This simple Marinara Sauce is made from scratch with five ingredients and ready to use in minutes! Rich in flavors and delicious, this sauce can be served with pasta or as a dipping sauce for appetizers.
Use this sauce to make my Instant Pot Spaghetti or serve with Baked Eggplant or Fried Ravioli for a delicious snack.
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Why This Recipe Works
If pasta is in your weekly menu, then I have the perfect homemade sauce recipe for you! This very simple Marinara Sauce is a must-try. Made with crushed tomatoes, onion, garlic and seasoning, this sauce is healthier and so much better than any store-bought kind.
My goal is to make simple recipes, anyone can follow. This sauce calls for just one kind of tomatoes and a seasoning blend with ingredients that you can find even in a basic pantry. You will love it!
Ingredients:
- crushed tomatoes (28oz can)
- onion
- garlic
- olive oil
- seasoning: dried oregano, paprika, Italian seasoning, sugar, salt and pepper, fresh basil
How to make Marinara Sauce?
- Start by heating up oil in a deep pot.
- Add garlic and onion and saute over medium-low heat just until golden.
- Add dried herbs and paprika. Saute, stirring often, for 1 minute.
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- Add crushed tomatoes and stir in.
- Simmer sauce for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add salt, pepper and sugar to taste.
Cooking tips:
- aromatics: saute onion and garlic in oil, on medium-low heat just until golden. You do not want to caramelize them.
- tomatoes: I used crushed tomatoes instead of whole because I prefer the texture. If you use whole canned tomatoes, you will have to crush them anyway.
- seasoning: I highly recommend adding the dry herbs and paprika to sauteed onion and garlic. It will activate the herbs and make the sauce very flavorful. Add salt, pepper and sugar at the end to taste.
How to use it?
Not only this sauce is absolutely perfect with any pasta dish, but you can also use it on pizza, in casseroles (like Eggplant Parmesan) or as a dipping sauce with pizza rolls, fritters, etc.
Storing:
Once done, cool the sauce completely and store in a jar with lid in the fridge. It keeps well for up to 2 weeks.
More homemade sauce recipes:
If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!
Simple Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon crushed pepper flakes
- 28 ounce crushed tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar optional
- fresh basil
Instructions
- Heat up oil in a deep pot, over medium-low heat. I used a Dutch oven but any saucepan works.1 tablespoon olive oil
- Add garlic and onion and saute over medium-low heat just until golden. Stir often.1 medium onion, 5 garlic cloves
- Add dried herbs, pepper flakes and paprika. Saute, stirring often, for 1 minute.1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon crushed pepper flakes
- Add crushed tomatoes and stir in.28 ounce crushed tomatoes
- Simmer sauce for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add salt, pepper and sugar to taste.½ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- Stir in fresh chopped basil.fresh basil
Notes
- Once done, cool the sauce completely and store it in a jar with a lid, in the fridge. It keeps well for up to 2 weeks.
- Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
Simon says
This is definitely my favorite sauce right now.
Eric says
Most often we use your recipe for marinara sauce when cooking pasta, or baking weekend pizza
Malcolm Clarke says
Easy to make and tasty,
Thanks
Anna says
Thanks, Malcolm!
Jess says
About how many cups of sauce does this recipe make?
Jessica Burgess says
My kiddo is obsessed with spaghetti and I've been looking for a sauce that was easy and one that I would like to make over and over... this is it! Thank you!
Anna says
I am so glad! Thank you, Jessica!
Eden says
This was so good!! We used it with our meatballs! It was perfect 🙂
Anna says
Fantastic!
Katie says
This looks like something I've got to try! Thanks for sharing.
Anna says
You are very welcome, Katie!