Homemade Marinara Sauce (Easy, Fresh & Full of Flavor)

This Homemade Marinara Sauce is made with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and herbs — a quick, delicious sauce perfect for pasta, pizza, or dipping!

Homemade Marinara Sauce: Simple, Fresh & Delicious

There’s nothing quite like a pot of Homemade Marinara Sauce simmering on the stove — the aroma of garlic, tomatoes, and herbs filling your kitchen feels like pure comfort.

This simple Italian classic is made with wholesome ingredients and comes together in under 30 minutes. Whether you’re tossing it with pasta, layering it in lasagna, or using it as a dipping sauce for breadsticks, it’s a staple every home cook should know.

Recipe Card

Servings: 4 cups Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes (or 2 lbs fresh tomatoes, peeled and crushed)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1 teaspoon dried basil

• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped (for finishing)

Instructions

1. Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds until fragrant.

2. Add Tomatoes and Seasoning: Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper, sugar, oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes.

3. Simmer: Bring to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened and fragrant.

4. Finish and Serve: Remove from heat and stir in fresh basil. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

5. Serve: Serve warm over spaghetti, use as a pizza sauce, or spoon over chicken parmesan or lasagna.

Tips for the Best Marinara

• For a smoother sauce, blend with an immersion blender after cooking.

• Add a splash of red wine for depth and richness.

• Fresh tomatoes? Blanch and peel them before crushing for authentic texture.

• Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Final Thoughts

This Homemade Marinara Sauce is simple, fresh, and incredibly versatile — the perfect foundation for so many Italian dishes. Once you make it from scratch, you’ll never go back to store-bought!

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