know how it went in the below comments, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, Instagram, and PINTEREST to see all my delicious recipes.

    If You Like This Recipe You May Also Like

    • Creamy Garlic Tomato Soup
    • Quinoa Cream
    • Homemade Pimento Cheese
    • Basic Tomato Sauce from Simply Recipes
    • Fresh Tomato Sauce from Lexi's Clean Kitchen

    Filed Under:

    Dips, Dressings & SaucesKeto and Low Carb Recipes

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    About Wendy Polisi

    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

    Reader Interactions

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      Rating




    1. Shannon Graham

      July 13, 2018 at 6:56 pm

      5 stars
      This would be delicious over any pasta! YUM!

      Reply
    2. Heidi

      September 19, 2020 at 8:51 pm

      5 stars
      I loved it... thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        September 24, 2020 at 4:25 pm

        So glad that you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    3. Linda Davidson

      September 29, 2021 at 1:37 am

      5 stars
      So easy!! I did make a minor change, I added some Locatelli cheese to cut flavor since I didn’t have feta and no heavy cream so I used milk. It was very creamy, sauce really wasn’t thin at all. My family Loved it!

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        September 30, 2021 at 5:25 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

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