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Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce uses simple, quality ingredients. It takes about an hour to prepare, and you’ll be well rewarded with a rich, bold and incredibly flavorful sauce. This versatile sauce is the perfect base for many of your favorite recipes.
This post and recipe card updated October 23, 2019
It’s no secret that I never learned to cook until I was an adult. When I did learn, I used store-bought sauces because I thought homemade sauces were difficult to make. And since pre-made sauces were so readily available at the grocery, there was no need to tempt fate.
One of the very first sauces I learned to make mastered was for my Asian Quinoa Meatballs. Last year I made a mushroom cream sauce for my Skillet Green Bean Casserole, and homemade sauce is the key to my Tuna Tettrazini.
As much as I love Italian food, I’m still a little gun-shy about dishes from scratch. I’ve made homemade pasta and pizza dough several times, but my technique needs a lot of work.
A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to delve more into Italian dishes, so I decided to start with sauces. Of course, it makes sense to start with the classic Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
- It’s incredibly easy to make, and most of the process is simmering on the stove
- You can easily customize the sauce to your preference
- This recipe makes 1/2 gallon, and you can easily make more and store/freeze for later
This Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce is outstanding. It is rich and flavorful and uses simple quality ingredients. There are a lot of store-bought sauce brands, and some are really delicious. In my opinion, this Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce is right up there with the best.
TIPS FOR EASY HOMEMADE MARINARA SAUCE
I recommend using a Dutch oven, but a heavy-bottomed pot works as well. The Dutch oven cooks more evenly than a regular pot, and everything cooks on medium or low heat.
Use the best quality tomatoes you can find. I use San Marzano Crushed Tomatoes because those are the best quality canned tomatoes you can find.
Tomatoes are quite acidic, so you need something to counteract that. You can use sugar, but I prefer to use carrots. It’s a great way to add vegetables to the sauce and to eliminate added sugar.
You only need 3 vegetables: carrots, yellow onion, and garlic. The most important first step is to saute them in Avocado Oil or Olive Oil. This softens the vegetables and develops the crucial flavor base.
Don’t skip the wine! I’ve tried it both ways, and it’s just not the same without wine. I like to use Cabernet or a red blend because that’s what I always have on hand. A good chianti will work as well.
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add carrots and onion and saute for 5 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
You will have brown bits stuck to the pot, and that is good!
Add wine and use a silicone or wooden spoon to scrape up the brown bits. Cook for 2 minutes
Add dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, black pepper, and a bay leaf. Add entire can of tomatoes, plus 2 ounces of water.
Bring sauce to a low boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 45 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil and oregano immediately before serving.
STORAGE TIPS
Let the sauce cool to room temperature before storing.
FRIDGE: Portion the sauce into mason jars with lids. Seal tightly, and the sauce will last about 2 weeks.
FREEZER: Ladle the sauce into freezer-safe zip-top bags or plastic containers. 1-cup portions are perfect for smaller households, and 3-cup portions will yield 6 servings. The sauce will last up to 4 months.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can you use fresh tomatoes instead of canned? Yes, but then you have to blend them. And that’s an extra step. And I don’t have an immersion blender. Plus, you can keep canned tomatoes in the pantry for a long time.
Can you reduce the cooking time? In a pinch, you could do 20-30 minutes, but you won’t get nearly the same depth of flavor. Trust me, it’s worth the time investment.
WHAT TO MAKE WITH EASY HOMEMADE MARINARA SAUCE
MORE HOMEMADE DRESSINGS & SAUCES
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Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce uses simple, quality ingredients. It takes about an hour to prepare, and you’ll be well rewarded with a rich, bold and incredibly flavorful sauce. This versatile sauce is the perfect base for many of your favorite recipes.
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced small
- 1 carrot peeled and diced small
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup good quality red wine
- 28 ounces (1 large can) San Marzano crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon fresh-cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- fresh oregano (for garnish)
- fresh basil, ripped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
- Add onion and carrots and saute, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until soft. Add garlic add cook for 1 minute. You should have some brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pot, and that is okay
- Add red wine, scraping up brown bits with a silicone or wooden spoon. Cook the wine for 2 minutes.
- Add dried oregano, dried thyme, sea salt, and black pepper.
- Add the entire can of tomatoes, plus 2 ounces of water. Mix ingredients together well, and add bay leaf
- Bring to a low boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook on low for 45 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil and oregano immediately before serving
Notes
I recommend using a Dutch oven because cooks more evenly than a regular pot, and everything cooks on medium or low heat.
Don’t skip the wine! The sauce just doesn't taste the same without it. And use a wine you like to drink! I use Cabernet or a red blend, and a nice Chianti works as well.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can you use fresh tomatoes instead of canned? Yes, but then you have to blend them. And that’s an extra step. And I don’t have an immersion blender. Plus, you can keep canned tomatoes in the pantry for a long time.
Can you reduce the cooking time? In a pinch, you could do 20-30 minutes, but you won’t get nearly the same depth of flavor. Trust me, it’s worth the time investment.
STORAGE TIPS
Let the sauce cool to room temperature before storing.
FRIDGE: Portion the sauce into mason jars with lids, and it will last about 2 weeks
FREEZER: Ladle into freezer-safe zip-top bags or plastic containers. 1-cup portions are perfect for smaller households, and 3-cup portions will yield 6 servings. The sauce will last up to 4 months.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1/2 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 92Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 462mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 4gSugar: 10gProtein: 4g
Nutrient values are estimates only. Variations may occur due to product availability and food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients, etc
Jordan says
BRB. If anyone needs me, I will be pouring this onto ALLLLLLLLLLL of the zucchini noodles. And regular noodles. And dipping breadsticks into it.
Jagruti Dhanecha says
Homemade sauce is the best, so fresh, inexpensive and without any nasty stuff. This basic marinara sauce is also so easy to whip up in your kitchen with fresh ingredients.
Nicole says
This is great! I thought it took hours to make marinara sauce. I guess to cook the acid out of the tomatoes but I guess not. Your recipe is perfect.
Anne Murphy says
Everyone needs a basic, classic marinara recipe up her sleeve! I freeze containers OF IT, and can always grab one for a quick meal! This is a great resource!
Lorie says
Reminds me of my childhood, but way easier! My Italian Great grandma would sweat over her sauce all day! Can’t wait to make this one!
Kari Heron | Chef and Steward says
Karyl, years ago I started a blog post for homemade marinara sauce and never finished it. Maybe if mine looked like yours I would have! This looks absolutely scrumptious and I am happy to see you use a glass jar for those tomatoes and an enamel lined pot.
Karyl says
Well thank you so much Kari! I appreciate it
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says
Love homemade marinara sauce! Can’t remember the last time I bought it. Homemade is so much better. Love that you added red wine to this recipe! Looks delicious and flavourful!
Karyl says
Thanks so much Leanne! The red wine adds such a wonderful flavor to the sauce
Veena Azmanov says
Loving the bright color of this marinara sauce. Simple ingredients always make a brilliant combination, can’t wait to toss some pasta into this one
Alisha Rodrigues says
This marinara sauce looks perfect to me. My family is crazy about pasta and I can’t think of anything better than making this one for dinner tonight. Thanks for sharing the recipe
Danielle Wolter says
there is nothing quite like a homemade marinara sauce. i like the extra heat the crushed red peppers give it. such a simple, easy recipe too!
Karyl says
Thanks Danielle! Yes, it is super easy…as soon as I’m down to the last jar in the fridge I make another batch
Tammy says
It just doesn’t get any better than homemade! Your marina looks so perfect! I’m craving this now with a bowl of pasta ;D
Carrie | Clean Eating Kitchen says
This looks like such a rich and flavorful marinara sauce – I hate when they are too runny or bland. Will be trying this out for sure
Linda says
You are so right, what’s a marinara sauce without wine! Looks like you did a fabulous job and you can do anything you tackle.
Karyl says
Thank you so much Linda!