Homemade marinara sauce is fresh, light and bursting with flavor. It really elevates any Italian inspired meal.
If you are looking for the best marinara sauce, look no further than this delicious recipe. It is made with simple ingredients that are all pantry staples, and is much easier to make than you would think.
On top of all those amazing qualities, this marinara can be used in an abundance of ways. I love to use it as a pizza sauce on homemade pizza, spoon it over potato gnocchi, or served with homemade sausage meatballs. It is also absolutely incredible as a dipping sauce with sourdough garlic knots.
However you decide to serve it, this marinara is sure to be your new go-to recipe for adding that homemade touch to all of your Italian favorites.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Flavorful – This marinara boasts authentic Italian flavor that is so much better than anything you can get at the store.
Basic pantry ingredients – Making your own marinara sauce doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s made with a handful of ingredients that you probably already have on hand!
Versatile – Whether you are whipping up a fancy chicken parmesan, or turning it into a simple meat sauce with ground beef to serve over sourdough pasta, there are so many ways to enjoy this recipe.
Ingredients
Whole peeled tomatoes – Make sure to use a good quality can of tomatoes to achieve the best flavor.
Garlic – A garlic press is super handy for this. You can also use pre minced jarred garlic to save time on mincing.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Tools You May Need
- Large pot
- Garlic press
How to Make Homemade Marinara Sauce
Step 1: Add the canned tomatoes to a large mixing bowl. Use your hands or a potato masher to break up the tomatoes into small pieces until you reach a crushed tomato texture.
Step 2: Heat a large pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add the red pepper flakes and saute for another minute.
Step 3: Add the tomatoes, salt, and basil leaves to the pot. Stir to combine.
Step 4: Once the mixture begins to simmer, reduce the heat to low and cook for 1 hour, stirring every 10 or so minutes. The sauce will thicken and reduce slightly.
Step 5: Once the sauce is done, serve as desired with pasta, chicken, meatballs, and more!
Tips
- If you like, you can extend the cooking time of this sauce. The longer you cook it, the more depth of flavor it will have.
- Avoid using cast iron for this recipe as it can react with the acidity of the tomatoes. Opt for enameled cast iron, a ceramic coated pot, or stainless steel.
- Add more spices or seasonings of your preference to make this recipe your own!
- Fresh herbs like fresh oregano or sprigs of fresh basil really elevate this homemade tomato sauce.
Recipe FAQs
This marinara recipe is made with whole peeled tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, a pinch of red pepper flakes, salt, and fresh basil leaves that add so much flavor. This sauce is one of my favorite ways to add a special homemade touch to Italian recipes.
Using the best tomatoes you can find, and adding flavors like fresh basil and other herbs make a huge difference in flavor when it comes to the end result of your sauce. Lengthening and taking your time with the cooking process also enhances the flavor.
Marinara sauce is usually more simple, light, and has a thinner consistency. Spaghetti sauce may have more added ingredients and contain things like meat and veggies and is often a thicker sauce.
Let the sauce cool and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it in freezer-safe containers for 2-3 months.
More Delicious Recipes from the Farmhouse
- Easy Homemade Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
- East Italian Beef in the Instant Pot
- Homemade Pop Tarts
- Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta Recipe
- Easy Hand Pies
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.
The Best Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- 1 garlic peeler
- 1 Large Pot
Ingredients
- 2 28 ounce cans whole peeled tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6 fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Add the canned tomatoes to a large mixing bowl. Use your hands or a potato masher to break up the tomatoes into small pieces until you reach a crushed tomato texture.
- Heat a large pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the garlic and sauté for 1 – 2 minutes until fragrant. Add the red pepper flakes and sauté for another minute.
- Add the tomatoes, salt, and basil leaves to the pot. Stir to combine.
- Once the mixture begins to simmer, reduce the heat to low and cook for 1 hour, stirring every 10 or so minutes. The sauce will thicken and reduce slightly.
- Once the sauce is done, serve as desired with pasta, chicken, meatballs, and more!
Notes
- If you like, you can extend the cooking time of this sauce. The longer you cook it, the more depth of flavor it will have.
- Avoid using cast iron for this recipe as it can react with the acidity of the tomatoes. Opt for enameled cast iron, a ceramic coated pot, or stainless steel.
- Add more spices or seasonings of your preference to make this recipe your own!
- Fresh herbs like fresh oregano or sprigs of fresh basil really elevate this homemade tomato sauce.
- Please double check amounts when using the multiplying feature in the recipe card.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
