This Homemade Hearty Marinara Sauce is an easy to make sauce that is rich in flavor and gives a great alternative to jarred marinara.
With just 5 ingredients. plus a few spices. you'll have a tomato-based sauce perfect for all your favorite Italian dishes.
Original Post September 2020 | Updated: November 2023
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Jump to:
- Simple ingredients to make hearty marinara sauce recipe
- Tips for making the best marinara sauce
- How to make hearty marinara sauce recipe
- How to store delicious homemade marinara sauce
- What's the difference between marinara and pizza sauce
- Ways to use hearty marinara sauce
- Pairing suggestions
- More sauce recipes
Simple ingredients to make hearty marinara sauce recipe
You'll find a full list of ingredients in the pasta sauce recipe card below.
- Crushed Tomatoes - I prefer San Marzano tomatoes. Although I use canned tomatoes, you can certainly use fresh tomatoes from your garden, just be sure to remove the skin. If you like a chunky sauce use whole or diced tomatoes.
- Yellow onion - The onion should be diced to a fine consistency.
- Garlic - Feel free to use more or less. Substitute 1 teaspoon of garlic powder if yo don't have any fresh garlic.
- Granulated Sugar - The added sugar cuts the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Dried Basil - You can add some fresh basil at the end, but dried basil works better when you will be simmering the sauce. I've substituted Italian Seasoning in place of basil and it was delicious.
- Red Pepper Flakes - Add more or less depending upon how much heat you prefer.
- Water - You can also use chicken broth.
Tips for making the best marinara sauce
- If using whole tomatoes you can either add the tomatoes to a blender or use an immersion blender to get a smooth sauce.
- If you want to use this recipe as pizza sauce, you can omit the water and add 1 - 2 tablespoons of tomato paste.
- For large families double or triple the recipe.
- To build flavor in the sauce, add a parmesan rind while the soup simmers.
- Garnish with fresh basil ribbons.
How to make hearty marinara sauce recipe
Step 1: In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic cloves and diced onion to the pan. Saute stirring constantly until the onion turns translucent. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 2: Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, basil, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes to the skillet.
Step 3: Simmer for 20 minutes. Add either water or chicken broth to get the desired consistency. You will want the sauce to be thicker for pizza and thinner for pasta. You can control the thickness with water or chicken broth.
Serve the sauce with your favorite pasta shape and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Check out this A-to-Z Guide to every type of pasta.
How to store delicious homemade marinara sauce
Fridge: This authentic sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Cool marinara completely and store in an air-tight container for up to 6 months in the freezer. You can also use a freezer bag to store the sauce. I recommend double bagging the sauce and labeling with the date if choosing a zip top bag.
What's the difference between marinara and pizza sauce
The difference between pizza sauce and marinara sauce is cooking time. Marinara is a simmered sauce and pizza sauce is traditionally a tomato sauce that is cooked on the pizza.
You can easily substitute marinara in the place of pizza sauce and nobody will know the difference.
An alternative sauce for pizza is pesto. So good!
Ways to use hearty marinara sauce
Dipping Sauce: This Italian sauce is perfect for dipping Mozzarella sticks, cheesy garlic bread, and breaded artichoke hearts.
Spaghetti Sauce: Add ground beef, roasted vegetables or meatballs for a hearty weeknight dinner.
Appetizers: Use this sauce when making Italian Mini Peppers, bagel pizzas, and air fryer ravioli.
Main dish: Try sausage manicotti, lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, a meatball or Italian sausage and onion sub sandwich using this homemade sauce.
Pairing suggestions
Red wine: Chianti, zinfandel, and merlot are good choices to pair with this traditional marinara sauce.
Beer: Amber Ale, Brown Ale, and American Pale Ale all complement the richness of the marinara sauce.
Remember that personal taste preferences play a significant role in pairings. It's always a good idea to try different combinations to find the one that best suits your palate.
More sauce recipes
Tzatziki Sauce - We've created the most delicious sauce with sour cream instead of full-fat Greek yogurt. If you aren't a fan of yogurt, you are going to love this sour cream-based flavorful sauce.
Homemade Alfredo Sauce - This rich and creamy sauce is effortless to prepare and is absolutely delicious!
