4.9 from 30 votes
Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe
This authentic Italian Marinara Sauce recipe takes just 30 minutes to make and tastes a million times better than store bought! Toss it with pasta, use it for chicken or eggplant parmesan, use it to top your pizza or as a base for tomato soup!
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings:
1
pint
Calories:
312 kcal
Course:
Condiments
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ onion finely diced, small yellow or sweet
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- kosher salt to taste
- pinch red chili flakes
- 1 28 ounce whole peeled tomatoes or crushed tomatoes, canned
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste optional
- pinch sugar optional
- basil optional, or Italian flat leaf parsley, fresh
Notes
- Cook your onion slowly to avoid browning. If they begin to brown, turn the heat down to low. You want your onions to be soft, not crisp.
- Have your can of tomatoes opened and ready before adding the garlic. Depending on how hot the pot is when you add garlic, you may only need to cook it for 30 seconds before it turns brown and begins to burn. Quickly adding the tomato sauce from tasting like burnt garlic.
- For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to puree the chunks of tomato and onion.
- Tomato paste is optional. My family tends to make sauce on the thinner side, but if you prefer a thicker sauce don't skip it.
- If the flavor is a bit too acidic or bitter, add a pinch of sugar. The sugar helps to mellow the acid and balances the flavor. It won’t make the sauce sweet!
- This sauce has a robust Italian flavor on its own, but try adding some fresh basil or parsley at the end for freshness.
Nutrition Information
Calories
312kcal
(16%)
Carbohydrates
44g
(15%)
Protein
8g
(16%)
Fat
15g
(23%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
(12%)
Monounsaturated Fat
10g
(50%)
Sodium
1306mg
(54%)
Potassium
1825mg
(39%)
Fiber
10g
(40%)
Sugar
24g
(48%)
Vitamin A
1214IU
(24%)
Vitamin C
87mg
(97%)
Calcium
291mg
(29%)
Iron
9mg
(50%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 1 pint
Amount Per Serving
Calories 312
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 312kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 44g | 15% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Sodium | 1306mg | 54% |
| Potassium | 1825mg | 39% |
| Fiber | 10g | 40% |
| Sugar | 24g | 48% |
| Vitamin A | 1214IU | 24% |
| Vitamin C | 87mg | 97% |
| Calcium | 291mg | 29% |
| Iron | 9mg | 50% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.