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    Home » Italian Recipes

    Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe

    Modified: May 11, 2025 · Published: Jul 14, 2014 by Vicky · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

    131 shares
    • 1
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    My mom and both sets of grandparents came to America from Italy. So Italian food (and a love of that food!) is in my blood. I do confess, when I am pressed for time, I will used jarred marinara sauce (don't tell grandma!). But my preference is to make my own. This is my favorite homemade marinara sauce recipe. It is simple to prepare and the kitchen will smell amazing while it is simmering.

    Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe - this simple recipe will have you swearing off the store bought stuff! sponsored

    Ingredients:

    • ¼ cup of olive oil
    • ½ cup diced onion
    • 3 teaspoons of minced garlic
    • 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
    • ¼ teaspoon of oregano
    • ½ tablespoon of brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon of kosher salt
    • a few leaves of basil, chopped
    • ground black pepper, to taste
    marinara sauce recipe ingredients

    Heat the olive oil in a large pot and then add the garlic and onion. Saute for 5 minutes until they are lightly browned.

    garlic sautéing in oil

    Add in tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and brown sugar. Stir and let simmer for 30 minutes.

    making marinara sauce

    When the sauce is done cooking, add pepper to taste.

    simple marinara sauce recipe

    This marinara sauce is one of those Easy Italian Recipes that take little time to prepare and are so yummy! It fills up a normal sized jar of pasta sauce and can be refrigerated and stored as you would an open jar of store bought pasta sauce.

    yummy marinara sauce recipe

    FAQs For Marinara Sauce Recipe

    Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned?

    Yes, you can! Just peel and chop them first. You may need to cook the sauce a bit longer to reduce the extra liquid.

    How long does this sauce keep?

    Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It also freezes well for up to 3 months.

    Can I add meat to this sauce?

    Absolutely. Brown some ground beef or sausage and stir it in for a heartier version.

    📖 Recipe

    Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe

    Vicky
    Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe - this simple recipe will have you swearing off the store bought stuff! 
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 35 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 8
    Calories 100 kcal

    Video

    Ingredients
      

    • ¼ cup of olive oil
    • ½ cup diced onion
    • 3 teaspoons of minced garlic
    • 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
    • ¼ teaspoon of oregano
    • ½ tablespoon of brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon of kosher salt
    • a few leaves of basil chopped
    • ground black pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the olive oil in a large pot and then add the garlic and onion. Saute for 5 minutes until they are lightly browned.
    • Add in tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and brown sugar. Stir and let simmer for 30 minutes.
    • When the sauce is done cooking, add pepper to taste.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 100kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSodium: 277mgPotassium: 309mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 215IUVitamin C: 10.2mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1.4mg
    Keyword Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Comments

      5 from 10 votes

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Kushi says

      May 07, 2018 at 4:43 pm

      homemade marinara sauce is my favorite. your recipe and pictures look fabulous!

      Reply
    2. camila hurst says

      May 07, 2018 at 4:30 pm

      5 stars
      Homemade marinara sauce is definitely the way to go!

      Reply
    3. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

      May 07, 2018 at 3:23 pm

      5 stars
      You just can't beat a homemade marinara sauce, yours sounds super tasty

      Reply
    4. Pam Greer says

      May 07, 2018 at 2:49 pm

      5 stars
      Once I learned how easy it was to make a homemade marinara sauce, I stopped buying the jars. Oh, I keep one or two in the pantry, just in case, but really homemade is so much better! I can't wait to try your recipe!

      Reply
    5. Helena says

      May 07, 2018 at 2:27 pm

      5 stars
      I am definitely not telling your Grandma the little secret you've shared. I love using sauce in most of my dishes and this one looks just perfect for the past I am planning to cook. Good stuff!

      Reply
    6. Chris says

      May 07, 2018 at 1:20 pm

      5 stars
      LOVE a homemade marinara sauce! This is actually really similar to the one I make! Great minds think alike 🙂

      Reply
    Vicky from Mess for Less

    I'm Vicky, the founder of Mess For Less, which I started in 2011 to share easy, family-friendly recipes. With over a decade of experience as a home chef and recipe developer, I love creating meals that bring people together. I also design play and learning activities for kids, using my background as a former teacher with a Master’s degree in education. Learn more about me.

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