Making homemade marinara sauce is so easy to make with canned tomatoes and a few other simple ingredients for a fresh authentic pasta sauce that perfectly seasoned.
This recipe is great to freeze so that you always have it available to use with many pasta recipes like topping these baked chicken tenders, for chicken parmesan, meatballs, this classic lasagna recipe, and 3 cheese baked ziti,…..you can literally use this sauce for everything you’d like!
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Best Marinara Sauce Recipe
My husband taught me how to make this most incredible homemade sauce years ago. This recipe actually comes from his mother’s husband, Papa Mike, whose Italian mother taught him how to make.
Let me give you all the confidence you need to make this simple recipe. It is a really easy tomato sauce to make and is so much better than jarred sauce!
It is truly an all-time favorite! We use it for so many recipes other than spaghetti sauce. This marinara sauce is perfect as a dipping sauce and a pizza sauce too!
Ingredients Needed
- Olive oil – enough to cover the bottom of the pot.
- Onion – chopped
- Garlic – fresh minced garlic is the best. But you can use jarred minced garlic as well.
- whole tomatoes – using canned whole tomatoes are my favorite. Plum and San Marzano canned tomatoes are my go-to’s to use.
- dried basil – you can also add in a few fresh basil leaves.
- dry oregano –
- sugar – to cut the acidity just a tad.
- black pepper – I add about ⅛ teaspoon.
Can I use fresh tomatoes?
Yes, you sure can make this marinara recipe with fresh tomatoes! Fresh tomatoes from our garden are always wonderful. Each 28 ounce can is approximately 2 pounds of tomatoes or 10-12 tomatoes, depending on their size.
Variations
1. You can use other types of canned tomatoes like canned crushed tomatoes or diced tomatoes. I think the flavor is better with whole tomatoes though.
2. Add more favorite seasonings like a bay leaf or a little fresh thyme.
3. Add crushed red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce to give the sauce a kick.
4. Add vegetables like mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, or zucchini for a veggie-packed sauce.
5. Add a cup of grated Parmesan or Romano cheese.
How to Make this Marinara Sauce from Scratch
Step 1 – Add the olive oil to a large pot.
Step 2 – Add the chopped onion to the pot and sauté until translucent and soft. Then add the garlic and sauté until fragrant. Do not brown! This is very important.
Step 3 – Place tomatoes and onions in a blender or food processor and blend about 5-10 seconds until smooth and pureed.
Step 4 – Add in dry ingredients
Step 5 – Bring sauce to a slow boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer for a minimum of 1 ½ hours, stirring every 15-20 minutes so not to burn the bottom. I prefer to simmer for about 3 hours but it is still yummy if you cook it at the minimum.
Tips
- Use an immersion blender if you have one and blend the tomatoes directly in the pot you will be using.
- Using high quality canned tomatoes and fresh garlic for best flavors.
- Allow the sauce to simmer for at least an hour to give the flavors time to meld together. The longer you let it simmer, the more bold the flavors will be.
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Homemade Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoon olive oil enough to cover the bottom of the pot.
- 1 small onion chopped
- 4-6 cloves garlic minced
- 84 ounces Whole Plum tomatoes (3) 28 ounce cans
- 2-3 Tablespoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- pepper to paste
Instructions
- Pour olive oil in a large pot.4 Tablespoon olive oil
- Add the chopped onion to the pot and saute until translucent and soft. Do not brown!! This is very important. Then add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.1 small onion, 4-6 cloves garlic
- Place tomatoes in a blender or food processor and blend about 5-10 seconds until smooth and pureed.84 ounces Whole Plum tomatoes
- Then pour the blended tomatoes into the pot.
- Add in dry ingredients2-3 Tablespoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon oregano, pepper to paste, 1 teaspoon sugar
- Bring the sauce to a slow boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer for a minimum of an 1 ½ hours, stirring every 15-20 minutes so not to burn the bottom. I prefer to simmer for about 3 hours but it is still yummy if you cook it at the minimum.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Mark Whitnell
You really should try another recipe…add anchovies, and the most important item is a dash of cloves. Delete the sugar.
Kay
How many people does this batch serve? My daughter wants to make fresh pasta for a casual dinner party. Got to have good marinara sauce!
Sherri
Hi! It makes enough for at least 8-12 servings 🙂 Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Miz Helen
Your homemade sauce looks fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a fantastic day!
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
April J Harris
There’s nothing like good old fashioned homemade Marinara Sauce! Your recipe sounds delicious, Sherri. Shared. Thank you for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Hop.
Ann
Love the home-made version of marinara sauce! 🙂 #foodiefriDIY
Bree
I can’t wait to try this! My husband and I were just talking about finding a recipe for homemade marinara since it’s less expensive, healthier, and yummier than store bought. Will be making this soon 🙂
Carole @ From My Carolina Home
Looks simple and good. Visiting from Pieced Pastimes Saturday Sparks.
Nicole
This looks so delicious!! My mother used to make her own homemade maranara sauce and it was so good. Since tasting that the store bought just doesn’t even come close. We will have to give this a try and see how everyone likes it!! Pinning, stumbling, tweeting, and sharing on Google+.
Sherri
Thank you so much!
Pam@over50feeling40
Good recipe! Thanks for sharing with the Thursday Blog Hop!
Lori
I’ll have to try this. I’ve tried other marinara sacues and haven’t found a favorite recipe yet. This looks delicious!
Cheryl
Thank you for sharing, this looks so much better than the stuff you buy. Pinning so I can make it later.
Garden-2-Plate
This sounds like mine except I use fresh tomatoes. I would never want to compare it to an Italian mother in laws that sounds like trouble. Thanks for sharing on Raising Homemakers Link Up.
Debbie
This looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood
There is seriously NOTHING better than homemade marinara (except, maybe fresh bread to dip in it!). This is such a great recipe to have in your back pocket!
Becca @ The Earthling's Handbook
I love making homemade sauce! I started when I was around 12 years old and was surprised at how easy it is to make a basic marinara.
I usually use tomato puree so I can skip the pureeing step–it contains only tomatoes, no salt or anything.
A while back, I was writing down how I made every batch of spaghetti sauce because I like to use whatever compatible vegetables we have on hand. I haven’t done that recently, but I have half a dozen variations up (plus some other tips in the “spaghetti sauce” category) if you are interested!
Liz
Yum! Now I want spaghetti and meatballs at 8:15 in the morning… 😉