Easy Marinara Sauce
Easy marinara sauce is a quick, classic Italian tomato-based sauce made with simple pantry staples. Rich, flavorful, and versatile, it’s perfect for pasta, pizza, meatballs, and more—all in under 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings (about 3 cups of sauce)
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes (or fresh, peeled and chopped)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant but not browned.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes and tomato paste (if using).
- Add oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- If desired, add sugar and red pepper flakes to taste.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low.
- Let it simmer uncovered for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and flavorful.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Optionally, stir in fresh basil just before serving.
Notes
Use high-quality canned tomatoes for best flavor if fresh tomatoes aren’t available.For a smoother sauce, blend with an immersion or standard blender.Double the garlic for a more intense flavor or add bay leaf for depth.This sauce also works great as a pizza base or dip for breadsticks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3/4 cup
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Find it online: https://cookibly.com/easy-marinara-sauce/
