Marinara Sauce Recipe (2024)

This Marinara Sauce Recipe is an easy and versatile sauce that is made with only a handful of ingredients. Serve it over pasta, or it makes a great base for many other recipes!

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We need all the sauces for our pasta, right? Make it an Italian night and serve up your pasta with this marinara sauce, my Easy Alfredo Sauce, and some Pesto Sauce, and everyone will be happy!

I’m always a fan of shortcuts. If it gets dinner on the table, I’m not going to judge or look down on anyone. Not everyone always has time to make everything from scratch.

But can we all agree that when we do take the time to make certain things from scratch, it’s so much better?

I’m referring to this homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe. Sure, jarred sauce always works. And some of it is even pretty decent. But you just won’t beat this homemade sauce.

You really don’t even need very many ingredients. And the good thing is that it makes a lot, so you can use some now and freeze some for later.

Ingredients

• Olive Oil: This is used to saute you garlic. I like to use extra-virgin.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic is by far superior here. You could use garlic powder, but I would suggest using fresh garlic.
• Tomato Paste: The trick with the tomato paste is to cook it for a minute before you add in your tomatoes. This not only gets rid of the raw flavor, but helps it to incorporate into your sauce easier.
• Tomatoes: For the best results, use San Marzano tomatoes. They are a little bit sweeter and less acidic than other canned tomatoes. But if you don’t want to pay the premium price, or have other tomatoes on hand, they will work as well.
• Basil: I like to use fresh basil, but if all you have is dried, use 1 tablespoon of dried basil.
• Salt: I like to add in the salt in the beginning, but if you are sensitive to salt, you can add it in at the end and just add enough to taste.
• Red Pepper Flakes: The red pepper flakes just give the sauce a little bit of extra something – it doesn’t necessarily make it spicy. But if you want a bit of spice to your sauce, feel free to add a bit more!
• Sugar: I will wait until the sauce is finished and taste it before deciding if it needs any sugar. The sugar is added to counteract some of the acidity from the tomatoes. I do find that I am less likely to need to sugar when using San Marzano tomatoes.

How to Make Marinara Sauce

1: Heat the olive oil in a deep pan – I like to use a Dutch oven. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and cook for 30-45 seconds.

2: Add in the tomato paste.

3: Start stirring the tomato paste, letting it melt and combine into the oil.

4: Add the tomatoes. You’ll want it all – don’t drain them first.

5: Stir in the basil, salt, and red pepper flakes.

6: Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it cook. Use a wooden spoon while the sauce is cooking to break down the tomatoes. Cook anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on how thick you want the sauce or how deep you want the flavor.

7: If you like a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to blend the sauce. You could also remove it to a blender or food processor, but the immersion blender is much easier. I also like it because I can still leave some chunks, making it just mostly smooth.

8: Taste the sauce, and add sugar, if needed.

Storage and Freezing

Like I said above, this makes a lot of sauce, so it’s great if you need some for now and you can freeze some for later!

To store, let the sauce cool completely and transfer to a container with a lid. Keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

To freeze, I like to transfer it in 1 to 2 cup portions and place it in quart sized freezer bags. Freeze them flat, and then they will stack easily in the freezer. They also defrost much more even when they are frozen flat.

The sauce will last up to 6 months in the freezer.

How to Use Homemade Marinara Sauce

This marinara sauce recipe is great just served over pasta (the way my kids like it the best!) but here are some of my favorite recipes that use marinara sauce. If the recipe calls for jarred sauce, so just swap in the homemade version to elevate the recipe even more!

• This Meatball Sub recipe is so much better than anything you can get at the local sub shop!
• Looking to feed a crowd, or have picky kids? This Penne Pasta Bake Recipe is a family favorite.
• Make the sauce ahead of time, and this Skillet Lasagna will be a great weeknight dinner option.
• This Eggplant Parmesan is a great recipe for if you are wanting something meat free.
• Serve it on the side as a dipper for these Italian Calzones.
• Use it as the base for this delicious Spaghetti Meat Sauce.