This Hearty Marinara Sauce is a delicious, homemade sauce that’s done in 30 minutes. It’s super easy to make for Italian night or to freeze in bulk for even easier weeknight meals.
Why buy jar sauces made with junk when you can easily make your own fresh sauces like my San Marzano Tomato Pizza Sauce and my Easy Garlic Butter Pasta Sauce. Once you make your own you will never go back to the jar.
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Why this Hearty Marinara Sauce Recipe is a Keeper
I love this easy homemade marinara sauce recipe because it’s an easy alternative to store-bought versions.
- Quick to Make: My tomato sauce is ready in about 30 minutes.
- Pantry Ingredients: Uses simple items most kitchens already have.
- Hearty Texture: Thick tomato sauce that clings perfectly to pasta.
- Versatile Sauce: My marinara sauce is perfect for pasta, pizza, and dipping. You can turn this marinara into almost and sauce for your Italian dishes.
- Serve this Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe: Use Marinara Sauce with Homemade Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks, Chicken Parm Sliders or Homemade Garlic Bread.
What Difference Between Marinara Sauce vs Pizza Sauce?
Although they’re both red tomato sauce, marinara sauce and pizza sauce have their differences. The difference between marinara sauce and pizza sauce is that pizza sauce is thicker and is made with all kinds of herbs and spices, while marinara sauce is thinner and simple.
What Reader’s Are Saying…
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“One of the best Marinara sauce recipes I’ve tried! It is a perfect sauce for our favorite pasta. Would love to have this for the Holidays! Thanks Christina for this wonderful recipe!”
~ Sharina
Ingredient Notes to Make Hearty Marinara Sauce
The recipe requires a handful of ingredients. The simple ingredients needed to make this classic marinara sauce may already be around your kitchen, or can be purchased in one quick trip to the store. Use fresh tomatoes from your garden or use tomatoes from the store.
This is an overview of key ingredients. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Crushed Tomatoes: Grab 2, 28 ounce cans of San Marzano tomatoes at the store. I prefer to use canned for ease, but you can always crush your own tomatoes.
- Herbs and Spices: You will need two kinds of seasoning, garlic, onions and bay leaves. The bay leaf gives it a taste like the sauce takes hours.
- Make it From Scratch: Try my All Purpose Seasoning and Italian Seasoning.
- Parmesan Cheese: I like to use fresh grated parmesan, but you can also use store-bought for ease.
Variations and Substitutions for Hearty Tomato Sauce
There are a couple different swaps you can make to make this easy marinara sauce extra delicious. Fresh is best for this recipe so try using fresh basil and a good quality olive oil.
➡️ Add Red Pepper Flakes: For a little heat to the tomatoes.
➡️ Fresh Basil or Vegetables: Finely chopped carrots or onions add natural sweetness. You can also add in some fresh basil when you make the sauce.
➡️ Add Ground Meat: Turn it into a meat sauce.
➡️ Blend the Sauce: Use an immersion blender for a smoother texture.
Special Equipment Needed to Make Hearty Marinara Sauce
While most of this delicious Italian sauce recipe uses everyday kitchen tools, a few items can make it even better.
- Dutch Oven or Sauce Pot: Provides even heat while simmering the sauce.
- Immersion Blender: Useful if a smoother sauce is desired.
- Garlic Press: The sauce requires a lot of fresh minced garlic so use a good garlic press.
How to Make Marinara Sauce
This Italian tomato sauce recipe comes together in just 2 easy to follow steps. This sauce is so easy and delicious, I come back to it again and again.
These are just highlights. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Add Sauce Ingredients: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onions until translucent, then add in the garlic and cook. Then, stir in the crushed tomatoes, bay leaves, Italian Seasoning and All Purpose Seasoning.
- Let Simmer and Add Cheese: Bring the sauce to a rough simmer, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes. Add the freshly grated parmesan cheese, stir and serve.
Prep Ahead and Short Cut Tips for Sauce for Pasta
This hearty tomato sauce is already really easy, but there are a few things you can do to prepare ahead of time.
➡️ Chop Garlic Early: Prep garlic before starting traditional marinara sauce for pizza dough.
➡️ Measure Seasonings: Prepare basil, herbs ahead of time.
➡️ Sauté a spoonful of tomato paste with your garlic and onions until it darkens and smells caramelized: That quick browning gives you the deep, rich, all‑day flavor you’d normally get from a long simmer in just a couple minutes.
Alternate Cooking Methods for Homemade Marinara Sauce
Make this homemade sauce another way by using your crock pot.
- Slow Cooker Method: Combine the tomatoes and all ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours for deeper flavor. Make sure you’re stirring occasionally.
How Do You Thicken My Marinara Recipe?
Simmering the sauce uncovered helps to make it a thicker sauce than spaghetti sauce and pizza sauce. Blend a bit of cooked onion, carrot, or even some of the sauce itself and stir it back in to thicken the sauce or add some tomato paste.
Store, Reheat, Freeze and Use Leftover Pasta Sauce
- Storing: Let the robust sauce cool completely before you store marinara sauce. Place the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Frozen Sauce: Cool it completely. Portion it before freezing. Use freezer‑safe containers. Store up to 3 months for best flavor and texture. Up to 6 months if well‑sealed (still safe, just may lose brightness).
- Reheating: Warm the red sauce for pasta gently on the stovetop until heated through.
- Using Leftovers: Use chunky sauce for pizza, pasta bakes, or meatball subs.
Expert Tips for Making Easy Hearty Marinara Sauce at Home
➡️ Use Good Tomatoes: High-quality canned tomatoes make a big difference. The sauce will taste so much better.
➡️ Simmer Gently: Low simmer helps develop flavor and sauce comes together better.
➡️ Season at the End: Adjust salt and herbs just before serving. You may need to add more oregano, salt or pepper.
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Hearty Homemade Marinara Sauce
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Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 medium Onion, diced
- 6 cloves Garlic, minced
- 56 ounces Crushed tomatoes , 2, 28 ounce cans; I prefer San Marzano tomatoes
- 2 Bay leaves
- 2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning blend
- 1 Tablespoon All Purpose Seasoning blend
- ¼ cup Grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pot.
- Add onions and sauté for 5 minutes or until translucent.
- Add garlic to pot and cook for 1 minute.
- Add crushed tomatoes, bay leaves, Italian Seasoning Blend and All Purpose Seasoning; stir to combine.
- Bring to a bubbling simmer then turn the heat down to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add grated parmesan cheese; stir to combine.
- Serve immediate or freeze for later.
Christina’s Notes
- Add Fresh Herbs: Such as Fresh Basil, Oregano or Parsley.
- Smooth Sauce: Immersion Blender can make a smooth sauce.
- Variation tip: Protein, add ground beef, shredded chicken or seafood to the sauce.
- Alternate ingredient: Add Vegetables like: Carrots, celery, mushrooms, spinach or other vegetables.
- Cheese: Vary your cheese by adding different varieties such as asiago, pecorino and provolone.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
One of the best Marinara sauce recipes I’ve tried! It is a perfect sauce for our favorite pasta. Would love to have this for the Holidays! Thanks Christina for this wonderful recipe!
There is simply no comparison between store bought and homemade marinara. It’s so simple and the flavor is exceptional! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
I normally would’ve used 4 cloves of garlic but 6 is SO much better! Love this recipe – thank you!
Definitely one of the best marinara sauce recipes I have ever made! Everyone in my family loves this recipe so much! Will probably have it again. Highly recommended!
This marinara is so easy to make and so delicious!