A jar of pasta sauce is the perfect platform for these dinner recipes

You don’t need to make your own tomato sauce for these scrumptious dinner ideas. Each recipe uses one of the most common pantry items - a jar of pasta sauce.

From rich ragus to melt-in-the-mouth meatballs and comforting baked dinners, these meals all lean on one trusty ingredient to create out-of-this-world flavour in minutes.

Pasta sauce recipes:

Spaghetti with meatballs and cherry tomatoes

There’s a special place in the recipe repertoire for spaghetti and meatballs – it’s the cure to so many ailments (the cold weather blues, what’s-for-dinner rut and I-need-a-hug-from-mum mopes). This version is sped up with the addition of a good quality pasta sauce – the kind that instantly adds depth.

Pasta sauce recipes:

Chicken and tomato bake with melted Brie

A tomatoey chicken and rice filling capped by a brie pie lid, this indulgent bake is for lovers of soft cheese and no-fuss cooking.

Pasta sauce recipes:

Rose harissa, prawn and chickpea tagine

Balancing delicate spices with sweet prawns, textural chickpeas and a beautifully rounded, brothy tomato sauce, this tagine is the perfect antidote to a busy day.

Pasta sauce recipes:

Rigatoni amatriciana

Because sometimes, it’s the end of the day and your motivation for slaving away in the kitchen is at subterranean level, but only red sauce and pasta will do. This amatriciana leans on a few stalwart ingredients, like salty pancetta and an excellent pasta sauce, to return big on comforting, express flavour.

Pasta sauce recipes:

Casarecce alla norma (casarecce with eggplant, tomato and ricotta)

The sweet, sun-kissed taste of perfectly ripe tomatoes and gooey eggplant shine in this classic Italian pasta, which is on the table in under 20 minutes, but still sports a delicious depth of flavour. The perfect express weeknight warmer!

Pasta sauce recipes:

Chicken cacciatore

This rustic Italian stew is known for its big, comforting flavours.

Pasta sauce recipes:

Lasagne al pane carasau

Layering Italian flatbread instead of traditional pasta sheets gives this lasagne its lighter texture, not to mention allows it to cook in half the time.

Pasta sauce recipes:

Parmesan veal cutlets

In this faster, lighter, more refined take on veal parmigiana, veal cutlets are crumbed, topped with prosciutto and parmesan, then dropped in a delicious, authentic pasta sauce to bubble away until golden. Dinner in under 15? Right this way

Pasta sauce recipes:

Duck breast ragu with soft polenta

When guests are calling in, pull out all stops with tender, blushing pink duck ragu simmered in a rich red pasta sauce bursting with the sweetest, reddest tomatoes. Serve it atop a creamy polenta, pour a glass of your favourite, and toast to your cooking prowess the next time you’re entertaining.

Pasta sauce recipes:

Fettuccine rigate with olives, capsicum and caramelised cherry tomatoes

Anchovies and tomatoes are the umami double punch that lends this pasta its incredibly moreish quality.

Pasta sauce recipes:

Rolled chicken breast stuffed with spinach and ricotta

Everything old is new again, which is ample reason to give this retro-leaning rolled chicken breast a spin the next time you’re hosting loved ones. The classic combo of basil, ricotta, spinach and tomato pasta sauce guarantees its timeless success.

Pasta sauce recipes:

Paprika chicken casserole

This one-pan casserole ticks the fast flavour, minimal washing up and spiced up comfort boxes with ease. The secret flavour weapon? This article was made possible by Mutti Gourmet Pasta Sauces

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Originally published as A jar of pasta sauce is the perfect platform for these dinner recipes