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Make the best easy marinara sauce with simple pantry ingredients in just 20 minutes! This classic tomato sauce is rich, flavorful, and perfect for pasta, pizza, meatballs, and more. A quick and versatile homemade sauce you’ll want to keep on hand for effortless weeknight dinners.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: This easy marinara sauce comes together in about 20 minutes with simple pantry ingredients — perfect for busy weeknights.
- Incredibly versatile: Use it as a quick marinara sauce for pasta, a dip for breadsticks or mozzarella sticks, a base for pizza, or spooned over meatballs.
- Packed with flavor: A mix of garlic, onion, herbs, and tomato creates a rich and balanced sauce that tastes like it’s been simmering all day.
- Perfect for meal prep: Make a double batch to keep in the fridge or freezer — it reheats beautifully for quick, delicious meals anytime.
- Better than store-bought: Once you taste this homemade version, you’ll never go back to the jarred stuff again.
How to Make Easy Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil: For sautéing and building a rich base of flavor.
- Yellow onion: Adds sweetness and depth to the sauce.
- Garlic: A must for a fragrant, savory marinara.
- Tomato paste: Deepens the tomato flavor and adds body to the sauce.
- Crushed tomatoes: The base of the sauce — choose a good quality brand for the best flavor.
- Italian seasoning: Brings those comforting, herby notes to the sauce.
- Sugar: Balances the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Salt and black pepper: To season and enhance every bite.
- Red pepper flakes: Optional, but adds a subtle kick of heat.
Kitchen Tools
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Instructions
- Sauté the aromatics: In a medium skillet or saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes, until fragrant and softened.
- Add the tomato base: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
- Simmer the sauce: Add the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, sugar, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir well to combine.
- Cook until thickened: Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and flavorful.
How to Serve Marinara Sauce
This recipe makes about 4 cups of rich, flavorful marinara sauce, and there are so many delicious ways to use it!
- Toss it with pasta: Classic spaghetti and marinara is always a winner, but it’s also perfect for layering into lasagna, baked ziti, or even as the tomato base in a vodka sauce.
- Perfect marinara for dipping: One of my favorite ways to enjoy this sauce is as a dip! Serve it warm with breadsticks, garlic knots, garlic bread, or mozzarella sticks for an easy appetizer or snack.
- Make homemade pizza: Skip the jarred pizza sauce — this homemade easy marinara sauce is the perfect flavorful base for any pizza night.
- Serve with meatballs: Spoon the marinara over your favorite homemade meatballs, or let them simmer in the sauce for extra flavor. Try my Easy Ricotta Meatballs with Homemade Marinara Sauce and Homemade Baked Italian Sausage Meatballs!
Storage & Reheating
One of the best things about this easy marinara sauce is how well it stores — it’s perfect for meal prep or saving leftovers for another night.
Refrigerate: Let the sauce cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freeze: For longer storage, freeze the sauce in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 3 months. I like to portion it out into smaller containers for easy weeknight use.
Reheat: Warm the sauce on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. You can also microwave individual portions for quick use.
The Best Easy Marinara Sauce for Pasta, Pizza & More
Make the best easy marinara sauce with simple pantry ingredients in just 20 minutes! This classic tomato sauce is rich, flavorful, and perfect for pasta, pizza, meatballs, and more. A quick and versatile homemade sauce you’ll want to keep on hand for effortless weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ small yellow onion finely chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 (28 ounce) can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a medium skillet or saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes, until fragrant and softened. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, sugar, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir well to combine. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and flavorful.
Notes
Storage & Reheating
Let the marinara sauce cool completely before storing. Transfer to an airtight container or jar and refrigerate for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze in portions for up to 3 months—perfect for easy meal prep! To reheat, warm the sauce gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. If reheating from frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge first. You can also microwave in short intervals, stirring between each, until warm. Did You Make This Recipe?Mention @megans_meals_11 on Instagram or tag #megansmeals!
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