This sauce is the foundation of so many amazing Italian dishes.
We use this amazingly flavorful classic Italian sauce so often, we usually double the recipe and then freeze what we don’t need. It puts your spaghetti and meatballs over the top and is also the perfect dipping sauce for fried mozzarella, calamari, or zucchini.
How To Make Homemade Marinara Sauce
This sauce only has six ingredients, and two of them are salt and pepper.
But, folks, it’s that simplicity that makes this creation sing in beautiful Italian arias.
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The Ingredients You Will Need
Just a quick swing by the grocery store to pick up a handful of ingredients is all you need to prepare this classic sauce.
Here’s What You’ll Need
Tomatoes – Canned San Marzano tomatoes are highly recommended. Make sure the can says “Certified.”
Oil – Olive oil is definitely the best
Garlic – You’ll use a lot of it, but it’s not too much, we promise
Herbs – Fresh basil and parsley are a must
Seasoning – Salt and pepper is all you need
Tips for Perfect Homemade Marinara Sauce
Lightly Brown the Garlic – You’ll be sautéing ¼ cup of minced garlic in a ¼ cup of olive oil. This may seem like a lot, but cook on medium-low for about 5 minutes, until the garlic is nice and golden, and the taste is mellowed. Whatever you do, don’t let the garlic burn! If it’s turning a dark brown, turn off the heat!
Mise en Place – After the garlic has turned a nice golden, it’s time to add the herbs and the salt and pepper. But they only cook for 30 seconds, and then it’s important to immediately start adding the hand-crushed tomatoes. If you don’t have everything ready to go (Mise en Place), then you run the risk of burning the herbs, and that’s not good.
Cool the Sauce – The marinara definitely gets better and better after it has time to sit and cool and for the ingredients to truly meld. After the simmering is done, let the sauce cool completely in the pot. If not using the same day, then place it in a container with a lid and refrigerate for up to 5 days. It just gets better with time!
EXPERT TIP: As the garlic is being sautéed, stir it frequently. If sticking to the end of your spoon or spatula, just use the edge of a knife to scrape it back into the pot. Remember, don’t let the garlic turn a dark, dark brown and burn! If this happens, you’ll need to start over.
How To Use Marinara Sauce
Homemade marinara sauce has so many purposes. It takes classic Italian dishes to the next level, but is also the perfect dipping sauce for appetizers, too.
Here are a few Italian dishes that absolutely are made even better with homemade sauce.
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Baked Ziti
Lasagna Bolognese
Eggplant Parmesan
Shrimp Marinara
Pasta Pomodoro
Eggplant Rollatini with Ricotta
Chicken Parmigiana
Meatball Sub Sandwich
Sausage and Peppers Hero
Fried Calamari with Marinara
EXPERT TIP: Be sure to let the canned tomatoes drain completely before adding them to the pot. You’ll want to hold onto the liquid and add in during the final simmering of the sauce. It’s okay if some of the sauce goes into the pot with the tomatoes.
This sauce is so versatile and so authentically delicious, we often make a double batch and then freeze half of it for future use.
It freezes beautifully.
And did we mention how much it will elevate your favorite Italian dishes, including Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs? Just look at this!
Homemade marinara sauce is easy to prepare and it truly is a game changer for taking your Italian dishes to the next level.
Be sure to let the sauce cool off after simmering. It’s important to let those flavors meld.
And the smell in your house when the sauce is simmering is incredible.
Ready to make the best Italian gravy this side of Tuscany? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a photograph of it, post it on Instagram and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag @HowToFeedaLoon!
Homemade Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 28 oz cans tomatoes whole, San Marzano are the best
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup garlic finely chopped
- 3 tbsp basil fresh, chopped
- 2 tbsp parsley fresh, chopped
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Drain the tomatoes in a colander set in a large bowl for 5 minutes. Reserve the tomato liquid.3 28 oz cans tomatoes
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and cook it; stirring, for about 5 minutes, or until it is golden brown. It should turn golden brown, but don't let it burn!¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup garlic
- Add the basil, parsley, salt, and pepper. Cook the mixture for 30 seconds.3 tbsp basil, 2 tbsp parsley, 1 tsp Kosher salt, ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- Add just the tomatoes (not the juice...hold onto the juice). Break the tomatoes up with your hands as you add them to the pot.
- Increase the heat to high, and cook them for 5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat and simmer the sauce for about 10 minutes.
- Add the reserved tomato liquid.
- Increase the heat to high and bring the sauce to a boil.
- Boil if for 12 minutes, until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom to prevent burning.
- Turn off the heat and let rest for at least an hour.
Notes
Nutrition
POST UPDATE: This recipe was originally published in August 2014, but was updated with improved tweaks to the recipe with new tips and photography and a fabulous new video in March 2023!
Looks delicious. I want to make this sauce and was wondering if I can use already crushed tomatoes
Hi Elaine! Sure! Crushed tomatoes would work just fine! Let us know if you make the marinara and what you think! Best, Kris & Wesley
It was amazing on homemade cheesesteaks. Thank you
Awesome! Sounds heavenly! Thank you so much for letting us know!
Pretty dang good! Also followed your meatball recipe and it were terrific. As a partial Sicilian, may I respectfully suggest some oregano for your marinara? (Dried.) Maybe it’s just how I grew up on sauce…
PS – Tried your Spanakopita recipe, with great success! Thank you…
Hi Nancy! Oregano in sauce is always a great addition! We are so so happy you enjoyed the meatballs and spanakopita! And thank you for sharing! That means the world to us! Stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Thank you for this delicious recipe!
I always thought a good homemade sauce had to take HOURS, so I was hesitant to try making it. Now this is my go to sauce!!! I used it to make lasagna for Christmas dinner, everyone LOVED IT! My mother in law said it was the best lasagna she’s ever eaten!!!
Only downside I can see…..my family doesn’t want the recipe, they want ME to make it for them!
Hi Janet! Woo hoo!! We LOVE making marinara, too, and, it really isn’t that difficult, right? Sounds like you are making some pretty amazing dishes! That’s the problem, once you serve it (and those great Italian dishes) to family, they want it over and over! LOL!! Thank you so much for sharing and for the GREAT review. That means the world to us!!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
I really want to make your best ever ziti. It looks divine. And I am curious – how many cups of fresh marinara sauce does your recipe make? I just was wondering if I need to double the marinara recipe to get 5 cups of marinara, required for the ziti. I know it’s the holidays and folks are super busy, but if you get a chance, could you please let me know? I love your recipes and have enjoyed making a number of them. And your videos are to die for. Happy holidays and all my best to you and yours. And yes, I enjoyed you on Guy’s Grocery Games. Thank you so much.
Hi Lori! I hope this response is not too late! One batch of marinara will give you plenty for the baked ziti. You may even have a little left over! (Which is awesome!) We use it for so many dishes. We can’t tell you how much your support means to us and we are THRILLED you are enjoying our recipes! Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones! Please let us know how everything turns out and don’t hesitate to reach out with any other questions. We’ll reply as quickly as we possibly can, we promise!!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Thank you for your quick response. I was hoping to make your ziti recipe as a Christmas Eve present for my hubby. I will certainly let you know how it turns out.
This sauce is absolutely divine! I’ve been searching for a long while for the perfect marinara and this is it!
I love serving with penne and Italian sausage, penne and pancetta, spaghetti and meatballs. I add a teaspoon of fennel seeds and it is wonderful!
Thank you for this fabulous recipe!
Hi Jan! Yay! We are thrilled you are happy with the marinara sauce recipe! We make a batch quite often and freeze in smaller portions. It’s so versatile and really elevates so many classic Italian dishes. Sounds like your dishes are AMAZING! And we LOVE the addition of fennel! One of our favorite seasonings! Thank you so much for sharing and for the GREAT review. That honestly means so much to us! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Popping in to testify! This marinara is perfection. Truly. Made it for the eggplant rollatini recipe. I’m a bolognese kinda gal, but this was…wow! The taste, the aroma. And all with such nominal work and ingredients. Can’t wait to make more.
Hi Kelly! We are so so happy you “popped” in! We are even happier that you had such great success with the marinara! Isn’t it the best? And really puts that eggplant rollatini over the top! Thanks so much for sharing and for the GREAT review. That means so much to us! Please stay in touch! Best, Kris & Wesley
This is a WOW! Absolutely delicious! Lived in Bella Napoli (Naples, Italy) for three years. Learned to truly appreciate Italian sauces (marinara, bolognese, amatriciana, puttanesca, etc.). This is a keeper, so easy to make, and brought me back to … Bella Napoli!!!
Hi Mark!! We are so so happy you loved the marinara! We make big batches of it and freeze it all the time! Anything we can do to bring you back to Bella Napoli is what we live for (and we’re jealous, too!). Thanks as always for sharing and for the great review. You know how much that means to us! Kris & Wesley
Hey Kris…this is a great recipe made even better by using a pressure cooker to cook the sauce. The recipe doesn’t change, but the flavor does. I did 30 minutes o low pressure….spectacular!
Awesome!!! Thanks for the tip! Making marinara in the Instant Pot is awesome!!!
Great tip thanks anything to save time.
Hi Kris, and Loon!
My family is Irish and Italian. Grew up in Rhodesia Island and had tons of great home made Italian dishes, still good today. But your Marinara looks wonderful, I’ll fix a batch. How much sauce is in a single recipe? I want to cook more than one recipe so I can freeze some in Quart freezer bags.
Thanks, Tom
Hi Tom! It makes about 1 quart. We often double it and freeze it in several freezer bags. Hope this helps and please let us know if you make the marinara and what you think! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Just made this, doubled your recepie, taste delicious, the only thing is that it has a acidity flavor, how can I correct it. Thank you!!!!
Sorry for the delayed response, Cristina! If you’re tasting some acidity, it’s most likely from the tomatoes. That actually will lessen as the marinara rests. If you still feel like it’s a little acidic, add a tsp or tbsp of sugar. That should help! Best, Kris & Wesley
This marinara is incredibly easy and tasty! The garlic was so fragrant I was crying (tears of joy!)!! I agree about the San Marzano tomatoes!
It is melding on the stove currently!! Can’t wait for dinner tonight!!
Thanks for sharing your recipes!
Hi Lydia!!! Thanks a million times over!! We are soooo happy you are loving the recipes!! You make us so happy!!! xoxoxo
I plan to make this sauce tomorrow. It sounds delicious! Do you think the addition of fennel seeds would be okay? We happen to love fennel. If you could please advise that would be great.
Thank you.
Jan
Hi Jan! So sorry for the delayed response! Yes! We LOVE the addition of fennel. I would recommend starting with a small amount first, maybe 1/2 tsp, then let it simmer some, do a taste test, and then add more if desired. We love fennel so much, too, but a little does go a long way. Hope this helps and please let us know how it turns out!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Even better the next day.
So true, Bob!!! We go through this stuff like crazy. So good in so many recipes or on its own. Thank you so much for the 5 star review!! We truly appreciate that!!! Best, Kris & Wesley
Hi! Been making my own sauce since I got married at 16….long time ago! ….and although I’m sure your marinara is wonderful, I have never known anyone….even among all my (italian) family who browns the garlic. It has always been to sauté until soft and fragrant. Really does make a difference. Please know that I’m enjoying reading your recipes and look forward to trying very many! Thank you for allowing me my input.
Hi Kris,
Do you can your marinara sauce? If so, do you add anything to it before canning?
Hi Kim, I wish we could give you some good tips here, but honestly, we usually triple a batch and then freeze 2/3 in freezer-ready containers (Tupperware). We go through this marinara almost weekly!! Canning sounds great though (we could then sell it!!). Let us know if you make it and how it turns out, especially if you can it!! Best, Kris & Wesley
This is such a great and easy marinade! I’ve made it today to use in your eggplant parmesan tomorrow! Thank you!
Hi Kris! I’m so excited to make your marinara sauce, especially to go into your Baked Ziti recipe! My question is, how much does this marinara recipe yield? I’m planning to make more than one Ziti recipe (one to serve, one to freeze & give as a gift w/ cooking directions) so I don’t know how many marinara sauce recipes this will yield. Thank you!
Hi Carla!
That all sounds wonderful! You’re going to be up to your ears Ziti! (which isn’t a bad thing, at all!). I would make two batches of the marinara. One batch makes about 10 cups, but I like to be pretty liberal when adding the marinara to the ziti, so if you’re doing three batches of ziti, you’ll need two rounds of the marinara. Sounds so great! Let us know how it all works out!! And let us know if you have any other questions. Best, Kris & Wesley
This looks amazing and really easy to make, Saturday will be Italian Night at our house
my kids are gonna love this!
Woo hoo!! Jodi, you guys are gonna love it! Italian night is the best kind of night at the dinner table. Enjoy and do let us know what the family thinks! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Thank You!! I’ve been looking for a homemade marinara sauce. Every time I’ve found a recipe that uses marinara the instructions have said to buy it. Arghhh. I can’t wait to try this one. So glad I found you guys today!
Oh, Janis…you are going to love this! I usually make a double batch and freeze it in portions. It’s so good! Let us know what you think!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Just made this. At what point do you crush the tomatoes?
Thanks Cindi
Hi Cindi!
Great question, and we’ve updated the post to reflect this. I love breaking the tomatoes up by hand as I add them to the pot. I’ve always heard this is the best way to break up your tomatoes (as opposed to cutting them with a knife or food processor), and after all the years, I have to agree. Also, the tomatoes really start to break down as they coo. Thanks again, and let us know how it turns out! Kris & Wesley
I have not made this but trust your recipes. I have about 25 tomatoes that I just harvested. I would like to make this sauce and freeze it. Any suggestion would be appreciated. I know they are not Marzano tomatoes I will take that chance. Since they are not available in my area in can. Will skin be an issue. I am not going to remove.
Hi there! No, you won’t have an issue with leaving the skins on. Rather than cooking them whole, I would give them a rough chop and then follow the recipe as written. It may take the sauce a little longer to simmer on the stove for the tomatoes to break down. We like to purée the sauce at the end, either with an immersion blender or in your food processor, for a nice smooth sauce. But, chunky is good, too!! Let us know how it turns out! Nothing better than homegrown tomatoes!! Best, Kris & Wesley