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Home » Dips, Dressings & Sauces » Creamy Tomato Sauce with Cream Cheese

Creamy Tomato Sauce with Cream Cheese

Published: May 3, 2019 by Wendy Polisi Modified: May 23, 2019 · 847 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article. This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

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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.

  • Medium Saucepan
  • Garlic Mincer
  • Whisk
Photo of the cover of a Ninja Foodi Grill Cookbook.

Cream Cheese Tomato Pasta Sauce

Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

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 ten minutes, it is perfect for a weeknight meal.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time30 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
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About Wendy Polisi

Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 10 & 11 and my late life princess is 3. Firm believers in lifestyle design, our family has been location independent since 2008. Join me to read about our adventures in the kitchen…and out!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  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, author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 10 & 11 and my late life princess is 3. Firm believers in lifestyle design, our family has been location independent since 2008. Join me to read about our adventures in the kitchen…and out! Read More…

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