Barbie Pasta - Bright Pink Beet Sauce

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This Barbie Pasta made with a bright pink beet sauce is an easy healthy pasta  you can make with just 6 simple ingredients! This version is inspired by the viral Tiktok Barbie Pasta and puts a healthier and flavorful spin by incorporating coconut milk and brown rice pasta.

barbie pink beet pasta in a white dutch oven pan with basil and parmesan

If you love creamy vibrant pasta with lots of flavor, this is the recipe for you! f you're on the fence about liking a pasta with beet sauce, I promise it is as good as it looks. Whether you're hosting a Barbie-themed party or heading out to the movie with your gals, this is a great lunch or dinner recipe to kickstart the fun!

This Barbie inspired recipe is easy to make, flavor packed and the perfect treat for your next friend hang out.

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Why you'll love this recipe

  • Easy & quick: Will take you less than 45 minutes to prepare from start to finish!
  • It is totally gluten-free and dairy free!
  • Perfect for a movie night or date night!
  • Simple pantry ingredients, plus beets & basil.
  • Versatile: This sauce is perfect on pasta but can also be served on a grain bowl or over chicken, salmon or tofu.
  • Healthy and indulgent: This recipe is made with all real healthful ingredients, yet it's creaminess makes it feel like you're eating restaurant quality food!
tongs twirling pasta that is pink like barbie

Recipe ingredients to make Beetroot Pasta

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this delicious Barbie Pasta dish:

Barbie Pasta ingredients with text overlay

Ingredient notes

Pasta shape of choice: I like to use gluten free brown rice pasta, by the Jovial brand, since it cooks perfectly every time and tastes the most similar to regular wheat pasta. In this recipe I opted for Spaghetti, but you can use Penne, Bow-ties, elbows or any other shape.

Fresh beets: Beets are such an incredible root vegetable that will make the sauce bright pink but also have a unique flavor.

Olive oil: A good quality extra virgin olive oil will make this sauce luscious with a hint of delicious olive oil flavor.

Shallot: Shallots add just a bit of sweet onion flavor to this dish! I like to chop mine very small so it sort of melts into the sauce. Alternatively, you can use a yellow onion.

Fresh garlic: Freshly minced garlic is key to making a flavorful sauce! To me, the more garlic the merrier.

Coconut Milk: I use coconut milk in this recipe so it remains dairy free and super creamy.

Parmesan: Parmesan is adds the perfect saltiness, extra creaminess and helps thicken the recipe!

Fresh basil (OPTIONAL as garnish): A fresh herb is integral in every dish, and basil truly lends the perfect bright and summer-like flavor here.

Of course, kosher salt and black pepper are added to balance out the flavors of the dish too.

Tools & Equipment Needed

There are just a handful of staple kitchen items needed to make this Barbie pasta come together! Here are my go-to items used to make this red beet pasta:

  • Blender: Any high speed blender will work well to make this recipe! I recently purchased an Oster blender and it works perfectly.
  • Large pasta pot: A large pot is essential to boil the beets and pasta in!
  • A large skillet: A wide dutch oven works wonders! I found this incredible Amazon brand skillet a few months ago that is also perfect to serve your pasta dish in.

How to make Barbie inspired Pasta step by step

Here are some quick visual instructions with a brief explanation. Be sure to read through the full instructions with exact ingredient measurements & steps in the recipe card below!

Step 1: Cook the beets in a large pot filled with boiling water. Once cooked, used a slotted spoon to remove the beets, and keep the water in the pot to cook the pasta in. Saves dirty dishes!

Step 2: Next add the pasta to the boiling water (previously used to cook the beets) and cook as directed on the package. Strain the pasta once fully cooked and rinse well with cold water. I like to cook the pasta almost all the way through, just past the al dente stage.

Pro tip: Be sure to reserve ½ cup pasta water before straining for later!

cubed beets added to a large pot of water
pasta added to the water the beets were cooked in prior

Step 3: In a wide large pan/pot, add the oil. Then, sauté the shallots and garlic for about 3-4 minutes.

oil with shallots and garlic in a pan

Step 4 (how to make beetroot sauce): Next, begin with adding all the sauce ingredients to the blender including the cooked beets, sautéed garlic and onion, coconut milk, ¼ cup pasta water and salt.

all barbie pasta sauce ingredients added to a blender
all barbie pink pasta sauce ingredients fully blended

Step 5: Pour the sauce back into the pot and add the cooked pasta. Toss everything together!

Step 6: Garnish the pasta with fresh basil, freshly cracked black pepper and parmesan!

barbie pink beet sauce with cooked pasta and parmesan in a skillet
All barbie pasta ingredients tossed together in a white pan with tongs

Expert tips for best results

  • Salt your pasta water. It's very important to add salt to the pasta water to give the pasta maximum flavor.
  • Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before straining the pasta. You will add it back into the pasta at the end of the recipe!
  • Cook pasta until al-dente! We want the pasta to remain in-tact, and sometimes it cooks a bit when it’s sitting in the warm sauce.  
  • Add more or less garlic if you like!
  • Blend the sauce until very smooth: Every blender is different, so be sure to blend the sauce until it is super smooth and creamy.

Storing tips

Store leftover pasta in a container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I personally wouldn't recommend freezing this pasta dish. You can easily freeze the sauce though in a sealed container and place it in a ziplock, for up to 3 months. Then, defrost in the fridge overnight, reheat and use in your recipe!

Pink barbie pasta made with beets on a white plate with a fork

Variations and substitutions 

  • Pasta shape: You can use any pasta shape that you love. I opt for a gluten-free brown rice penne pasta but any type of pasta will work perfectly.
  • Add roasted veggies: This naturally vegan beet pasta sauce is incredible on the pasta, but you may want to add texture by mixing in 1-2 cups of roasted vegetables
  • Coconut milk swap: Feel free to use a full fat oat milk or even half and half in this recipe!

Frequently asked questions

What is Barbie pasta?

Barbie pasta is a recipe trend that to my knowledge began on Tiktok around the time the Barbie movie premiered in 2023. Some recipes are only 2 ingredients barbie pasta recipes, while others use a few more ingredients to maximize flavor!

What ingredients are used to make Barbie Pasta?

When the Barbie Pasta recipe went viral there were a few different ingredient variations that circulated. The main components to the cream sauce are beets and garlic. From there every recipe differs! Some recipes used cream cheese, while others included mascarpone and parmesan. My version of this recipe uses canned coconut milk for creaminess!

How to make Barbie pasta with easy beet pasta sauce?

Begin with boiling your beets, then the pasta (and save some pasta water). Then, simply blend all the sauce ingredients together. Finally toss together the pasta and beetroot sauce and garnish with basil, parmesan and pepper!

Can I use canned beets?

I haven't tried it, but I believe it should work! The recipe will taste a bit different but should still be delicious.

Is this a good recipe for a Barbie themed party?

Absolutely! There are plenty of barbie themed parties for adults happening now and this is the perfect Barbie pasta dish to bring and will impress everyone.

pink barbie pasta on a white plate with a fork and parmesan and basil

Other pasta recipes you’ll love

Here are some more easy pasta recipes that I think you’ll love!

please leave a star rating and review if you love this recipe
pink beet sauce barbie pasta in a white pan with basil and parmesan
5 from 30 votes

Barbie Pasta - Bright Pink Beet Sauce

Makes: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
This pink beet sauce Barbie Pasta is an easy healthy pasta recipe you can make with just 6 simple ingredients! My recipe inspired by the viral Tiktok Barbie Pasta and puts a healthier and flavorful twist by incorporating coconut milk and brown rice pasta.
Recipe by Dalya Rubin

Ingredients
 

  • 12 ounce box of pasta, I use Jovial gluten free brown rice spaghetti pasta
  • 3 medium beets, peeled and cut into 1” cubes (approx 1.5 to 2 pounds; 4 cups once chopped)
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large shallot, chopped small
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus ½ tablespoon to salt the pasta water
  • ¾ cup canned coconut milk, cold from the fridge and stirred
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese , (2 ½ ounces), plus more for garnish
  • Fresh basil leaves, as garnish
  • ground black pepper, as garnish

⭐️ Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor afterwards and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.

Instructions
 

Cook the beets:
  1. Fill a large pot halfway with water, sprinkle with ½ tablespoon salt, and and add the cubed beets and turn the heat to high and bring to a boil. Once the water boils, reduce to medium-high heat so it begins to simmer and cook for 25 minutes; it will feel sort of firm but still fork tender. Remove beets from the boiling water with a slotted spoon and place into your blender cup. Leave the water in the pot and keep boiling (to cook the pasta in the next step). Remove ⅓ cup of beet water for the sauce later.
Begin the sauce:
  1. While the beets cook, in a large sauté pan with high sides (or dutch oven), add the oil, sliced shallot and garlic. Cook over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring often. Turn off the heat.
Cook the pasta:
  1. Add pasta to the pot of boiling water, stir and cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
Finish making the sauce:
  1. While the pasta cooks complete making the sauce. Transfer the cooked beets, sauteed shallots and garlic, coconut milk, reserved beet water, and salt to a high speed blender. Blend until smooth.
Assemble the dish:
  1. Remove the pasta from the boiling water with a slotted spoon or tongs and transfer to the large sauté pan from earlier. Pour the sauce into the saute pan and add parmesan cheese. Turn to medium-low heat and toss everything together, cooking for 1-2 minutes.
  2. Transfer pasta to a serving plate and top with grated parmesan, torn fresh basil and freshly cracked black pepper.

Test Kitchen Notes

  • This recipe works perfectly with coconut milk, but if you prefer to use heavy cream or half and half go for it!
  • If your shallots are on the smaller side, use 2.
  • I like to garnish with dish with fresh basil, but feel free to use any herb you love or have in your kitchen already. 
  • I used VioLife Vegan parmesan and grated it myself. You can use any  dairy or dairy free version you like! 
  • I always opt for a gluten free pasta (obsessed with the Jovial brand.) But you can use any pasta that works for your lifestyle.

Nutrition

Calories: 600kcal, Carbohydrates: 82g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 913mg, Potassium: 784mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 151IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 167mg, Iron: 3mg

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13 Comments

    1. Thank you!! It was so delish! I even baked the leftovers into crispy pasta chips today to change it up a bit.

5 from 30 votes (27 ratings without comment)

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