No-cook pasta sauce recipes | BBC Good Food

Whether you’re looking to cut costs by using less energy while cooking or fancy something super simple but packed with flavour, try our no-cook pasta sauces for a stress-free supper.

Check out our 12 best blenders and best pestle & mortars to find our top ways to mash up your ingredients and create a creamy and splendid sauce.

Find money-saving tips, cheap recipes and valuable guides that make the most of your favourite ingredients while on a budget with our budget homepage.

Discover more no-cook recipes and pasta salad recipes, perfect for hot days or busy weeknights.

Plate of spaghetti with tomatoes, basil and cheese

Bring out the flavour of this fresh tomato sauce using a pestle and mortar. Add all your ingredients and mash together. The lemon zest and vinegar give it a little kick. For extra indulgence, enjoy with creamy burrata.

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This recipe is fantastic for cooking with younger children. The instructions are written so they can practice their reading and practical skills. They’ll love getting messy, squishing the tomatoes, ripping the herbs and pulling apart the olives.

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Bowl of spaghetti with tomatoes, mozzarella and mint

This pasta is fresh yet filling, perfect for a warm summer dinner as you won’t get hot and sweaty in the kitchen. Put the onions in a bowl with the lemon zest and juice and allow them to soften for 10 minutes before adding the remaining ingredients. Then, top the pasta with this and a generous handful of ripped mozzarella.

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This fresh herb sauce is wonderfully versatile as it accompanies meats such as roast chicken or turkey, but it is also fantastic to top your pasta with. It is vibrant and fresh and is made of watercress, parsley, walnut, olive oil, lemon juice, and sugar.

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Upgrade your usual pesto to include your foraging finds, such as wild garlic or fresh young nettles, to make a tangy sauce. Much more flavourful and personal than the shop-bought jars, and it can be stored for up to two weeks.

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Pot of fusilli with green sauce, parmesan and pine nuts

This vibrant and creamy spinach sauce is made using mascarpone. It’s rich and indulgent, perfect for any special occasion, but quick and easy enough to be a weekday staple the whole family will enjoy.

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Spaghetti with avocado, almonds, garlic on a plate covered with parmesan and basil

This delicious avocado sauce is made using almonds, lemon, garlic and basil. It’s a great low-calorie lunch, ideal for hot summer days when you can’t face cooking in the heat.

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Bowl of spaghetti with a green sauce, parmesan and basil

Disguised as ordinary pesto, this secret green sauce is packed with extra peas and spinach, perfect for getting the kids to eat their 5-a-day. It’s a great weekday meal as it takes only five minutes to prepare, but it can also be frozen to save any prep time.

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Plate of fusilli with red pepper and tomato sauce and greens

Add to your five-a-day with this red lentil pasta. Gluten and dairy-free, the sauce is made with peppers and cashews, which add protein and give it a creamy texture.

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This delicious kale pesto can be prepared in only ten minutes and lasts up to a week in the fridge or a month in the freezer. You make an incredibly healthy yet delicious sauce by replacing the basil with the greens.

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