Marinara sauce recipe that is homemade, delicious and easy. Use this homemade sauce for your spaghetti and meatballs, baked Ziti, lasagna or even as a pizza sauce for your favorite pizza crust. You can never go wrong with this easy sauce.
Making marinara sauce from tomato paste is the easiest thing ever. Sit back and relax while I show you how to make the best marinara sauce from scratch.
Table of Contents
What is Marinara Sauce?
This is a popular tomato based sauce that is said to have originated from Italy. It’s simply tomato sauce cooked with herbs and spices. Think onions, garlic, oregano etc. Easy to make and very versatile.
Wait isn’t it the same as Spaghetti / Pasta sauce? Nope. So what’s the difference?
What is the difference between marinara sauce and spaghetti sauce.
As mentioned above, Marinara sauce is a tomato sauce mixed with seasoning and herbs.
Spaghetti sauce goes a step further than just the herbs and seasonings. Spaghetti sauce usually has more ingredients which include meats and sometimes vegetables.
What about Pizza Sauce? Pizza sauce is thicker than marinara sauce and most it’s times is a no cook tomato sauce recipe.
Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe
There are many marinara sauce recipes but this is my favorite because it’s so easy to put together and it’s delicious. This recipe is made using tomato paste. I suggest you use a good quality tomato paste for this recipe.
You can use tomato sauce or fresh tomatoes as well. Further down I show you how to make marinara sauce with either tomato sauce or fresh tomatoes.
Looking or another Italian favorite? Try Sugo al Pomodoro next.
Ingredients needed to make this recipe
- Tomato paste
- Onions
- Garlic
- Pepper flakes
- Dry Oregano leaves
- Dry parsley leaves
- Salt
- Bouillon powder
Why is this the best Marinara sauce recipe
- It’s super easy to make. No tomato cutting or blending needed
- It doubles as pasta sauce and pizza sauce
- You know what’s in your marinara sauce since it’s made from scratch.
- Most Store bought marinara sauce has sugar. This homemade marinara sauce has no sugar added except you really want to. If you do, you can control the quantity you add.
- Can be used as a dipping sauce.
How to make Marinara Sauce from scratch
Below is an overview of the recipe with pictures. The full ingredients lists, quantity and instructions are in the recipe card below.
Pic 1 – 3; saute onions, add tomato paste and water
Pic 4 – 6; Add spice blend and pepper flakes
Pic 7 – 9; Stir and let simmer. Enjoy
How to make this sauce with fresh tomatoes.
Chop tomatoes, sauté onions, add chopped tomatoes and spices and cook till tomatoes break down. If you like chunky marinara sauce, use immediately otherwise purée with an immersion blender till smooth.
How to use this sauce
It can be used as a dip for garlic bread or any other crusty bread,
Use it as a base for tomato pastina or a sauce for homemade meatballs. It also works perfectly for stove top, slow cooker or instant pot spaghetti and meat balls.
You can also use as pasta sauce for plain Pasta
Use this sauce as a topping for your favorite pizza crust works perfectly on my standard homemade pizza dough, no yeast pizza dough or my 2 ingredients pizza dough.
How to store it
Store this easy and delicious sauce in an air tight container for up to a week on the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer.
Quick recipe notes and tips
- This recipe can be made up to 5 days ahead or stored in the freezer for futures uses.
- Taste to adjust seasoning to your liking before turning off the stove.
- You can adjust the consistency of this sauce to your liking. Want a thicker sauce? Boil for longer. Like it thinner, add more water and let simmer before turning off the Stove.
FAQs on this recipe
- Is this sauce healthy? Yes it is a hesathy sauce to make as it contains wholesome ingredients.
- How many calories are ther in this sauce? This recipe contains 58 calories per 1/4 cup.
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Homemade Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons Olive oil or any cooking oil if choice
- ½ small onion (chopped)
- 2 (6oz) can tomato paste
- 3 cups of water
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dry oregano
- 1 teaspoon dry parsley flakes
- ½ teaspoon ground dry rosemary
- ½ teaspoon bouillon powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon pepper flakes
Instructions
- Sauté onion in olive oil
- Add tomato paste and water, stir to combine
- Add the spices and herbs and pepper flakes
- Simmer for about 10 -12 minutes depending on your desired consistency.
- Use for pizza, spaghetti or as a dip
Notes
- This recipe makes 24 oz of sauce.
- You can substitute the oregano, parsley and rosemary herbs for 2 tsp Italian seasoning.
- I grind my dry rosemary leaves in bulk if you are wondering why I have ground rosemary.
- Substitute the garlic powder in this recipe for 2 cloves of garlic.
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