Easy Marinara Sauce

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.

Course Sauces

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 40

Total Time 50

Servings

Calories 31kcal

Author Tina Frank

Ingredients

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