Simple Marinara Sauce (Homemade Italian Recipe)

Simple Marinara Sauce is a fan-favorite recipe for the past five years because it’s truly the best marinara sauce out there! Made with just 5 ingredients, this is sure to be your go-to homemade marinara sauce recipe!  

FIVE-STAR REVIEW: Growing up in an Italian household I have a strong opinion about using store-bought sauce! I don’t always want to spend hours making my own though either so this is the perfect compromise!

Once you try this recipe for Simple Marinara Sauce, you’ll never need to buy store-bought pasta sauce again. This recipe comes together in minutes and is the perfect marinara for whatever you are making.

For another traditional sauce, don’t miss this authentic Sugo recipe! Or use this simple marinara in all your favorite dishes like Turkey Spinach Manicotti, Polenta Skillet, or Baked Penne with Ricotta! This marinara is the perfect sauce for serving with Authentic Italian Braciole or Ricotta Gnocchi.

Classic Italian Marinara Sauce 

Authentic Marinara Sauce requires just a few simple ingredients: olive oil, onion, garlic, tomatoes, and basil, plus salt and pepper to taste. Any tomato sauce recipe calling for more, is not necessary. 

This easy marinara sauce recipe comes together fast and tastes so much better than store-bought sauce. It’s made with just a handful of ingredients and is perfect for any recipe calling for marinara or on it’s own served with hot pasta. 

Pluse, no need to spend hours simmering this sauce on the stove either. The fresh flavors come together quick and make for the perfect taste blend. 

This quick marinara sauce has been a staple in my house for years. It’s truly the only marinara recipe you need! 

Just 5 Ingredients!

You don’t need a lot of ingredients to get the perfect marinara sauce. This recipe contains only five ingredients and yields a simply delicious sauce. 

Here is what you’ll need: 

• Olive Oil: use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. 
• Diced Onion: you’ll need about half a large yellow onion. 
• Minced Garlic: use fresh garlic for best flavor. 
• Canned Tomatoes: San Marzano Tomatoes are the only tomatoes I use for my simple marinara sauce because they taste like fresh tomatoes. They are a personal favorite for their sweet fresh flavor. You can use the whole tomatoes or crushed tomatoes. 
• Fresh Basil: dried basil could be used in a pinch, but fresh basil leaves really add the best flavor. 
• Additionally, you’ll need salt and pepper to taste. You can add Italian seasoning or dried oregano, but I don’t think it’s needed. 

How to Make Classic Marinara Sauce

Firstly, heat the olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add in the olive oil and allow it to warm. 

Next, add in the onions. For this recipe, I like to puree the final sauce so you don’t have to worry about the onions being chopped too finely or being completely uniform in size. 

Let the onions soften and stir frequently so they don’t brown, about five minutes. Then add in the minced garlic and seasonings. Cook for another minute. 

Lastly, add in the canned tomatoes. You will need about 48 to 50 ounces total. So this could be a combination of two 28 ounce cans, or four 15 ounce cans. 

Also, use whatever type of canned tomato you have on hand. While San Marzano is the best, you can use whatever sauce or crushed tomato variety you have.

Let the sauce simmer for about 15 minutes. I like a smooth marinara sauce so I recommend using a handheld immersion blender to puree the sauce before serving. If you don’t have an immersion blender, use a regular blender. Just be careful when dealing with hot liquid in a blender.

And that’s it! Simple and delicious marinara sauce that’s ready in just minutes. 

How to Serve Simple Marinara Sauce

Now that you have this simple and delicious marinara sauce, here are some ideas of what to serve it with. 

• Italian Turkey Sausage Meatballs is a recipe you need to master and soon! And this sauce is perfect to go with it.
• Classic Braciole is a recipe for rolled up flank steak simmered in marinara sauce. This is my favorite sauce to use for it! 
• Pizza Sauce – add this sauce to your Italian Margherita Pizza for a truly authentic bite. 
• Dipping Sauce – this is a great dipping sauce recipe for Italian Calzone or mozzarella sticks. 

How to Store Homemade Marinara

To store homemade marinara sauce properly and keep it fresh, follow these steps:

In the Refrigerator:

1. Cool the sauce completely before storing.
2. Transfer it to an airtight container or jar.
3. Store in the fridge for up to 5 to 7 days.
4. Always use a clean spoon to scoop out sauce to avoid contamination.

In the Freezer:

1. Let the sauce cool fully.
2. Portion it into freezer-safe containers or resealable freezer bags (leave some space at the top for expansion).
3. Label with the date.
4. Freeze for up to 3 months.
5. Thaw overnight in the fridge or reheat directly on the stovetop.

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