Posted May 19, 2024, Updated Oct 12, 2024 We eat spaghetti in our house at least once a week, and I was so tired of sub-par jarred sauces that I created this homemade marinara sauce recipe and have never looked back. This easy marinara sauce is as simple as it is delicious. Made with 9 ingredients in 30 minutes, it’s delicious served with homemade meatballs or your favorite Italian recipes for quick and hearty weeknight dinner.
Marinara Sauce: Ingredients & Substitutions
Onion. I suggest a sweet white or yellow onion for the best results. Minced garlic. Use freshly minced or jarred. Olive oil. I really don’t recommend substitutes, but if you must, avocado oil is the next best choice. Whole Peeled Tomatoes. I use canned tomatoes for ease – to use fresh tomatoes, you need to boil and peel the tomatoes, then use in this recipe as directed. You can also use crushed or diced tomatoes if you don’t keep whole, peeled tomatoes on hand. Fresh basil. No substitutes here! Dried oregano. you can substitute 1 teaspoon dried oregano with 1 Tablespoon fresh oregano. Granulated sugar. honey is a good substitute for sugar. This just helps cut the acidity of the marinara sauce, it does not make the sauce sweet. Or, if you want to make a sauce with meat, try this meat sauce for spaghetti.
How to Make Marinara Sauce
Well walk through the steps in this marinara sauce recipe together, and be sure to watch the video for extra guidance. Begin by cooking the onion, olive oil, onion and garlic in a 5-quart saucepan until onion is soft, stirring occasionally (about 3-5 minutes). Then, add the tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt, pepper and sugar and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, breaking up the tomatoes into smaller pieces. After 20 minutes, transfer the marinara sauce to a blender, or use an immersion blender, and blend until smooth (note this is optional if you like a chunkier sauce).
Serve
Marinara sauce is a key ingredient in so many Italian recipes – and pairs well with many of our favorite Italian dishes. Here are some serving suggestions:
Serve it with spaghetti and homemade meatballs (or turkey meatballs or chicken meatballs). Make homemade whole wheat pasta or homemade gnocchi and serve it on top. Use it to make Baked Goat Cheese Dip. Or in this pizza casserole or Italian stuffed peppers.
Store
Store leftover sauce in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Freeze
Freeze leftover sauce in a glass jar (make sure to leave some room at the top because the sauce expands in the freezer), for up to 6 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature, reheat on the stovetop. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
