This easy 10-Minute Homemade Marinara Sauce recipe is the answer to all of your pizza, pasta and garlic bread dipping sauce dilemmas.
There’s just something about the simplicity of my homemade marinara sauce that inspires my inner poet:
How do I love thee, homemade marinara sauce? Let me count the ways.
I love thee spooned atop pizza and beside my garlic bread.
I love thee served with pasta and a big ol’ glass of red.
Don’t worry. I’m not quitting my day job.
While I’m all for tomato sauces that have to simmer longer than my latest House Hunters marathon (cough … 6 hours… cough), sometimes, 10 minutes is all we’ve got. Thus, this easy four-ingredient homemade marinara is the answer to all of your pizza, pasta and garlic bread dipping sauce dilemmas.
How to Make Quick Marinara Sauce
What could be better than a quick, homemade marinara sauce that tastes like it simmered all day? The fact that this sauce only needs four ingredients. You read that right. This sauce is also the perfect canvas for whatever ingredients you might want to add to it. I love to add fresh basil, or sautéed onions and pancetta (for that all’Amatriciana spin.)
How to Make Marinara Sauce with Crushed Tomatoes
The crushed tomatoes you choose are key here, allowing that lush yet fresh-fruity tomato flavor to really shine through. My personal favorites are Cento San Marzano crushed tomatoes. Cento’s San Marzano crushed tomatoes are the best bang for your buck while still delivering that authentic, sun-ripened tomato flavor.
How Long Does Marinara Sauce Last?
That is to say, if you don’t eat it all on day one. If properly sealed, this marinara sauce (without meat added) will last between 5-7 days. If you do go the meat sauce route, be sure to use it up within 3-4 days.
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Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon fresh black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the olive oil to the pan, allowing it to warm for 1 minute, then add the garlic and sauté it for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until it’s golden brown and fragrant.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, sugar and crushed red pepper flakes (optional), stirring to combine. Simmer the sauce for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, then season it with additional salt, pepper or sugar, to taste.
Kelly’s Notes:
- The strongest flavor of the marinara sauce will depend on what variety of crushed tomatoes you use. My preferred brand is San Marzano Crushed Tomatoes.
- This recipe can serve as the starting point for many other sauce variations. Feel free to add fresh basil, sautéed onions and any other preferred add-ins.
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Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.
This was perfect! Used it for rice balls and it was delicious. My new go-to for marinara sauce. Thank you!
You are so welcome, Janis! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Exactly what I was looking for. Simple, quick and delicious! Thank you
You are so welcome, Heather! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Hi Kelly! Is this recipe in your “Secret Ingredient” Cookbook?
Hi Lisa – No, every recipe in The Secret Ingredient Cookbook is brand-new! :)
Loved it! Quick,flavorfull,will never buy jarred sauce again. Thank you.
Woohoo! I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe, Brenda!
Awesum Sauce. Made for sausage sandwich’s with fried onions and fried dice potatoes. Will use again..!!! Thanx
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Robin!
My granddaughter wanted mozzarella sticks (frozen) and I remembered I didn’t have sauce for them. I got lucky I had some crushed tomatoes and garlic I googled a recipe for marinara and yours caught my eye. I added some fresh basil too. It was quick and delicious, my picky granddaughter loved it also. Thank you
I’m so thrilled to read this, Tamara!
So easy and taste so good.
I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Eileen!
I was craving angel hair pasta with marinara tonight but didn’t have any sauce in the freezer and I never buy jarred sauce because it’s usually way to sweet for my taste. I made this and cut the sugar to 1/2 tsp. and added some more herbs, otherwise I followed the recipe as is. It was delicious and satisfied that craving! I can see using this as a pizza sauce as well as in other recipes. Thanks for a great one!
You are so welcome, Jane! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Ab love this,quick and easy to make…tastes even better the next day
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Michelle!
Perfect quick recipe! I forgot to make marinara for my garlic knots and only had diced tomatoes. Followed this exactly and pureed the tomatoes in a processor and its do delicious. Thank you!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
I like to add wine in the sauce!
Great addition, Gladys!
Wow! This was so good! I added a bit more pepper and garlic than the recipe called for (just because I really like those flavours), and it turned out great! I made the original recipe, no changes, for my family, and they loved it. Thank you so much, I don’t think I’ll be using store-bought sauce anymore!
Woohoo! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Artino!
I needed a quick marinara when struck with the sudden urge to make Italian Baked eggs this morning for breakfast for my wife. It made an excellent sauce that I layered over diced green onion and mushroom slices. The eggs poached perfectly nestled atop of the sauce and under a layer of parmesan and gruyere. Thanks for making this recipe available. I will be using it again!
Amazing! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Kayne!
This is now my go to when I need spaghetti sauce. I love that there is so little sugar, and no preservatives apart from what is in the tomatoes. Plus, it tastes great!
Yay! I’m so thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe, Lisa!
Can i use diced tomatoes instead of crushed tomatoes?
Sure! Just note that it will alter the texture of the sauce.
I 4got marina at the store and was in a fix. I followed this recipe outline, except I used some spiced tomato sauce I’d bought at a prior time by mistake and had been wondering what I was going to do with it. I substituted dry herbs for fresh (including subbing Stevia for sudar), added a touch of basil, crushed red pepper and some fresh onion and it was great. This was so fast and easy, I’ll probably never buy store bought with all the added sugar again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Melissa!