Pasta can be an inexpensive meal, but a jar of sauce can cost close to five dollars. In addition, many store-bought sauces contain preservatives and unnatural ingredients. Creating your own pasta sauces at home is not only simple, but can also be cheaper and healthier than getting sauce from a jar.
Marinara
A cheap marinara sauce is as easy as sauteing onion and garlic, then adding spices and canned tomatoes. Lycopene, an antioxidant that protects against chronic diseases, is more prevalent in cooked tomato products than fresh tomatoes, reports Science Daily. Marinara is versatile and goes well on pasta, chicken or eggplant Parmesan, and baked pasta dishes. Because it is not a cream base, a large batch of marinara sauce keeps well in the freezer.
Olive Oil and Garlic
Olive oil and garlic is a delicious and healthy combination on pasta. Simply saute minced garlic cloves in olive oil until the garlic is browned; add crushed red pepper for more flavor and spice. Dip bread in this sauce as a healthier alternative to butter. Olive oil is high in fat, but it is monounsaturated fat, shown to reduce blood pressure and LDL cholesterol. Olive oil can be expensive, but you only use 1 to 2 tbsp. for each serving of pasta.
Pesto
Pesto is a no-cook sauce that whips up quickly in a food processor. A typical recipe includes fresh basil, olive oil, garlic, pine nuts or walnuts, Parmesan or Romano cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. Fresh basil contains folic acid, an important nutrient. Olive oil and nuts are calorically dense and high in fat, but these monounsaturated fats are beneficial and can reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Combine or replace basil with spinach for a less intense basil flavor that's still a healthy option.
Alfredo
Alfredo sauce is another inexpensive pasta topper. However, it is typically made with heavy cream, butter and lots of Parmesan cheese; store-bought preparations are usually high in fat and sodium. Make a lower fat version at home with skim or low fat milk, less cheese, and fresh parsley and garlic -- the latter additions increase the flavor. High-quality Parmesan cheese is expensive, so using less decreases costs as well as fat in the sauce.
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