The Cozy Cook

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Easy Ravioli Sauce

This easy ravioli sauce is so easy to make with refrigerated or frozen ravioli. It has a thick and flavorful cream sauce with a hint of tomato flavor, simple seasonings, and fresh or canned diced tomatoes. Your family will love this 30-minute meal.

Be sure to serve this with a side of my Garlic Bread with Cheese!

A white plate with Ravioli in a tomato cream sauce with tomatoes.

Easy Ravioli Sauce

Nothing beats a gourmet-style ravioli sauce that you can have on the dinner table in 30 minutes flat. 

The 4-cheese ravioli that I use for this recipe is filled with a combination of ricotta, Romano, mozzarella, and gorgonzola. So I chose to use cream cheese and Parmesan cheese in the sauce- because that gives us a 6-cheese combination!

SIX! CHEESES! 🤯

Scroll down to see how to make it, read through my PRO tips, storage information, and more.

How to Make It

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Melt the butter in a large high-walled skillet and add minced garlic. Cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the tomato paste, onion powder, basil, oregano, and mustard powder. Stir to combine.

Making a roux and adding tomato paste and seasonings for ravioli sauce.

Add the chicken broth in splashes, stirring continuously. Slowly stir in the half and half. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.

Adding chicken broth and cream to tomato paste and seasonings to make Ravioli Sauce.

Stir in the softened cream cheese and drained diced tomatoes. (Optional, reserve some of the tomato juice in case you’d like to thin the sauce out at the end.) Cook the pasta according to package instructions, drain. Reduce heat to low and stir in the Parmesan cheese.

Adding cream cheese, tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese to Ravioli Sauce.

 Add the ravioli and use a silicone spatula to gently stir until combined. Garnish with Parsley and red pepper flakes and serve!

Adding Ravioli to a creamy tomato sauce and stirring to combine.

Pro Tips

  • Freshly diced Roma tomatoes or regular diced tomatoes can be used instead of Rotel if preferred.
  • A teaspoon of hot sauce makes a nice addition to the sauce and won’t make it too spicy.
  • Optional additions include: Fresh spinach or fresh basil.
  • I use Rana refrigerated 4-cheese Ravioli with this recipe.
  • To soften the cream cheese quickly: Heat 2 cups of water in the microwave. Place 3 Tbsp. cream cheese in the microwave and close the door. Let it soften for 5 minutes.
  • Grate the Parmesan cheese from a block, it will melt and taste much better than packaged grated cheese.
  • 20 oz. tortellini can be used in this recipe as well. (Or try my easy Tortellini Sauce recipe!)
  • This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 144!

Storage

  • Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
  • While you can freeze leftovers, ravioli doesn’t hold up quite as well after being frozen and reheated.

A pot of Ravioli in a cream sauce with tomatoes.

Tools For This Recipe

(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.

  • This is the Le Creuset skillet I used in this recipe, (and in 90% of my recipes). It’s pricey, but it conducts heat really well and is oven safe. The size is perfect and the quality is great.
  • Pasta Strainer– This is the one I have and love.
  • Box Cheese Grater– Always shred cheese from a block, it melts and tastes much better. Bagged shredded cheese contains cellulose which prevents it from melting as well.
  • Silicone Spatula– I use these every time I cook. It makes it easy to carefully toss the ravioli into the sauce.

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Ravioli on a white plate with a creamy ravioli sauce on top.

Easy Ravioli Sauce

4.98 from 217 ratings
This easy ravioli sauce is so easy to make with refrigerated or frozen ravioli. It has a thick and flavorful cream sauce with a hint of tomato flavor, simple seasonings, and fresh or canned diced tomatoes.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons salted butter, I use Land O' Lakes
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon EACH: onion powder, dried basil, dried oregano, mustard powder
  • ¾ cup chicken broth
  • 1 ½ cups half and half, half light cream/half milk
  • 10 oz. Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, juices reserved
  • 3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 20 oz. refrigerated ravioli
  • 1 pinch Red Pepper Flakes, optional

Instructions

  • Prep Work: Measure out all ingredients prior to beginning.
  • Melt the butter in a large high-walled skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring continuously. Add the flour and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the tomato paste, onion powder, basil, oregano, and mustard powder. Stir to combine.
  • Add the chicken broth in small splashes, stirring continuously. Add the half and half in the same manner. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer.
  • Add the softened cream cheese and drained diced tomatoes. (Pro Tip: Reserve the tomato juice in case you’d like to thin the sauce out at the end.)
  • Cook the ravioli according to package instructions, drain.
  • Reduce heat of the sauce to low. Gradually sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese and stir until combined. Add the red pepper flakes, if using.
  • Add the ravioli and use a silicone spatula to gently stir until combined. Add any of the reserved tomato juice if desired. Serve!

Notes

  • Freshly diced Roma tomatoes or regular diced tomatoes can be used instead of Rotel if preferred.
  • A teaspoon of hot sauce makes a nice addition to the sauce and won’t make it too spicy.
  • Optional additions include: Fresh spinach or fresh basil.
  • I use Rana refrigerated 4-cheese Ravioli with this recipe.
  • To soften the cream cheese quickly: Heat 2 cups of water in the microwave. Place 3 Tbsp. cream cheese in the microwave and close the door. Let it soften for 5 minutes.
  • Grate the Parmesan cheese from a block, it will melt and taste much better than packaged grated cheese.
  • 20 oz. tortellini can be used in this recipe as well.
  • This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 144!

Storage: 
  • Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
  • While you can freeze leftovers, ravioli doesn't hold up quite as well after being frozen and reheated.

Nutrition

Calories: 513kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 100mg, Sodium: 904mg, Potassium: 244mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 627IU, Vitamin C: 8mg, Calcium: 177mg, Iron: 11mg
Did you try this recipe?Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!

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518 comments on “Easy Ravioli Sauce”

  1. Couldn’t believe how great this recipe is. I felt like I was eating a meal that a first class chef made. It was delicious. I put sautéed shrimp in it and a little spinach. I will definitely make it again.

  2. Delish!!!!! Easy  to make and great flavor.

  3. We really enjoyed this recipe.  I will make it again.

  4. Do you use Original Rotel or mild?

  5. This was absolutely AMAZING!!! Everyone loved it and wanted the recipe. Thanks so much for this!!

  6. I know this is off topic but where did you get the spoof with the wood handle that’s in the photo?
    P.S.
    I’m going to make this for Christmas Eve dinner. It looks so yummy!

    • Hi Deborah! I believe I got that spoon at Target but I just did a search and I can’t seem to find it, it was awhile ago and they may not carry it anymore. Darnit! I can’t wait for you to try this recipe! 🙂

  7. How do you think using penne pasta instead would work? My family does not like ravioli but this sauce sounds amazing!

    • I think that would be great! I might suggest reserving a little pasta water to add to the sauce after you combine it with the penne, it will help the sauce stick to the pasta even more 🙂

  8. My seven year has hated any type of RED pasta sauce since she was in utero. 🤣

    But this creamy red ravioli sauce was her birthday dinner request for this year.

    She LOVES it and considers it her “favorite” home cooked meal.

    Thank you for sharing it with us!

    • That’s so funny! I know a lot of kids who refuse red sauce lol. I’m so happy your daughter said it’s her favorite ❤️❤️❤️, that made my day 🤗

  9. This ravioli sauce was amazing. 

  10. Made this sauce tonight with a sausage ravioli.  Instead of the Rotel Tomatoes, I used a 14 oz can of cherry tomatoes.  I also did a blend of Asiago and Parmesan Cheese that I grated myself and served with a yummy garlic bread topped with that asiago & parmesan blend that I put in the sauce.  The dinner was a big hit.  Thanks for such an easy and tasty dinner.  

    • You’re very welcome Carolyn! I’m so happy it was such a hit. I love that you grated your own cheese and served with a yummy garlic bread, nice work! Thanks so much for the great comments and review!❤️

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