The Best Simple Marinara Sauce Recipe

This is the only marinara sauce recipe you need.

Whether you’re looking for a tangy tomato sauce to top your homemade Chicken Parmesan, to dress your favorite stuffed pasta or to accent a fresh heap of zucchini noodles, this simple marinara sauce should be your go-to pasta sauce. Done in just 30 minutes, this super easy tomato sauce boasts a fresh, light flavor that is made to complement, not to overwhelm, your Italian recipes.

Every ingredient counts in this marinara recipe. Because of its simplicity, marinara sauce should be made with top-quality ingredients that really shine: red-ripe crushed tomatoes, a great-tasting olive oil, as well as fresh garlic and aromatics. This is a basic tomato sauce recipe that serves as an excellent foundation, so don’t be afraid to get creative and modify it to your own tastes. Some popular additions include fresh basil, parsley and finely chopped onion—to name a few. If you like a little heat to your tomato sauce, spice up this marinara with a pinch of hot red pepper flakes or a splash of chili oil.

Skip the jarred sauce this round and create your own homemade marinara sauce. View even more sauce recipes here.

What Is Marinara Sauce?

Marinara sauce is a simple tomato pasta sauce made with a blend of crushed tomatoes, olive oil, herbs and spices. Not every marinara sauce recipe is exactly the same, but this is the typical formula. A classic marinara sauce is not chunky, but smooth in texture. Simple and subtle, marinara is one of the most popular pasta sauces since it can be used to accent many types of pasta dishes—from Chicken Parmesan to Spaghetti and Meatballs.

Why You’ll Love This Marinara Sauce Recipe

There are many reasons to love this simple marinara sauce recipe. To start, it only takes a few ingredients to whip up: crushed tomatoes, olive oil, fresh garlic and salt. This means there is room for some adaptation too. Some prefer to use solely San Marzano tomatoes. If you like your tomato sauces to be a bit more herbaceous, you can add fresh basil or parsley. Without a bunch of chopping and prep, this homemade pasta sauce comes together in just 30 minutes. Not only is this tomato sauce good, but it’s good for you. Tomatoes and olive oil are two key components of the famed Mediterranean diet. What makes this sauce so loveable is also its versatility. It can be used as a sauce for pizzas and flatbreads, a dipping sauce for breadsticks and fried appetizers, a tomato sauce for baked pasta dishes and stuffed peppers… the possibilities are endless!

The Ingredients You Will Need To Make Marinara Sauce

Tomatoes: Traditionally, marinara sauce should be smooth in consistency. We simmer crushed tomatoes to achieve this texture. If you want to cut down on the simmer time, you can substitute canned crushed tomatoes with our smooth, ready-to-use Tomato Passata. Whatever tomato you choose, be sure that it is a high-quality tomato.

Garlic: There are many aromatics that you can use to flavor your marinara sauce, but garlic has to be the most popular. We only use the garlic to flavor the tomato sauce. The smashed cloves are removed before serving.

Olive Oil: A quality olive oil is at the heart of nearly all Italian recipes. When an ingredient list is as limited as this one, every ingredient truly counts. We like the fresh, fruity flavor of an authentic Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

How To Make Marinara Sauce

This homemade marinara sauce is super easy with no chopping or prep required.

Cook pasta. Prepare the pasta according to the package instructions.

Combine ingredients. Add all of the ingredients to a large saucepan and bring to a boil.

Simmer the sauce. Once boiling, turn down the heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Remove the cloves of garlic and discard.

Toss with pasta. Add hot pasta to the pan and toss to coat. Cook together for 2 minutes to marry the flavors.

Serve!

Top Tips

This recipe is super easy, requiring no chopping or recipe prep. That said, there aren’t many recipe tips to share.

Combine pasta and sauce. Do not simply top your hot pasta with marinara sauce. Add hot, just-cooked pasta to the saucepan with your sauce. Cook together on low heat for about 2 minutes. This helps pasta to coat each noodle and marry the flavors.

To store marinara sauce, place in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. For the best flavor and texture, slowly reheat on the stovetop using a low setting.

To freeze marinara sauce, place in a freezer-friendly container and store for up to 3 months. To ready for use, place the frozen sauce in the refrigerator to thaw. Give it up to 1 day to thaw.

Substitutions And Additions

To use fresh tomatoes, this recipe would require more work. You would need to blanch the tomatoes in boiling water, peel the tomatoes and then simmer them to the consistency of crushed tomatoes. This will add to the time, but can be done!

Add hot red pepper flakes or chili oil to create a spicy marinara sauce.

Use fresh or dried herbs to create a more herbaceous flavor. We don’t recommend overdoing it with the herbs, however.

Begin the recipe with sautéed onion or shallot to create a more complex flavor.

The Best Pasta Cuts For Marinara Sauce

The simple and beloved marinara sauce is a versatile pasta sauce that can be used with nearly any cut of pasta. Light, smooth sauces like marinara are most commonly paired up with long cuts of pasta like the classic Spaghetti. For a gluten-free pasta and marinara pairing, serve your homemade marinara sauce with zucchini noodles or shredded spaghetti squash. Really, there isn’t a pasta that doesn’t fair well with the iconic tomato sauce.

Ways To Use Marinara Sauce

Marinara is a classic tomato sauce that can be used in so many of your favorite everyday recipes—not just pasta! Here are some of our favorite ways to use marinara sauce.

• Homemade pizzas and flatbreads.

• Fried, breaded appetizers and breadsticks, as a dipping sauce.

• Classic stuffed bell peppers and sausage-stuffed banana peppers.

• Baked pasta recipes like Lasagna and Cheesy Baked Ziti.

• Tomato-based soups and stews.

• Breaded Parmesan-style entrées like Chicken Parmesan, Veal Parmesan and Eggplant Parmesan.

Marinara Sauce: FAQ

Can I Use Canned San Marzano Tomatoes?

Yes, you can use canned San Marzano Tomatoes to create your homemade marinara sauce. These prized Italian tomatoes are considered the gold standard when it comes to homemade tomato sauces.

Marinara Sauce Vs Pizza Sauce - What Is The Difference?

The biggest difference between marinara sauce and pizza sauce is in the consistency. Pizza sauce is thicker in texture, as it contains less liquid. A pizza sauce with too much liquid would create a soggy pizza crust.

Marinara Sauce Vs Spaghetti Sauce - What Is The Difference?

There isn’t much of a difference between marinara sauce and spaghetti sauce, as these terms are often used interchangeably. They both begin as a tomato sauce with olive oil and chopped aromatics. Spaghetti sauce may include a step more than marinara sauce with an added protein, like ground beef or sausage, or sautéed vegetables. These additions make spaghetti sauce a heartier choice.

Marinara Sauce Vs Tomato Sauce - What Is The Difference?

There is no difference between marinara sauce and tomato sauce. Marinara is a type of tomato sauce.

Marinara Sauce Vs Pomodoro Sauce - What Is The Difference?

Marinara sauce and pomodoro sauce are used interchangeably and often incorrectly. Pomodoro means “tomato” in Italian, so simply put, pomodoro sauce is referring to a tomato sauce. Marinara is a type of tomato sauce. Typically, pomodoro sauce refers to a tomato sauce without herbs or spices. It can be chunkier than marinara. Marinara is flavored with herbs and aromatics.

Is Marinara Sauce Just Tomato Paste?

No, marinara sauce is not just tomato paste. In fact, a true marinara should be made with crushed tomatoes—no tomato paste involved. Tomato paste is a condensed tomato product that is produced by hours of cooking down tomatoes, then straining them of seeds and skins. Tomato paste is a super thick concentrated tomato product.

Can I Make This Sauce Ahead Of Time?

Yes, marinara sauce can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator in an air-tight container. Reheat slowly on the stovetop. Once warmed, add hot cooked pasta directly to the sauce.

The Best Simple Marinara Sauce Recipe

• 1 (1-pound) package DeLallo Spaghetti
• 1 (24-ounce) jar DeLallo Imported Italian Crushed Tomatoes
• 4 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons DeLallo Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 tablespoon salt

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet on medium setting, heat olive oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then add to the pan. Cook chicken for about 6 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate.
3. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add heavy cream to the pan. Stir in mascarpone. Once cheese melts and is fully incorporated, whisk in pesto. Cook together for 2 minutes. Return chicken to the pan. Add sun-dried tomatoes. Cook together for another 5 minutes to marry flavors. Stir in fresh basil.
4. Add hot pasta to the pan and stir to coat. Serve sprinkled with fresh grated Parmesan.

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