This Sun Dried Tomato Ravioli Sauce is a quick and easy way to elevate store-bought cheese ravioli into an elegant, flavorful dish. With a blend of sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and a few other simple ingredients, the sauce comes together in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for a busy weeknight meal or a romantic date night. It’s a hearty, vegetarian dish that will please the entire family.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 lb cheese ravioli (store-bought)

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• Fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)

Directions

1. Cook the Ravioli
   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cheese ravioli and cook according to package instructions, usually for about 3-5 minutes. Drain and set aside.

2. Make the Sun Dried Tomato Sauce
   In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.
   Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
   Pour in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, stirring to combine. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes until it thickens. Add crushed red pepper flakes if using, and season with salt and pepper.

3. Combine the Ravioli and Sauce
   Add the cooked ravioli to the skillet with the sauce and toss gently to coat the ravioli in the sauce.

4. Serve
   Transfer the ravioli to serving plates and garnish with fresh chopped basil. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Nutrients

The nutritional values will vary based on the brand and portion size, but here’s an estimate for one serving (about 1/4 of the recipe):

• Calories: 400–500 kcal

• Protein: 12–15 g

• Carbohydrates: 40–50 g

  • Fiber: 2–3 g

  • Sugars: 4–6 g

• Fat: 20–25 g

  • Saturated Fat: 8–10 g

• Cholesterol: 30–40 mg

• Sodium: 600–800 mg

• Calcium: 150–200 mg

• Iron: 2–3 mg

This estimate is for the ravioli with sun-dried tomato sauce and does not include additional sides or variations.

Why Sun-Dried Tomatoes Make the Perfect Sauce Ingredient

Sun-dried tomatoes are packed with concentrated flavor, making them an excellent addition to sauces. When tomatoes are dried, their natural sweetness and tanginess are intensified, giving them a deep, umami-rich taste that enhances any dish. In this ravioli sauce, the sun-dried tomatoes provide an earthy, slightly smoky flavor that contrasts perfectly with the creamy base of the sauce. Whether you use oil-packed or dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, they bring a burst of color and flavor that instantly elevates the dish.

This sauce allows the sun-dried tomatoes to shine, with their tangy notes balancing beautifully against the richness of the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. This simple combination of ingredients creates a decadent sauce that clings perfectly to the ravioli, giving each bite a burst of flavor.

The Simplicity of the Sauce

What makes the Sun Dried Tomato Ravioli Sauce so appealing is its simplicity. The sauce is made with just a few core ingredients: olive oil, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and a few seasonings. Despite the short list, these ingredients come together to create a sauce that’s rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor.

The process is straightforward: you sauté garlic in olive oil, infuse it with sun-dried tomatoes, and then add the cream and cheese to create a luscious, creamy sauce. The result is a dish that looks and tastes like something you’d expect to find at a high-end restaurant, yet it takes just 15 minutes to prepare.

How the Ravioli and Sauce Work Together

The beauty of ravioli lies in its ability to hold a variety of fillings, typically cheese, meat, or vegetables. When paired with a flavorful sauce like the sun-dried tomato mixture, the ravioli serves as the perfect vessel for absorbing the sauce. The pillowy pockets of pasta are coated in the rich, creamy sauce, creating an indulgent bite every time.

The sauce not only coats the ravioli but also seeps into the crevices, infusing every bite with the bold flavors of sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Parmesan. The creaminess of the sauce is balanced with the slight acidity of the tomatoes, creating a harmonious blend of flavors that works perfectly with the cheese-filled ravioli.

Quick and Easy: Perfect for Busy Weeknights

This Sun Dried Tomato Ravioli Sauce recipe is ideal for those nights when you’re craving a delicious, homemade meal but don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. With only a few simple steps and minimal prep time, this dish can be ready in 15 minutes or less. Boiling the ravioli and simmering the sauce can easily be done simultaneously, ensuring that the dish is served hot and fresh in no time.

Additionally, because the sauce is made from pantry staples, you can easily make this dish on the fly without needing to do a big grocery run. If you’re short on time but still want a satisfying meal, this recipe delivers on both flavor and convenience.

Vegetarian Delight

This dish is a wonderful vegetarian option that doesn’t sacrifice flavor or texture. The cheese ravioli is rich and satisfying, and when paired with the sun-dried tomato sauce, it becomes a hearty and filling meal. The creaminess of the sauce combined with the intensity of the sun-dried tomatoes creates a perfectly balanced dish that’s suitable for anyone avoiding meat. Plus, with the addition of garlic, Parmesan, and fresh basil, the dish is bursting with savory flavors that will keep even non-vegetarians coming back for more.

Adding Variations to the Dish

One of the great things about this recipe is how easily it can be customized. If you’d like to add more vegetables to the dish, consider tossing in some spinach, roasted bell peppers, or mushrooms into the sauce for added texture and flavor. You could also experiment with different types of ravioli – spinach and ricotta ravioli, for example, would pair wonderfully with the sun-dried tomato sauce.

For a bit more protein, you could add cooked chicken or shrimp to the dish, making it a heartier main course. The sun-dried tomato sauce is versatile enough to complement a variety of ingredients, so feel free to get creative and make this dish your own.

Perfect Pairings

Sun Dried Tomato Ravioli Sauce pairs wonderfully with a variety of side dishes. A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette can balance out the richness of the ravioli, providing a refreshing contrast. Garlic bread or a slice of crusty baguette is a must for soaking up the extra sauce, making the meal even more satisfying.

If you’re serving this dish for a special occasion or a date night, consider pairing it with a glass of dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. These wines complement the creaminess of the sauce while adding a refreshing acidity that cuts through the richness. Alternatively, a light red wine, like a Pinot Noir, can also work well with the flavors in this dish.

Nutritional Information and Health Considerations

While this Sun Dried Tomato Ravioli Sauce is undeniably rich and comforting, it can still be part of a balanced diet when enjoyed in moderation. One serving (about 1/4 of the recipe) provides a solid amount of protein from the cheese ravioli, as well as a good source of calcium from the Parmesan cheese. The heavy cream adds richness, but you could substitute it with a lighter cream or even a plant-based cream for a lower-calorie version.

The dish is also high in fat, particularly saturated fat from the cream and cheese, so it’s best enjoyed as an occasional indulgence or for special occasions. You can lighten the recipe by using less cheese or substituting the heavy cream with a lower-fat alternative, though this may slightly alter the texture and flavor of the sauce.

Conclusion

Sun Dried Tomato Ravioli Sauce is a quick, simple, and delicious way to elevate store-bought ravioli into an elegant and flavorful meal. The combination of creamy sauce, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and aromatic garlic creates a dish that is both comforting and satisfying. Perfect for busy weeknights, date nights, or family dinners, this dish comes together in just 15 minutes and offers bold flavors with minimal effort. With the ability to customize and add your favorite ingredients, this sauce is a versatile and easy option that is sure to become a staple in your weeknight dinner rotation.