Easy Marinara Sauce Recipe

Transform your pasta nights with this Easy Marinara Sauce, a recipe brimming with rich, authentic flavors straight from the heart of Italy. Made with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh garlic, and a touch of basil, this homemade sauce elevates any dish with its simplicity and depth. In just under an hour, you’ll have a vibrant, delicious sauce perfect for pairing with your favorite pasta, using as a pizza base, or layering in lasagnas. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a kitchen novice, this marinara recipe is a must-have addition to your culinary repertoire. Say goodbye to jarred sauces and hello to homemade perfection when you make your own marinara sauce! 

For more great homemade sauce recipes, try our Alfredo sauce and Basil Pesto sauce.

My Italian grandmother spent every Sunday making sauce. As much as I love a good, slow-cooked Sunday sauce bubbling on the stove all day, sometimes you just need something quick and easy to get dinner on the table. That’s where this simple marinara sauce comes in—it’s perfect for weeknights when you don’t have hours to spare but still want a big, bold flavor. It’s also a great option if you’re looking for a meat-free sauce that’s still hearty and satisfying. Whether you’re tossing it with pasta, using it on pizza, or just dipping some crusty bread, this delicious marinara sauce is a total weeknight win. It's an easy recipe that even the novice cook can make and the best part is your family will love it!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Rich Flavor: The combination of simple ingredients like sautéed onions, garlic, and fresh basil creates a deeply flavorful sauce.
• Versatility: This classic marinara sauce can be used with pasta, as a pizza sauce, or as a dipping sauce. These are just some of our favorite ways! 
• Customization: The tomato-based sauce allows for adjustments like adding sugar to balance acidity and red pepper flakes for extra heat.
• Homemade Quality: Using fresh ingredients ensures a fresher, more authentic taste than store-bought sauces. The bonus is that it only uses a handful of ingredients, which makes it one of the most simple recipes. 

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Extra virgin olive oil - Provides a rich, fruity base and helps to sauté the onions and garlic, enhancing their flavors.
• Garlic cloves - These cloves of garlic add a pungent, aromatic depth to the sauce.
• Onion - Brings sweetness and complexity, forming the flavor foundation. A yellow onion is a good choice. You could also use a sweet onion. 
• Whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes - Known for their sweetness and low acidity, these tomatoes create a superior, authentic pasta sauce. You can crush the tomatoes by hand or you could use an immersion blender. 
• Kosher salt - Enhances and balances all the flavors in the sauce.
• Granulated sugar - Balances the acidity of the tomatoes, ensuring a well-rounded taste. Add a little sugar at a time to adjust the acidity of the sauce. 
• Ground black pepper - Adds a mild, earthy heat, complementing the other flavors.
• Crushed red pepper flakes (optional) - Introduces a spicy kick, adding depth and warmth to the tomato sauce.
• Fresh basil leaves - Contributes a fresh, aromatic finish, elevating the overall flavor profile.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make the Best Marinara Sauce

Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion until translucent, 4 - 5 minutes.

Step 2: Add finely chopped garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 - 2 minutes.

Step 3: Add crushed tomatoes, stir to combine.

Step 4: Add salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes and stir well. Add a bit of sugar if too acidic. Simmer on low heat, uncovered, for 30 - 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in fresh basil leaves before serving.

Top Tips

Use High-Quality Tomatoes: Opt for San Marzano tomatoes for the best flavor and texture.

Don't Rush the Garlic: Cook garlic just until fragrant to avoid bitterness.

Adjust Sweetness: Taste the sauce and add sugar only if necessary to balance acidity.

Simmer for Flavor: Allow the sauce to come to a gentle simmer long enough for flavors to meld and thicken.

Fresh Herbs Last: Add fresh basil at the end to retain its fresh flavor and aroma.

Variations

• Spicy - Double the amount of crushed red pepper flakes and add a diced fresh chili pepper. Follow the original homemade marinara sauce recipe, sautéing the chili pepper with the onion and garlic.
• Mediterranean - Add ¼ cup of pitted and sliced Kalamata olives and 2 tablespoons of capers. Substitute fresh oregano for basil. Follow the original recipe, adding the olives and capers with the crushed tomatoes. Stir in the fresh oregano just before serving for a Mediterranean twist.

Storage and Make Ahead

Storage: Allow the marinara sauce to cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Freezing: Let the sauce cool completely. Pour into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving some space for expansion. Label with the date and freeze for up to three months.

How to Reheat: Thaw frozen sauce in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. Alternatively, microwave in a microwave-safe container, stirring every minute until hot.

Make Ahead: Prepare the sauce up to two days in advance. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Reheat as needed before serving.

FAQs

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Easy Marinara Sauce

Tina Frank

Easy Marinara Sauce is a flavorful homemade recipe made with San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, onions, and fresh basil. Perfect for pasta, pizza, or any Italian dish.

5 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Sauces

Cuisine Italian

Servings 16

Calories 31 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 6 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 1 small onion finely chopped
• 2 28-ounce cans whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand or blended
• 2 teaspoons Kosher salt or to taste
• 2 teaspoon granulated sugar optional, to balance acidity
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves roughly torn

Instructions

 

• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large saucepan until shimmering.
• Add (1) finely chopped onion to the pan. Sauté until tranlucent about 4 - 5 minutes. Add 6 cloves of finely chopped garlic. Heat until garlic is fragrant, about 1 - 2 mins. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
• Carefully add (2) 28-ounce cans of crushed tomatoes to the pan. Stir to combine with the garlic and oil.
• Add 2 teaspoons Kosher salt, 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Stir well. If the tomatoes are too acidic, add an additional teaspoon of sugar to balance the flavor.
• Bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and let it cook, uncovered, for about 30 - 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the flavors meld together.
• Stir in the fresh basil leaves just before serving. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
• Serve with pasta, and ENJOY!

Notes

San Marzano Tomatoes: Using high-quality San Marzano tomatoes enhances the flavor and richness of the sauce.

Simmer for Depth: Cooking the sauce slowly allows the flavors to meld and creates a thicker, richer texture.

Adjust Sweetness: Add sugar only if needed to balance the acidity of the tomatoes to your taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 31kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 365mgPotassium: 115mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 90IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg

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