Today, we are making quick tomato sauce pasta for baby! Babies, kids, and even grown-ups love pasta (“Pasta is life,” just like cheese, haha).
We are always looking for ways to avoid making pasta for our children, because they would happily eat only that. I think the key is mostly to find different ways to serve pasta, but in small amounts, while making vegetables the priority. That is exactly what I wanted to do with this recipe, which is one of Alix’s favorites and one I love adapting in endless ways.
I use a can of crushed peeled tomatoes (feel free to choose tomatoes packed in glass jars if you can): I choose organic ones, they are very wholesome, and it is good to know that they are picked when fully ripe, so they are very flavorful! But when tomato season arrives, do not hesitate to use beautiful fresh tomatoes. It takes a little longer to prepare, but nothing tastes fresher!
I add another vegetable of my choice that pairs well with tomato (in this recipe, zucchini, which is very mild and goes perfectly with the rest of the ingredients, but I sometimes use cauliflower or even eggplant: it also depends on the season, so we always adapt!). To finish, a nice touch of onion for bold flavor (but not too much), and finally, some fresh basil. The result is a quick tomato sauce that is simply AMAZING, wholesome, and easy to share with the whole family.
Among the variations, I also sometimes change the pasta: I sometimes get clever and serve couscous, rice, or wheat instead. Alix loves this tomato sauce, and it also lets me vary the starches and grains as much as I want (smart, right? ;)).
This recipe is perfectly suitable for babies from 8 months, but of course you will need to adjust the amount of pasta, as well as the size and shape, according to your baby’s age. Personally, with Alix, I started with alphabet pasta and pearl pasta when she was smaller (I blended them with purée because she often refused pieces). She is now 2 years old and eats mini farfalle (as in this recipe), mini penne, orecchiette… in short, we adapt 😉
Here is what you need to make this quick tomato sauce pasta recipe for baby (from 8 months, for two generous portions, but we all know you will sneak a few spoonfuls too!):
Ingredients
Preparation
We start by preparing our ingredients, beginning with the onion: peel it, then finely slice it.
Then the zucchini: wash it, peel it, and cut it into small dice.
Cooking
Heat a little olive oil in a skillet and add the sliced onion. Let it sweat for about 3 minutes over medium heat, stirring regularly.
After 3 minutes, add the diced zucchini to the skillet and sauté for 3 minutes, still over medium heat and stirring regularly.
At this point, bring water to a boil in a saucepan for the pasta.
Now back to our tomato sauce: add the entire can of crushed peeled tomatoes to the skillet. Stir.
Keep this sauce over medium heat: small bubbles will form, and the goal is for as much liquid as possible to evaporate so the tomato sauce becomes nicely concentrated and thick. Stir the sauce very regularly so it does not stick to the bottom of the skillet. Let it cook for about 10 minutes, until you get a lovely thick consistency.
Remember to add the pasta to the boiling water, following the instructions on the package. I would also like to come back to the amount of pasta: for an 8-month-old baby, you need about 1 heaping tablespoon cooked pasta per day (25 g). I give Alix, who is a little over 2 years old, about 1/3 cup cooked pasta per day (50 g). Adjust according to your child’s age 😉
Now place all the sauce in your blender with the fresh basil leaves (as usual, I use my favorite blender, click here!).
Blend until you get a smooth, even tomato sauce (again, feel free to adjust the blending speed depending on the tomato sauce texture you want: with small pieces or completely smooth).
When the pasta is cooked, place the daily amount of pasta suited to baby in a bowl, add the sauce on top (about half of the total sauce for one portion), and add one teaspoon of olive oil.
You might say: but Céline, this is tomato sauce with pasta, not pasta with tomato sauce! We can look at it that way! The quantities and proportions are adapted for our little babies, and believe me, that will absolutely not stop them from enjoying it 😉 You can easily add ground beef, for example, if you want to serve this recipe at lunch, a little like baby bolognese pasta. You can also sprinkle a little Parmesan on top for the finishing touch 😉
Our quick tomato sauce pasta recipe for baby (from 8 months) is now finished, and baby can enjoy it (and so can you)!
Enjoy, everyone 😉
Storage
This quick tomato sauce keeps very well, making it perfect for saving time on weekdays!
In the refrigerator
Let it cool slightly, then place the sauce in a Tupperware-style airtight container.
Storage: 48 hours in the refrigerator (ideally).
For a baby meal, reheat only the amount needed.
In the freezer
You can freeze the sauce on its own (without the pasta), which is the most practical option.
Pour it into ice cube trays or small jars to make portions.
Storage: up to 2 to 3 months in the freezer.
Thawing: overnight in the refrigerator, or directly in a saucepan over low heat.
Reheating
In a saucepan, over low heat, stirring regularly.
If the tomato sauce has thickened, add a small spoonful of water to bring back a nice coating texture.
Avoid boiling it hard for a long time: gentle reheating is enough.
On the day you serve it, simply cook pasta (or another starch suited to baby’s age) and reheat one portion of sauce: the meal is ready in just a few minutes!
Quick Tomato Sauce Pasta for Babies was last modified: 3 June 2026 by
