Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
You’ll never buy the jarred stuff again after trying this Homemade Marinara Sauce! It’s thick, rich and so fresh tasting because it’s made with a handful of quality ingredients. It’s so easy to make and it’s ready in about 30 minutes!
A good sauce recipe is worth its weight in gold, because it can transform an average meal into something very special.
Learning how to make pesto sauce was a game changer for me. I prep a batch when I have the time, and it makes preparing recipes like my chicken pesto pasta and mushroom ravioli that much quicker!
The same can be said about this easy Homemade Marinara Sauce. It’s an easy back pocket recipe that I love prepping to have on hand for busy nights.
It’s family-friendly and there are so many delicious ways to use it!
Prepare a batch to have on hand for my stuffed shells with ground beef or spaghetti squash lasagna and you’re winning at dinner time!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- This easy marinara sauce is thick and rich with freshness that you can taste because there are no artificial ingredients or preservatives.
- It’s made with a few pantry staples and can be customized any way you see fit.
- It takes just 5 minutes of prep and is done in about 30 minutes.
- It’s freezer-friendly so you can make big batches in advance to enjoy weeks later.
- This is a versatile recipe that can be tossed with your favorite pasta, spooned over chicken, or spread atop pizza.
Recipe ingredients
This tomato basil sauce is incredibly simple, yet so flavorful. It’s one of the best pantry recipes because it utilizes a few staples that most people always have on hand.
Ingredient notes
- Olive oil. The olive oil has two roles….it is used to cook the onions and garlic, and it also lends a silky mouthfeel to the sauce. For an even silkier sauce, add 1-2 tablespoons more.
- Crushed tomatoes. San Marzano tomatoes are the best canned tomatoes for this recipe. If you’re not familiar with them, they’re a variety of plum tomato that has the perfect balance of sweetness, acidity and intense tomato flavor.
- Basil. Fresh basil adds so much flavor and a beautiful pop of color, but you can substitute with dried basil or your favorite herbs.
- Tomato paste. The tomato paste adds a rich depth of flavor and also thickens the sauce. It may be omitted if you don’t have any hand.
- Sugar. A bit of sugar is added to tame the acidity, but it may be omitted to make this recipe keto and paleo-friendly.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
How to make homemade marinara sauce
This recipe is beyond easy to make with about 5 minutes of hands-on prep. Once the onion and garlic is cooked, add the other ingredients and let the stove top work its magic.
Pro tip: Double the recipe and freeze half for future use.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Sauté the vegetables. Cook the onion and garlic until softened.
- Simmer the sauce. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 20-30 minutes until thick, rich and flavorful.
Recipe FAQs
It can be stored in the fridge for up to one week, or it can be frozen for up to three months.
Yes! Let the sauce cool completely, then store in an airtight container or freezer bag(s). The sauce can be frozen for up to three months. When ready to use, simply thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently in the microwave or on the stove top until warmed through.
I recommend using crushed San Marzano tomatoes to make this easy marinara sauce. San Marzano tomatoes are a variety of plum tomato that has the perfect balance of sweetness, acidity and intense tomato flavor.
How to serve tomato basil sauce
There are so many delicious ways to use this sauce! Below are some recipes with marinara sauce to get you started:
- Spread atop focaccia bread pizza for your next pizza night!
- Serve as a dip with focaccia bread.
- It’s great as a condiment for chicken burgers.
- Spoon over stuffed shells and zucchini boats, and bake!
- Skillet lasagna and baked turkey meatballs will taste even better with this tomato basil sauce!
- Serve over zoodles or pasta and top with cheese for a delicious vegetarian dinner.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: Double the recipe and freeze half for future use.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons more olive oil for an even silkier sauce.
- Use this sauce in your pasta dishes, pizza, baked meatballs, sub sandwiches, you name it!
- Store in the refrigerator for 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Variations: Change things up by adding red pepper flakes, your favorite herbs, olives or capers!
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion peeled and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes use San Marzano tomatoes for best quality and flavor
- 1/4 cup freshly chopped basil or substitute with 1 teaspoon dried
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar omit for keto and paleo-friendly
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium low heat. Add the onion and sauté until softened and translucent, about 8-10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, basil, tomato paste, sugar, and salt and pepper, to taste. Stir to combine and simmer uncovered over low heat for 20-30 minutes. The longer the sauce simmers, the more flavorful it will be. Enjoy!
Notes
- Add 1-2 tablespoons more olive oil for an even silkier sauce.
- Use this sauce in your pasta dishes, pizza, baked meatballs, sub sandwiches, you name it!
- Store in the refrigerator for 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Variations: Change things up by adding red pepper flakes, your favorite herbs, olives or capers!
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
**This recipe was originally published in April 2015. The photos have been updated to include step by step instructions, and the text in the post has been modified to include more recipe information.
63 Comments on “Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce”
That was just what I needed was the amounts. I bought a sweet basil marinara sauce and it was good but expensive. So I copied down what they had in it and then did it to taste it was god but I needed some form of measurements. So I will try this and thank you so very much.
You’re welcome Judy — I hope you enjoy it!
Can this recipe be canned? If so what changes would be needed if any to can for longer storage? Also is there a conversion for how much of each ingredient is need in cups or another measurement system? Thanks 😊Â
If you’d like to can the sauce I would recommend looking for safe canning instructions as I’m no expert on that topic. I plan to work on that but haven’t done so at this time. And sorry, I don’t have the ingredient quantities in any other measurement system.
This was so easy and tastes great! I didn’t change a thing. Thank you!
Thank you for leaving your feedback Robin and I’m so glad you enjoyed the sauce! 🙂
I have a garlic allergy. Suggestions for replacements?
Simply omitting the garlic would be fine.