All the Ways to Reheat Pasta Sauce

Pasta for dinner tonight? It sounds delicious, but we all know that it tastes better when the sauce is at the right temperature. Don’t worry, we’re here to walk you through the easiest ways to reheat pasta sauce.

What are ways to reheat pasta sauce?  There are several, and we want to help you choose the one that suits you best. You can reheat the pasta sauce on the stove or in the microwave. It is also possible to reheat pasta that already has sauce. 

Knowing the basic methods does not guarantee the best possible flavor. There are ways to reheat pasta and pasta sauce that make it taste just as good as when it was freshly cooked. We’ve tried several different methods, and we want to share them with you, because everyone deserves delicious pasta.

Simple steps to reheat pasta sauce

First of all, if you don’t already have one, you need a quality casserole. I’ve used dozens, and none compare to this simple one you can get on Amazon.

Heating the pasta sauce may seem quite simple. Just put it in a pan or pot, turn up the heat, wait a bit and it’s done, right? If it were that simple. Of course, if you do that, you’ll end up with some sort of heated pasta sauce, but will it taste good?

The answer is usually no, and the reason is that to heat the seafood sauce well, you have to do more than the minimum. Why? Because, otherwise, you will find yourself with a sauce that is hot in some parts and cold in others, and therefore, with a tasteless meal.

It could be even worse than that. If you’re not careful, you can burn the sauce and end up spoiling the flavor of the entire serving, even if it’s only burned a little. Nobody likes burnt sauce, even if you’ve had to eat it on more than one occasion due to a reheating mishap.

Leftovers are a fantastic help when it comes to busy weeknights. Not many people have time to cook an entire dinner every night from scratch, so cooking once and reheating it the next day is great. However, you don’t have to compromise the quality of your pasta sauce just because it isn’t made fresh.

This article has been written to help you, fellow pasta lover, enjoy pasta in any form. We have the key to your delicious leftovers. This is what you have to do.

If you are going to heat only the sauce, you can do it: 

• placing the sauce in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, and putting it on the heat over medium-low heat,
• transferring it to a bowl and putting it in the microwave.

There are ways to heat the pasta already mixed with the sauce. Choose your favourite:

• transfer the pasta to a baking dish, cover with aluminum foil and bake in the oven,
• put it in a saucepan over medium-low heat
• cover (don’t use aluminum foil!) and microwave.

However, there is much more to cover than basic instructions, and to get the best flavor possible, we encourage you to read our step-by-step guide on how to reheat pasta sauce.

Step by Step

We know what you must be thinking: fine, microwave pasta sauce, but for how long? Do I introduce the sauce and do nothing else? We explain everything to you.

Some general tips : Pasta sauce has a tendency to thicken when you reheat it. You may notice this happening if you heat it in the oven or microwave when periodically checking your sauce. The sauce will reduce in size and absorb liquids.

This is normal, but you probably don’t want it to happen. Fortunately, this can easily be avoided by mixing in a little water, skim milk, or chicken broth while you heat it. Don’t forget this step, or you’ll end up with a really thick sauce that will dry out your mouth.

Another recommendation from us is that if you’re still in the pre-leftovers phase, try not to mix the pasta into the sauce when you store it. If you store them separately, it will be easier for you to heat them and, therefore, you will get the most flavor.

If you mix the pasta with the sauce, don’t worry. You can’t always expect things to be left over when they’re cooked, and that’s completely fine. Pasta with sauce, such as spaghetti bolognese, can be easily heated to please even the most discerning taste buds.

Let’s get down to business now. You are just steps away from a dinner that will make your mouth water.

How to reheat pasta sauce in the microwave

Microwaves are our great friends when it comes to leftovers. They will do a decent job of heating up the sauce. This method also works if you’ve combined the pasta with the sauce the night before and now have a mixture to heat up.

1. Put the sauce in a microwave-safe container. You can use a quart container or mason jar, but mason jars work well too.
2. Add a little water to the container, we recommend 2 tablespoons. Stir lightly.
3. Place the lid on the container (make sure it is microwave safe). It should be a little crooked, do not close it hermetically.
4. Set the microwave to high and start with the first 90 second interval.
5. When the interval passes, stir the sauce well. This will help you heat the dish evenly.
6. Return the plate to the microwave and start the next 90 second interval.
7. Take out the container and stir again. If you are happy with the heat of the sauce, you can start eating it now.
8. Bon Appetite!

How to reheat pasta sauce in the kitchen

Although it takes more time, this method allows the true flavor of the marinara to come through. If you have a little more time, why not try this method?

1. Place the pasta sauce in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.
2. Add a little water, skimmed milk or broth and stir.
3. Put it on medium heat and let it come to a boil.
4. Stir occasionally and add a little more water if you notice that it thickens too much.
5. Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer.
6. The sauce should start to bubble gently. At this point, let it simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. When the amount of sauce has reduced a bit, you can turn off the heat and add it to the pasta.
8. It has taken some time, but it tastes delicious! You can add some additional spices or cheese to the sauce to make it even better.

How to reheat pasta sauce in the oven

It must be admitted that in this case you have to heat both the pasta and the sauce, but if it is difficult for you, you can do it only for the sauce.

1. Place the sauce (and pasta) in an oven-safe dish or container.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Add a tablespoon or two of water to the sauce and stir.
4. To give it more flavor, add a little Parmesan to the sauce.
5. With aluminum foil, cover the pan very well.
6. Heat for 10-15 minutes or longer, depending on your oven.

Whichever method you use, take your time. Sure, you can heat up pasta sauce in a minute using the microwave, but the question is, should you? The answer is no, if you want the full pasta experience. Leftovers don’t have to taste like an echo of yesterday’s greatness: when done right, they can be just as good as the first meal.

Related questions

Do you have some more pressing questions on your mind? No problem, we are here to answer them!

How to reheat pasta mixed with sauce?

We recommend storing the two separately, but mixed leftovers can and do happen. To reheat pasta and sauce at the same time, we recommend using the oven. Preheat it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sprinkle some Parmesan over your pasta dish to enhance the flavor. Then cover it tightly with aluminum foil and heat it for a maximum of 20 minutes. You should periodically check the dish; if you do, stir it around a bit and add Parmesan back in.

How to reheat pasta alone?

If you have leftover pasta, you don’t have to throw it away. Pour some water into a pot and bring it to a boil. When it is boiling, remove it from the heat and add the remaining pasta. Let it sit for up to 3 minutes. Drain as always and serve.

How to reheat a boat of pasta sauce?

Any of the above methods will work with a jar of pasta sauce. We recommend taking the sauce out of the jar, putting it in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and adding a little broth or skimmed milk.

Add cheese and spices for more flavor. Stir it while you heat it in the oven. You can also heat it in a microwave-safe dish. Start with 90 second intervals and microwave until satisfied.