Easy Marinara Sauce Recipe

This easy homemade Marinara Sauce recipe can be made with fresh tomatoes or canned tomatoes for a delicious and versatile addition to just about any Italian-inspired meal. Best of all, it's a healthy dinner that's ready in about 20 minutes!

If you've ever grown tomatoes in a garden, then you can probably relate to the overwhelming feeling when your plants all ripen at exactly the same time.

While there's nothing better than a sweet, juicy, bright-red homegrown tomato, the task of trying to enjoy buckets and buckets full of tomatoes before they all go bad can be daunting, at best.

For years I have been working on my own recipe for homemade marinara sauce, since I seem to encounter the same happy "problem" of too many ripe tomatoes each summer.

A jar of tomato sauce solves so many problems because it can be kept in the freezer for a few months, it can be used in a variety of dishes (like pizza, lasagna, and spaghetti), and it takes advantage of other garden fresh herbs as well. Win-win-win.

What is marinara sauce?

Marinara is a simple sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, herbs and onions. In Italy, an Old World marinara sauce recipe (alla marinara) properly refers to a sauce made with tomatoes, basil, oregano and sometimes olives, capers and salted anchovies, which may be used with spaghetti, meat or fish (source).

Marinara sauce and tomato sauce are not necessarily the same thing. While marinara is a quick sauce made with just a handful of basic ingredients, tomato sauce is more complex, often includes more vegetables, and is simmered for a longer time.

How to make an easy homemade marinara sauce recipe:

The reason that I love this particular recipe most of all is because it's fast and easy. If you use a can of really good tomatoes (like San Marzano), the sauce only requires about 5 minutes of prep!

Ingredients for homemade marinara sauce:

• Butter
• Onion
• Garlic
• Fresh tomatoes or canned, crushed tomatoes
• Basil and oregano
• Sugar (optional)
• Salt and pepper

First, sauté onion and garlic in butter in a large pot.

Stir in tomatoes, add herbs, sugar, salt and pepper, and simmer over low heat (partially covered) until thickened.

If you're using fresh tomatoes, you will probably want to puree the sauce to a smoother consistency. If you use a can of crushed tomatoes, you can skip this step!

What goes with this marinara sauce recipe?

If you're wondering how to serve this dish, you've got plenty of options! The versatile sauce is great tossed with just about any type of pasta -- from spaghetti to tortellini, ravioli or penne. Add Italian sausage, ground beef or shrimp to your pasta for a heartier entrée. You can use the sauce on pizza, in lasagna, or in pizza quesadillas, too!

On the side, pair your marinara sauce with:

• 3-Ingredient Breadsticks or garlic bread
• A simple green salad dressed in Italian Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Two-Ingredient Italian Sugar Snap Peas
• Green Bean Salad

Cook's Tips and Recipe Variations:

• This recipe yields about 2 cups, which is enough for one family dinner, one casserole, or one large jar. If you're like me and you'd rather have more to keep on hand, just double the ingredients and proceed with the same cooking instructions.
• Use the best tomatoes! If you can get your hand on sweet, ripe, fresh local tomatoes, those are wonderful. There's a lot more work involved in using the fresh tomatoes, though -- you'll need to peel, seed and dice. As a result, I make this sauce year-round with a large can of crushed tomatoes (canned San Marzano tomatoes are the best)!
• This marinara can be left chunky, or you can use a blender (or handheld blender) to puree the sauce to reach your desired consistency.
• How long does marinara sauce last? Store the sauce in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Can you freeze marinara sauce? Yes! Make a double batch and freeze a jar for a later date. It will last in the freezer for at least 3 months (and probably longer).
• The small amount of sugar called for in the recipe gives the sauce that subtle sweet finish that balances the acid in the tomatoes. The sugar is optional, though! You can omit it if you're using fresh tomatoes that are naturally very sweet and flavorful.
• Once the sauce is finished, adjust seasonings to suit your tastes. Add salt, pepper or additional herbs. If you like a spicy marinara, add crushed red pepper, to taste.
• This kid-friendly marinara sauce recipe is made without wine. If you like a richer, bolder flavor, add ½ cup of red wine to the sauce. You may need to simmer the sauce a bit longer to get it to reduce and thicken.
• For a briny addition, stir in some capers or olives!

More easy pasta sauces that you might enjoy:

• 5-Ingredient Pasta Pomodoro Sauce
• Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Sauce
• Linguine with Clam Sauce
• Spaghetti Meat Sauce {Slow Cooker or Stovetop}

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5 from 2 votes

Marinara Sauce Recipe

This easy homemade Marinara Sauce recipe can be made with fresh tomatoes or canned tomatoes for a delicious addition to any Italian-inspired meal!

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian

Keyword easy marinara sauce, marinara sauce recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

0 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 2 cups

Calories 107kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons (about 2 cloves) minced garlic
• 1 lb. fresh tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped; OR 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil (or 1 teaspoon dried basil)
• 1 ½ teaspoons chopped fresh oregano (or ½ teaspoon dried oregano)
• 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, but definitely our preference)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions

• In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and cook, stirring, for about 3-5 minutes (or until soft). Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 more minute.
• Stir in the tomatoes and reduce heat to medium low. Add basil, oregano, sugar, salt and pepper.
• Simmer, partially covered, stirring regularly, until sauce is thickened (about 10-15 minutes).
• Taste the sauce, and add additional salt, pepper and herbs if desired.
• If using fresh tomatoes, use a handheld stick blender, a food processor, or a large blender to puree the sauce until smooth. If using canned crushed tomatoes, you can skip this step.

Notes

• This recipe yields about 2 cups, which is enough for one family dinner, one casserole, or one large jar. If you're like me and you'd rather have more to keep on hand, just double the ingredients and proceed with the same cooking instructions.
• Use the best tomatoes! If you can get your hand on sweet, ripe, fresh local tomatoes, those are wonderful. There's a lot more work involved in using the fresh tomatoes, though -- you'll need to peel, seed and dice. As a result, I make this sauce year-round with a large can of crushed tomatoes (canned San Marzano tomatoes are the best)!
• This marinara can be left chunky, or you can use a blender (or handheld blender) to puree the sauce to reach your desired consistency. 
• How long does marinara sauce last? Store the sauce in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Can you freeze marinara sauce? Yes! Make a double batch and freeze a jar for a later date. It will last in the freezer for at least 3 months (and probably longer).
• The small amount of sugar called for in the recipe gives the sauce that subtle sweet finish that balances the acid in the tomatoes. The sugar is optional, though! You can omit it if you're using fresh tomatoes that are naturally very sweet and flavorful.
• Once the sauce is finished, adjust seasonings to suit your tastes. Add salt, pepper or additional herbs. If you like a spicy marinara, add crushed red pepper, to taste.
• This kid-friendly marinara sauce recipe is made without wine. If you like a richer, bolder flavor, add ½ cup of red wine to the sauce. You may need to simmer the sauce a bit longer to get it to reduce and thicken.
• For a briny addition, stir in some capers or olives!

Recipe adapted from The Colonial Williamsburg Tavern Cookbook.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/2 cup | Calories: 107kcal | Carbohydrates: 11.6g | Protein: 2.2g | Fat: 5.8g | Saturated Fat: 3.7g | Cholesterol: 15.5mg | Sodium: 77mg | Fiber: 4.1g | Sugar: 7g

This post was originally published in July, 2017. It was updated in September, 2019.