20-Minute Ravioli with Simple Sauce (Printable Version)

Tender cheese ravioli in a vibrant tomato-basil sauce, ready in 20 minutes for a comforting weeknight meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 18 oz fresh or refrigerated cheese ravioli

→ Sauce

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
04 - 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
05 - 1 teaspoon sugar
06 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
07 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
08 - ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
09 - 1 small bunch fresh basil, chopped

→ Garnish

10 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - Extra basil leaves, for serving

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds, until fragrant.
03 - Stir in crushed tomatoes, sugar, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
04 - Add ravioli to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions (typically 3–4 minutes), until they float to the surface. Drain gently.
05 - Add chopped basil to the sauce, then fold in the drained ravioli, tossing gently to coat. Serve immediately, topped with grated Parmesan and extra basil.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together faster than you can boil water, making weeknight dinners feel effortless instead of stressful
  • Fresh ravioli cooks in literally minutes, which means you are eating something that feels fancy on a Tuesday without actually trying hard
02 -
  • Do not overcook the ravioli or they will turn into sad, soggy pockets that fall apart when you try to toss them with the sauce
  • The sauce continues thickening as it sits off the heat, so if it looks a little thin while simmering, that is actually perfect
03 -
  • Reserve about a half cup of pasta water before draining, because that starchy liquid is pure magic if your sauce needs loosening up
  • Let the sauce simmer uncovered so it reduces properly and concentrates all those tomato flavors instead of staying watery and weak

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