Three Easy, Under 10-Minute Sauce Recipes

Simple, tasty, and hearty meals can come together quickly and easily with a delicious sauce. Whether you’re meal-planning for the week or deciding what to eat same-day, a flavorful sauce can elevate your meal from good to great in no time.

Our three go-to sauces are chef-approved and take less than ten minutes to prepare. Let’s get cooking!

1. Basil Pesto Sauce

A classic and simple sauce, our basil pesto is equally enjoyable served hot or cold and can be served alongside a range of meat and seafood, such as steak, chicken, pork, fish, and shellfish.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups basil leaves (may be substituted with parsley, mint, kale, or arugula)
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (omit if serving with fish or shellfish)
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts (optional)
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt 

Preparation:

  1. Remove basil leaves from stems, and rinse under cold, running water. Pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Grate the Parmesan cheese using a microplane grater, or a grater with small, fine holes. Be careful not to grate to the rind.
  3. Using a small knife, trim the root end off the garlic and peel the skin off.
  4. Place the basil, cheese, garlic, and pine nuts into a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.
  5. Turn the food processor to “on” and slowly drizzle in the olive oil.
  6. Remove the lid and stir in the salt.
  7. To store, place the pesto in a container and cover with plastic wrap, before covering with an airtight lid. Keep refrigerated for up to five days, or frozen for up to a month.

2. Honey Mustard Sauce

Sweet and creamy, our honey mustard sauce is perfect served atop pan-seared, grilled, and oven-roasted chicken, pork, or fish. If you prefer a less creamy sauce, leave out the mayo.

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup honey
  • ¼ cup Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • ¼ teaspoon mustard powder 

Preparation:

  1. Place all ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly with a whisk.
  2. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

3. Romesco Sauce

Originally from Catalonia, Romesco is a versatile sauce that pairs well with grilled fish, pork, chicken, and beef, and is equally delicious as a sandwich spread and in salads.

Ingredients:

  • 1 16-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained
  • ¼ cup toasted hazelnuts
  • ¼ cup toasted almonds
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 2 tablespoons parsley, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt 

Preparation:

  1. Place all ingredients into a blender or a food processor and blend on the pulse setting until the sauce breaks down. Aim for a consistency that is not too smooth and still slightly chunky.