So from soup and pasta to pizza and meatballs, it’s time to get cooking! Chances are you have a can or tube of tomato paste hiding in the pantry. Or maybe you opened one for a specific recipe, and it’s sitting lonely in the fridge. If that sounds familiar, check out these recipes with tomato paste. They’re rich, filling, and perfect for any occasion.
25 Delicious Tomato Paste Recipes You’ll Want to Bookmark
1. Homemade Pizza Sauce
Craving pizza but don’t have any sauce? No problem! Just make your own pizza sauce with tomato paste, tomato sauce, and a ton of herbs and spices. It requires no cooking and takes just five minutes to whip up. It’s robust, garlicky, and super easy to tailor. So feel free to play around with the extras and make it even more scrummy.
2. 15-Minute Tomato Paste Pasta Sauce
Stop buying jars of pasta sauce and make this super simple recipe. It’s naturally gluten- and soy-free and vegan-friendly to boot. As with the pizza sauce above, you can also tweak the herbs to make it perfect. Best of all, it’ll save you money! You can make large batches and freeze them for later. So long, store-bought tomato sauce!
3. Enchilada Sauce from Scratch
Okay, I promise you can do more with tomato paste than just make sauces. But let’s get those out of the way first. And this enchilada sauce is spectacular. It has the perfect consistency, just the right amount of heat, and phenomenal flavor. It doesn’t matter if you’re making cheese, chicken, or beef enchiladas, the sauce will be the star of the show.
4. Beef Barley Soup
Let’s move away from sauces and talk about soup, shall we? This beef barley soup is hearty, flavorful, and ultra nutritious. Each serving features immune-boosting garlic, plenty of veggies, and 22 grams of protein. It’s hardcore comfort food and tastes fantastic when the weather turns cold.
5. Aloo Matar
Aloo matar is a delightful curry that, when thinned, could almost pass for soup. Still, it’s bold and spicy with chunks of potatoes, green peas, and onions. I like it thick and served over rice. But it tastes just as good by itself or with some fresh naan bread. For more heat, use regular chili powder instead of the milder Kashmiri chili powder.
6. Classic Tomato Soup
Who doesn’t love light, bright tomato soup? There’s something so warm and nostalgic about it. I love its orangey-red color and that herby tomato taste. This recipe also adds a few extras, including cannellini beans, onions, and a dash of brown sugar. Mix in some fresh basil leaves for a tomato-basil variation. And don’t forget the gooey grilled cheese!
7. Slow-Cooker Shredded Beef Ragu
Slow-cooker meals are some of my faves. True, they take several hours to make. However, practically none of that time involves hands-on work. And this slow-cooker beef ragu is one of the best slow-cooker meals I’ve ever tried. It’s so nourishing and flavorful, the whole family will want seconds (or thirds!). You’ll rarely have leftovers with this recipe, so you might want to make extra. Plus, it’s more than just beef and noodles. Though you may not realize it, there are some veggies in the mix, too. It’s a complete – and completely filling – all-in-one meal I know you’ll love.
8. Classic Pot Roast
Did you know tomato paste is an essential pot roast ingredient? If you want the best possible flavor, it’s crucial. Adding tomato paste gives the roast an incredibly rich flavor. It also makes it moister, more brothy, and impossible to resist.
9. Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie has been around since the early 1800s. And it’s just as good today as it was then. Initially, people made it using leftovers from other dinners during the week. Today, most people make it with fresh ingredients. But, hey – the leftovers thing is always a terrific money-saving option! Either way, the result is a mishmash of veggies, meat, and herbs. And let’s not forget the melt-in-your-mouth potato topping. If you want a meal that’s bound to keep you full all night, shepherd’s pie is it.
10. Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese
Spaghetti bolognese is a classic Italian meal beloved by kids and grown-ups alike. It’s great on a busy weekend but tasty enough to be welcome at a dinner party. You can have it ready in 30 minutes or less, and everyone around the table will love it. Just don’t forget the garlic bread!
11. American Goulash
When I was a kid, I loved goulash night. I’d come home from school and smell the garlic as soon as I walked in the door. I’d hear the beef sizzling in the pan and know it would be a good night. I still love goulash today because it’s an easy, inexpensive, one-pot meal that’s simple to make. It’s not quite soup or stew and somehow better than both.
12. Lamb Shanks
Do you avoid cooking lamb because you’re afraid of messing it up? Luckily for you, this recipe for lamb shanks is foolproof. You can cook the shanks on the stove, in the oven, in a slow cooker, or Instant Pot. The hands-on work is minimal, and the recipe is easy to follow. The result? Heavenly. The meat is so tender, you don’t even need a fork to pull it apart. And the sauce? Drool-worthy. Trust me on this one: even if you’re a total beginner, you can handle this recipe.
13. Slow Cooker Chicken Ropa Vieja
Do you love chicken fajitas? If so, this recipe will be a new favorite. Chicken ropa vieja is like a deconstructed chicken fajita. The only thing missing is the tortilla and cheese. You can even serve it in a tortilla if you want. Though I think it’s best over rice. Either way, it’s sure to fill you up.
14. Braised Steak & Onions
The next time you’re in a ‘steak-n-potatoes’ mood, take this recipe for a spin. Braised steak with onions is tender, saucy, and exceptionally flavorful. And it pairs flawlessly with whatever potatoes you like best. It takes a few hours to cook, but the prep is no more than five to ten minutes. Everything else happens in the Dutch oven. The hardest part is waiting on it to finish cooking. So I wouldn’t blame you if you took a bite early.
15. Hemp Tofu Burger
A hemp tofu burger sounds like something straight from the ’70s – especially with the optional herbed white bean spread. But hear me out because it’s incredible. It’s firm – not mushy – and not too dry, either. It’s also surprisingly flavorful, and that’s before you add your favorite burger toppings. If vegan food has let you down in the past, don’t worry. This burger will turn it all around. Oh, and the white bean spread? Equally scrumptious.
16. Slow-Cooker Beef Stroganoff
I’m not a food snob. I love Hamburger Helper just as much as the next person. That said, it just doesn’t hold a candle to homemade beef stroganoff. And this recipe for it is one of the best. Throw everything in the pot before work, then get ready to chow down come dinner time.
17. Chicken Breasts in Tomato Sauce
Chicken breasts are a go-to meal in my house. My family loves them no matter how I cook them. But this recipe is always a favorite. The sauce is rich and creamy, and the chicken is tender and succulent. It’s bright, buttery, decadent, and delicious. Even when I make extra, we never have any leftovers for later.
18. Taco Lettuce Wraps
Need a quick and tasty lunch? Try these taco lettuce wraps. You can have them ready in about 20 minutes, and they’re super yummy. They taste just like authentic tacos; only there’s no carby tortilla to mess up your diet. Instead, you’ll load everything into a large lettuce leaf. And believe it or not, you won’t miss the shell.
19. Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta with Crème Fraîche
This creamy, tender pasta is ridiculously addictive. It’s full of bold ingredients like oregano, onions, sun-dried tomatoes, and more. And it’s so buttery, it’ll practically melt in your mouth. Best of all, you can have it ready in 20 minutes or less. Talk about the perfect weeknight dinner!
20. Easy 20-Minute Butter Chicken
If you enjoy Indian food but can’t handle the heat, check out this recipe for butter chicken. It has all the traditional flavors of the best Indian cuisine, but it’s mild enough that even the kids will want more. Oh, and it only takes 20 minutes to make and requires a single skillet. Serve it over rice or with fresh naan bread.
21. Rachael Ray Meatballs
Serve these meatballs for your next Sunday dinner, and they’ll be on your mind all week. A hearty blend of ground chuck, ground veal, and ground pork butt, these bad boys are beyond flavorful. There’s parsley, garlic, and Parmesan in with the meat. Meanwhile, the sauce features Spanish onions, chili flakes, tomato paste, and Cubano peppers. Yum!
22. Chicken Menudo
In the mood for something new? How about a classic Filipino stew? It’s a low-calorie, high-protein food that makes a great winter dinner option when you’re in a dinner rut. It’s a delightful mix of sweet and savory flavors packed with garden-fresh veggies. Give it a try, and I know you’ll love it.
23. Ina Garten’s Meatloaf
Need a meaty, comforting dinner the whole family will love? You can’t beat Ina Garten’s meatloaf. The flavorful mix of Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and tomato paste ensures every bite is rich, tangy, and tender. You’ll also add breadcrumbs and eggs for the best possible texture.
24. Saucy Moroccan-Spiced Lentils
This recipe will help you experience lentils in an entirely new way. They’re spicy, flavorful, and incredibly filling. Serve them as a side dish or a stand-alone meal. Either way, you’ll be impressed.
25. Trisha Yearwood Sloppy Joes
Leave the can on the shelf and make these homemade Sloppy Joes instead. They’re mega-saucy and have that beloved meaty and tangy flavor. Biting into one of these is like chomping into your childhood. One bite instantly transports you back to your mother’s kitchen on a long summer day. These Sloppy Joes are the real deal – so make extra! Click on a star to rate it!
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