This Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe calls for just 8 ingredients & 20 mins of simmer time. Great for last minute pasta nights, or pizza!

About My Homemade Marinara Sauce

I wanted to come up with a quick and simple marinara that could be whipped up on a whim with on-hand ingredients. With that in mind, I came up with this eight ingredient sauce that lends itself perfectly for impromptu pasta nights! And it only requires 20 minutes of simmer time.

Furthermore, it makes for a great pizza sauce or dipper for mozzarella sticks. So really, what we have here is a *wonderful* multi-purpose sauce. 

Where to Use Marinara Sauce

Ingredients

  • Olive oil
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Crushed tomatoes
  • Sea salt
  • Fresh oregano and basil
  • Bay leaf
  • Chili flakes
Sauce pot of marinara garnished with fresh herbs and pepper flakes.

How to Make Homemade Marinara Sauce

  1. Heat the olive oil in a medium-sized saucepan.
  2. Add the onions into the pan and sauté them for about a minute. Stir in the garlic, and continue to sauté for another few minutes or until the onions are softened and translucent.
  3. Pop the crushed tomatoes into the pan, then bring the heat up to medium-high; let it simmer.
  4. Sprinkle in some salt and stir in the oregano, basil, bay leaf, and chili flakes.
  5. Let the sauce simmer, partially covered, for about 15-20 minutes.
  6. Remove the bay leaf and you’re ready to go!

How to Store Homemade Marinara

In the fridge, homemade marinara will last 3-4 days in a sealed airtight container.

In the freezer, it can last up to 6 months in a freezer-friendly airtight container.

Necessary Kitchen Tools

  1. Sharp knife
  2. Cutting board
  3. Saucepan
  4. Stirring spoon or spatula
  5. Measuring cups and spoons
Two bowls of penne tossed in marinara.

Recipe Tips

  1. If your sauce tastes too acidic and you want a smoother flavor, sprinkle 1/4 tsp of baking soda into the sauce and stir. Stir it up; you’ll notice the sauce start to fizz. This is the baking soda doing it’s job, making the sauce alkaline! Give it a taste after about 10 minutes. Repeat if necessary.
  2. For extra flavor and richness, pop a parmesan rind into the sauce as it simmers. I like to keep parmesan rinds in my freezer for this purpose.

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Recipes That Can Use Homemade Marinara

Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe

This Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe calls for just 8 ingredients & 20 mins of simmer time. Great for last minute pasta nights, or pizza!
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 cups
Calories: 41kcal
Author: Dana Sandonato

Ingredients

  • 1 TBSP olive oil
  • 1/4 cup minced onion
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated or minced
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt, more to taste
  • 3 TBSP chopped fresh oregano
  • 2 TBSP chopped fresh basil
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp chili flakes—or more, to increase heat to your preference

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add the onions and sauté for about a minute. Stir in the garlic and sauté for another few minutes, or until the onions are tender.
  • Add the crushed tomatoes and increase the heat to medium-high to bring to a simmer.
  • Add the salt and stir in the oregano, basil, bay leaf, and chili flakes. Simmer, partially covered, for 15-20 minutes; then enjoy! Add it to your favorite marinara-friendly recipes.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 41kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 150mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g