Homemade Marinara Sauce
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Updated: 08/18/23
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Quick and easy Homemade Marinara sauce doesn’t get any better! With just a handful of ingredients that are easy to keep on hand, you’ll have the best marinara sauce to serve over a pile of spaghetti in less than 30 minutes. This easy dinner recipe is soon to be requested over and over again by your family!
Marinara sauce is a staple for so many different recipes. Whether you’re making a dinner of air fryer chicken parmesan, or an appetizer of fried ravioli, having the right sauce is important! Homemade marinara sauce is my secret to making all of these delicious Italian recipes taste the best they can be.
This quick recipe uses simple ingredients, so you can have fresh sauce without all the preservatives and additives. It’s also really fun to adapt and change this recipe to make it your own. You can create your own “secret family recipe” and hold the 1st place spot for the best marinara sauce recipe! Let this classic homemade marinara sauce recipe be your starting point, and then get adventurous!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- This sauce has a more fresh and bold flavor than the stuff you buy in the store. It will revolutionize the recipes you have that use marinara sauce!
- Make a batch of classic marinara sauce in just under a half hour. The perfect last minute appetizer addition, and it won’t add much time onto your easy dinner recipe either!
- Marinara sauce is a great make ahead recipe. It stores well and can be used later in recipes you have planned out for your week.
Ingredients for Homemade Marinara Sauce
- Garlic cloves – Mince your own fresh garlic for the most prominent flavor. You can also buy a jar of minced garlic at the grocery store to always have minced garlic ready to go.
- Crushed tomatoes – You’ll need a large can of crushed tomatoes, 28 oz. So either buy enough small cans or find a really large can of tomatoes!
- Extra virgin olive oil – I do not recommend swapping olive oil for something else. The flavor of olive oil is really distinct and will make the best marinara sauce.
- Tomato paste – A small can of tomato paste is all you need for this recipe. Tomato paste has a strong flavor, so make sure you’re using the correct amount.
- Yellow onion – Diced yellow onion and white onion will both work for marinara sauce.
- Fresh parsley – Use fresh parsley instead of dried. It will blend much better with all of the other ingredients.
- Salt and pepper – I’ve figured out the perfect measurements for salt and pepper to cut the bitterness of tomato paste and enhance the sweetness of crushed tomatoes.
- Dried oregano – If you decide to use fresh oregano, you will need to adjust the amount you use since dried has a more powerful flavor.
How to Make Easy Marinara Sauce
Add olive oil to a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Add diced onion to hot oil and cook for about 5 minutes before adding minced garlic. Stir until fragrant.
Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and allow to simmer, partially covered for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, stir in the fresh parsley and turn off the heat.
Serve immediately over pasta, with an appetizer like mozzarella sticks, or use in a recipe like baked ravioli.
Pro Tips!
- Have some fresh tomatoes that you need to use up? Make your own crushed tomatoes or dice up some fresh tomatoes and add them to this tasty recipe!
- Give this marinara sauce some kick with red pepper flakes or powdered red pepper.
- Serve marinara sauce piping hot for the best flavor and results. Sauce tends to cool quickly, so serving at hot temperature will help it stay perfectly delicious through every single bite.
- If you are using this marinara recipe as a pasta sauce, be sure to generously salt your pasta water for the best tasting pasta dish!
- Fresh basil makes a beautiful garnish on a pizza or bowl of pasta.
- If you keep a good stock of canned tomatoes in your pantry, you will always be able to make this simple sauce in a pinch when you are struggling to decide what to make for supper!
what meat goes well with marinara sauce?
Marinara is a great sauce to serve over your favorite meatballs, whether you make them with beef, pork, veal or a combination of those meats.
Italian sausage is also a great option to serve with spaghetti and marinara sauce.
Storage
FRIDGE: Place a fresh batch of cooled classic marinara sauce, or your leftovers, into an airtight container. I like to use Mason jars. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week. Give the sauce a good shake before using it.
FREEZER: Leftover sauce can be frozen in an airtight container. If you need to save space, store sauce in freezer safe bags and lay flat in the freezer. Freeze for up to 4 months. Allow to thaw before using.
Now that you have the best marinara sauce recipe, you are set for all things Italian! Pasta night is going to be so tasty now!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Homemade Marinara Sauce
Quick and easy homemade marinara sauce that's made with pantry staples. Bursting with flavor and perfect when piled on top of spaghetti.
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Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup yellow onion finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves finely minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (1 can)
- 6 ounces tomato paste (1 can)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano Or 1 Tablespoon fresh
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley finely minced, plus more to garnish
Instructions
- Place a medium saucepan over medium heat and add 2 Tablespoons olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add ½ cup chopped onion, stirring often until soft and golden (about 5 min). Add minced garlic and stir for 1 min, or until fragrant.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a light boil then reduce heat and simmer partially covered for 15 minutes.
- Finally, stir in fresh parsley then turn off the heat. Serve immediately over pasta.
Tips
FRIDGE: Place a fresh batch of classic marinara sauce, or your leftovers, into an airtight container. I like to use Mason jars! Store in the refrigerator for up to a week. Give the sauce a good shake before using it.
FREEZER: Leftover sauce can be frozen in an airtight container. If you need to save space, store sauce in freezer safe bags and lay flat in the freezer. Freeze for up to 4 months. Allow to thaw before using.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 171kcal (9%), Carbohydrates: 25g (8%), Protein: 5g (10%), Fat: 8g (12%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Sodium: 1181mg (51%), Potassium: 1055mg (30%), Fiber: 6g (25%), Sugar: 15g (17%), Vitamin A: 1169IU (23%), Vitamin C: 31mg (38%), Calcium: 100mg (10%), Iron: 4mg (22%)
What to serve with Homemade Marinara Sauce
This is the best marinara sauce to serve over a bed of pasta. However, it can go with so many other things too!
Make a batch of marinara and then use it in recipes like crock pot meatballs, baked rigatoni, and sour cream noodle bake. It can also be used a dipping sauce for things like Stromboli and pizza pinwheels.
Air fryer pizza rolls and air fried ravioli are easy appetizers that are delicious when dipped in marinara. And you can eat it with crunchy garlic bread while you wait on your homemade pizza to bake too!
More Italian Recipes You’ll Love
- Baked Ziti is such a great comfort food meal! It’s perfect for meal prep too, since it freezes well.
- Italian soups are a game-changer, and this Instant Pot Lasagna Soup is proof!
- These Stuffed Zucchini Boats are the perfect healthy and hearty meal to serve for dinner.
- Make this Italian Chicken Crock Pot Recipe when you need a set and forget meal.
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