A super simple but delicious homemade marinara sauce recipe – using just 5 ingredients and 15 minutes; perfect for pizza, pasta, soups, casseroles, chili, and more!
Whether you want a delicious spaghetti sauce, or one for pizza, soups, etc. this homemade marinara sauce is simple and delicious. Made with just five ingredients and around 15 minutes, you can make an easy marinara sauce that tastes rich and delicious. Plus, making it at home means there are no preservatives or other ‘nasties’ in the sauce, and it is naturally gluten-free and vegan.
I recently made this marinara sauce for pizza – this Neapolitan pizza, in fact- and had a few comments on how this sauce should differ when used for a pizza vs. any other dish. With that in mind, this post is going to take you through this recipe with two quick and simple methods. There’s only ONE difference – as you’ll see.
What I love about this easy marinara sauce is that it is made with just 5 base ingredients: crushed tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, oregano, and sugar (with salt and pepper, to season). However, this resulting tomato sauce is incredibly versatile, and can easily be tweaked to your needs. Look at my recipe notes and variations for some suggestions.
You can then use the sauce to serve alongside your favorite protein like these Healthy Mushroom & Lentil Vegan Meatballs, with pasta – like this Vegan Pasta, use it as a dipping sauce, and more.
Choosing The Right Tomatoes
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that the variety of tomato that you choose for this recipe will have a significant impact on the flavor. That’s not to say that you can’t grab whatever tin of tomatoes that you have in your cupboard, in a pinch. But if you want to make the most of your tomato sauce, then DOP ‘San Marzano’ tinned tomatoes are where it’s at.
They are a type of Italian plum tomato grown in a specific region of Italy and have a deliciously sweet but ‘pure’ tomato flavor. They are more expensive (of course) than your standard supermarket tinned tomato, but that’s to be expected.
There are various brands available, so taste testing to find your perfect tomato might take a few attempts. But once you’ve found the one that makes your sauce ‘sing’ – you’ll never look back!
Also – I prefer to use whole tomatoes and crush these myself in the pan with my wooden spoon/spatula, especially as specific crushed/diced versions have additional ingredients that stop them from breaking down as much in the sauce.
How To Make Marinara Sauce
The ingredients
There are only five ingredients needed for this simple homemade marinara sauce. These are:
- Tinned Red Tomatoes OR Passata
- Olive Oil
- Garlic Cloves
- Sugar (I use brown sugar)
- Dried Oregano
PLUS salt and pepper for seasoning.
Marinara Sauce For Pizza
Did you know that, when using the marinara sauce for pizza, some say it shouldn’t be pre-cooked? Well, neither did I. I do think this is down to personal taste, but it also makes the process of making this sauce even more straightforward, so that’s a win.
Apparently, this will result in a better-tasting pizza. The sauce will cook int the oven but maintain a lighter, fresher tomato flavor overall. Plus, making your sauce this way, takes just THREE STEPS!
Step One: Crush/mince the garlic.
(Optional) Step Two: Lightly sauté the garlic and oregano in the olive oil for a minute (don’t burn the garlic!)
Step Three: Mix all of the ingredients, either by hand or within a blender/food processor. Voila!
And it is as simple as that. Step two is actually optional – but I find it produces a nicer result.
Then just spread it over your pizza before you bake it.
Simple Marinara Sauce – Method Two
The second method is cooked, but still only takes around 10-15 minutes. Some say a low, slow simmer is needed for a rich tomato sauce – but I find that the quick cook time gives you rich but still ‘fresh’ results.
Plus, the recipe only really takes an extra step compared to the pizza one – by cooking the sauce.
Begin by peeling and crushing/mincing your garlic.
In a pot over medium heat, lightly sauté the minced garlic in the olive oil for 30-45 seconds, being careful not to burn. This will infuse your oil with the garlic flavor – yum.
Add the tomatoes and simmer for a few minutes with the lid on.
Add the sugar, salt, and pepper and stir then leave to simmer for a further 2-3 minutes. Stir occasionally, to stop the sauce from burning at the bottom of the pan.
Finally, add the oregano, stir well, and switch off the heat. If you aren’t using the sauce immediately, then leave it to cool down to room temperature before transferring to your container to store.
How To Store
You can store this homemade marinara sauce in an airtight container – I like to use a jar for up to 5 days. Alternatively, it can be frozen for up to three months.
Notes & Variations
- You can add onion to the sauce too. Finely dice it and sauté the onion and garlic in the pan at the beginning, until softened.
- I used oregano for my marinara sauce. Feel free to use mixed Italian herbs, if you’d prefer. You can also add fresh basil or a bay leaf while cooking, for a richer flavor.
- Add some crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce for spice. Add them while the garlic is sautéing, when there 15-20 seconds remaining before you add the tomatoes. This will help infuse the flavor in the oil a bit.
- Swap out the sugar for a little honey or another natural sweetener. I prefer to use ones that don’t have too much of a ‘unique’ flavor, to affect the sauce.
- You can, optionally, add some fresh (peeled) tomatoes to your sauce along with the canned. The fresh tomatoes will add a note layer of flavor to the dish.
- The final texture of the sauce is up to you. Use a blender for a super smooth ‘puree,’ or lightly crush in the pan, to your desired texture.
If you have questions, ask them in the comments. I also love seeing your recipe recreations; you can tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie.
Easy And Delicious Marinara Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup tinned red tomatoes I used Plum Tomatoes (San Marzano are best) OR Passata
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove crushed/minced
- 1/2 tsp sugar I use brown sugar
- 1 tsp Dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Marinara Sauce For Pizza:
- Crush/mince the garlic.
- Lightly saute the garlic and oregano in the olive oil for a minute (don't burn the garlic!).
- Mix all of the ingredients together, either by hand or in a blender/ food processor. Voila!
Marinara Sauce - Method Two:
- Peel and crush/mince your garlic.
- In a pot over medium heat, lightly saute the minced garlic in the olive oil for 30-45 seconds, being careful not to burn. This will infuse your oil with the garlic flavor.
- Add the tomatoes and simmer for a few minutes with the lid on.
- Add the sugar, salt and pepper and stir, then leave to simmer for a further 2-3 minutes. Stir occasionally, to stop the sauce from burning at the bottom of the pan.
- Add the oregano, stir well, and switch off the heat. If you aren't using the sauce immediately, then leave it to cool down to room temperature before transferring to your container, to store.
Video
Notes
- You can add onion to the sauce too. Finely dice it and saute the onion and garlic in the pan at the beginning, until softened.
- I used oregano for my marinara sauce. Feel free to use mixed Italian herbs, if you'd prefer. You can also add fresh basil or a bay leaf, while cooking, for a richer flavor.
- Add some crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce for spice. Add them while the garlic is sauteeing, when there 15-20 seconds remaining before you add the tomatoes. This will help infuse the flavor in the oil a bit.
- Swap out the sugar for a little honey or another natural sweetener. I prefer to use ones that don't have too much of a 'unique' flavor, to affect the sauce.
- You can, optionally, add some fresh (peeled) tomatoes to your sauce along with the canned. The fresh tomatoes will add a note layer of flavor to the dish.
- The final texture of the sauce is up to you. Use a blender for a super smooth 'puree', or lightly crush in the pan to your desired texture.
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