Description
This easy homemade marinara sauce recipe features a smooth and flavorful tomato base, seasoned with Italian herbs and garlic, simmered to perfection on the stovetop. Perfect for pasta, pizza, or as a dipping sauce, this simple sauce comes together quickly with pantry staples.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Flavorings
- 1 small diced yellow onion
- 3 cloves minced garlic
Tomato Base
- 2 (15-ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
Seasonings and Liquids
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar (or more to taste)
- ½ cup chicken broth or water
Instructions
- Heat the Oil and Cook Onion: In a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the diced yellow onion. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until the onion becomes tender and translucent.
- Blend the Tomato Ingredients: In a food processor or blender, combine the stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, and granulated sugar. Pulse the mixture until it becomes smooth and well blended.
- Sauté the Sauce: Pour the blended tomato mixture into the saucepan with the cooked onions. Add ½ cup of chicken broth or water, then sauté the sauce on medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
Notes
- You can adjust the sugar to balance acidity according to your taste preferences.
- For a vegetarian or vegan version, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth or water.
- The sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for longer storage.
- If you prefer a chunkier sauce, pulse the tomatoes less or mash them by hand instead of blending fully.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: marinara sauce, homemade marinara, easy tomato sauce, Italian sauce, pasta sauce
