Easy Carrot Pasta Sauce

Carrot pasta sauce is sweet, savory, earthy, super creamy, vibrant, healthy, and simple to prepare and enjoy with pasta and/or veggies for a healthy meal the entire family will enjoy in just 30 minutes.

Creamy Carrot Sauce for Pasta and Vegetables

You can NEVER have too many quick, simple pasta sauce recipes to turn to when you’re struggling for dinner ideas and want to keep things interesting. Especially those made from kitchen and pantry staples like sweet potato pasta sauce, dairy-free alfredo sauce (with kale and peas), and this easy carrot pasta sauce.

For this recipe, we’re shining the spotlight on humble, inexpensive carrots. While crisp and fresh when raw, once cooked, carrots can take on a sweeter flavor and blend effortlessly into a super creamy sauce along with onion and simple seasonings for a sweet, savory, slightly earthy, mildly ‘cheesy’ sauce.

Why You’ll Love Carrot Pasta Sauce

It not only tastes amazing, but is a great way to sneak extra veggies (and nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and fiber) into your meal. This carrot sauce recipe is also naturally low-fat, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and whole30. Better yet, a secret addition to the sauce helps load it up with plant-based protein to nourish and satisfy you.

Best of all, this vegan carrot pasta sauce is super simple to prepare, is both meal prep and freezer (with a tweak) friendly, and you can enjoy it over pasta, grains, roasted veggies, and more for a healthy, budget-friendly meal in under 30 minutes.

Looking for more quick & simple vegan pasta recipes? Check out our 20-minute creamy tahini pasta, avocado pesto pasta, and/or spicy tomato basil pasta.

The Vegan Carrot Sauce Ingredients

• Carrots: Make sure to use carrots that are nice and fresh.
• Olive oil: Or avocado oil – to sauté the veggies.
• Onion: Use a yellow or white onion.
• Vegetable stock: Use a high-quality vegetable stock or vegetable bouillon + water (use a reduced sodium version if necessary).
• Silken tofu: This creates a super creamy carrot pasta sauce with added plant-based protein.
• Seasonings: This carrot sauce recipe relies on a simple combination of herbs and spices for heaps of flavor.
  • Garlic powder (use fresh garlic cloves if preferred)
• • Fresh rosemary (or thyme)
• • Nutritional yeast (optional – for a nutty, ‘cheesy’, umami flavor)
• • Red pepper flakes (optional – to add heat. Cayenne pepper also works)
  • Salt & black pepper (Use soy sauce/tamari instead of salt for extra umami)
• Lemon juice: We prefer fresh lemon juice, though bottled works in a pinch. Apple cider vinegar/balsamic, may also work to add brightness and depth.

Want to make this carrot sauce creamy without soy? You can experiment with cashew cream (soaked then blended cashews), full-fat canned coconut milk, another dairy-free ‘cream,’ or even white beans (cannellini, butter beans, etc.). For a less creamy sauce, just use starchy pasta water or extra vegetable broth.

What Could I Add to Carrot Sauce?

• Miso paste: Just a small amount of this umami-rich ingredient adds complex depth (sweet, salty, savory, etc.) to the carrot puree sauce.
• Tomato paste: Just a small amount will add a fairly robust, tangy, concentrated tomato flavor to the sauce that balances the sweetness of the carrots well.
• Other vegetables: This vegan carrot cheese sauce is versatile when it comes to vegetable combinations (to sneak in even more nutrients). Some of the best pairings include carrot and potato, sweet potato, parsnips, and/or red pepper.
• Vegan cheese: To make even more of a carrot mac and cheese sauce, add a sharp melty vegan cheddar (to taste) or other melty dairy-free cheese.
• Smoked paprika: To add subtle smokiness to the carrot spaghetti sauce.
• Vegan butter: Stir in a small amount of plant-based butter just before serving the creamy carrot pasta sauce for more of a silky, velvety finish and ‘buttery’ flavor.

You can also add veggies to the sauce – such as spinach, peas, corn, etc.

How to Make Carrot Pasta Sauce?

• 1) First, peel and finely dice the onion and slice the carrots while pre-heating a large skillet over medium heat with the oil.

• 2) Once hot, add the onion and sauté it for about 5 minutes, or until it softens and lightly browns. Then, add the carrots and sauté for a further 2 minutes.

For a deeper, richer flavor, sauté the carrots with the onions and continue to sauté them until they are nicely browned/caramelized on the edges.

• 3) Pour in the vegetable broth and bring it to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer, cover with a lid, and cook for 15 minutes or until the carrots are tender.

• 4) Carefully transfer the cooked carrot and onion mixture to a blender along with the silken tofu and all the seasonings, and blend until smooth and creamy.

• 5) Then add the lemon juice, taste, and adjust any of the seasonings to your liking.

• 6) Finally, return the sauce to the saucepan and cook for 5 minutes over low heat to slightly thicken and reduce it. Enjoy!

If you’re also preparing pasta, do so towards the end of step 3 and reserve a ladleful or two of the pasta water if preferred to help the carrot pasta sauce cling to the noodles and/or adjust its consistency.

FAQs

Pro Recipe Tips

• Slice the carrots evenly: This will ensure they cook at a similar rate. Use a mandoline to speed up the prep time.
• For the smoothest sauce: Use a high-speed blender to blend the tender veg.
• Taste and adjust: We highly recommend tasting the sauce after blending and adjusting any of the herbs/spices to your liking.
• Reserve pasta water: If you plan to serve creamy carrot sauce with pasta, reserve a cup of the starchy pasta water. Adding just a little to the sauce can help it cling to the pasta better, but it’s also great to thin out the sauce.
• To make it into a soup: Add extra vegetable broth and adjust the seasonings.

What to Serve with Carrot Sauce?

• Pasta (short-shape, long noodles, tortellini, gnocchi, in lasagna, etc.)
• Grains (rice, quinoa, etc.)
• Roasted vegetables (asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, etc.)
• Vegan meatballs (and pasta/spaghetti or mashed potatoes)
• Spread over a vegan pizza or in calzones
• Within vegan wraps, plant-based quesadillas, or sandwiches
• Wedges, onion rings, and other party appetizers as a carrot dipping sauce

Depending on what you serve the vegan carrot sauce with, you might enjoy the meal alongside bread (garlic bread, focaccia, crusty loaf) for mopping up the sauce and/or a leafy green side salad.

Storage Instructions

Allow the carrot puree sauce to cool, and then store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

If you want to freeze the carrot pasta sauce, prepare it minus the silken tofu (which can become grainy once frozen) and freeze it in freezer-safe containers or Ziplock/Stasher bags (spread flat) for up to 4 months. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before blending in the tofu and reheating it.

More Vegan Pasta Recipes

• Tofu Bolognese
• Creamy curry pasta sauce
• Eggplant and hazelnut pasta
• Vegan pasta primavera
• Pumpkin pasta bake
• Summer garden pasta
• Butternut squash pasta sauce

Or browse through this list of 20 easy vegan pasta recipes you need to try!

Photos by Alfonso Revilla