Homemade Classic Marinara Sauce is a classic Italian tomato sauce! I grew up on eating this traditional sauce on everything from pasta, chicken, lasagne, and ziti! So much better than any store-bought jarred sauce. All natural! gluten-free, low-calorie, low-fat, paleo, whole30!
Homemade Classic Marinara Sauce! Seriously one of the most delicious sauces around! This is one of my favorite sauces ever to prepare! I love to take a little time to myself and do a power freezer cooking day. I will have to share that type of day on the blog very soon! This Classic Marinara Sauce is one of those recipes and I have been making this sauce since I was probably 17! It is just a family favorite and it is so versatile! I love to triple or even quadruple this recipe to always have marinara sauce at the ready!
Well…..
I have to always make extra because the hubs always steal a few scoops, okay a huge bowl of the sauce before it is even out of the saucepan and dips warm Italian bread into the marinara! It is addicting! Seriously, we will be friends forever after you make this! Yup, forever!
I am going to say that if you are a jar sauce person, I am no snob to a jar sauce! There are definitely some really delicious jarred marinara sauces out there and I have enjoyed using them!
Tips on making Classic Homemade Marinara Sauce:
- I use fresh garlic, onion, carrots, celery, and basil in this sauce which adds great flavor to the sauce.
- Use a really good canned tomato like San Marzano also makes my taste buds tingle. Don’t skimp on those tomatoes, you won’t be disappointed.
- This is my longer version of marinara sauce because I let it simmer for about an hour to really combine the flavors.
- Puree all the ingredients and oh my goodness, super delicious!
- Make a triple batch. This sauce freezes really well!
So, my friends, I hope you pour yourselves a glass of wine and make some marinara sauce! This marinara is perfect with:
Italian Meatballs and Spaghetti
Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage, Peppers and Onion over Spaghetti Squash
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Homemade Classic Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large onion, finely diced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 cans 28 ounce each, San Marzano crushed tomatoes
- 2 teaspoon fresh basil, chiffonade
- 2 teaspoons tomato paste
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon ground fennel
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, add olive oil. Stir in onion. Saute for about 5 minutes to soften the onions. Add in the garlic and in the Italian seasonings. Note 1
- Add the San Marzano tomatoes, bay leaf, ground fennel, sugar, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
- Reduce heat to low, cover pot and simmer about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove and discard the bay leaf.
- Check the seasoning and reseason, if needed. Sauce is ready to serve. Can be refrigerated for 2 days. Can freeze for 3 months in 1 gallon freezer bags.
Notes
- Note 1: Adding in Italian seasonings with the onions allows the dried seasoning to develop flavor.
- I make a triple batch and freeze the sauce in 1-quart freezer bags to use for the month. Awesome meal prep to use in other meals like pasta, eggplant, and spaghetti squash.
- Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.
Nutrition
My favorite sauce! Just like my Mom;s!
That is awesome Kerri! I am so glad you enjoy!
This recipe looks fantastic. I have to make this for my boyfriend <3
I’ve never made my own marinara sauce actually but this one looks fantastic! I need to try it with some garlic bread for sure.
My hubbie eats this marinara sauce with garlic bread all the time – yummy!
I have made my own with chilli’s, garlic, tomatoes and peppers and it is delicious. I love your Marina recipe it looks so tasty!
This looks amazing! I love an incredible marinara! I am going to have to try this one out very soon!
Sounds like a wonderful idea
Your recipe looks great! There is just something about the delicious smell of onion, garlic, carrots and celery satueeing! YUM
I totally agree
I had an ex who used to make his own sauce and it tasted so delicious. This recipe really inspires me to try to make my own.
You don’t need the ex! 🙂 Make this yourself and you wont buy too many jarred sauces again !
Great photography! This sounds easy and delicious.
Thank you very much
I am Italian so for me to be impressed with a marinara sauce says something. 🙂 This one looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it!
Vicky, you have made my day! I hope you send me a pic and a critique when you make this.
Thank you for such lovely compliments
Yum.I always love making sauces. Marinara though I’ve never really been able to be good at so my husband usually does it. This looks wonderful.
I hope upir husband makes this one. so super easy
It’s always refreshing to see recipe using fresh ingredients. This maranara goes around perfectly with any type of tomato-based pasta, or pizza. Lovely photos, too.
Thank you so much Rose. You are so sweet
A must try recipe for me. My kids and I love sphagetti so I try making pasta sauces at home but this looks simple and bowl licking worthy!
That is great. Send me a pic When you make the sauce
I love a good marinara sauce! I never thought to make a batch to freeze! What a great idea!
You must – super easy to just double or triple your recipe
Marinara sauce is one of my most often batch cooked recipes. The family loves it and it works with so many different recipes.
not not only does this look amazing but it sounds good too. I always make my own sauce and it sounds very similar so I am sure I would love it 😉
You are too kind. Thank you for the lovely compliment
I love that all the ingredients you have used are natural! That’s also how I cook my sauces! Your photography is also great
http://www.siniciliya.com
You are so kind and sweet with your comment. I cook from my heart and my photography is a work in progress. So new to me and I am trying so I appreciate your kind compliment
xo
You are so sweet. Thank you so very much
I love recipes that are made with simple ingredients I usually have on hand but then are AMAZING!! This looks like one of those!!
You are too kind. Thank you
I would love to try this sauce! I bet my kiddos would love this!
Super simple and no preservatives…go for it
I’ve never tried making my own marinara sauce. Funny how the recipe uses a lot of the ingredients I already have at home. I’ll have to give this a try.
I am a huge fan of simple and delish! I hope you make this one
Yum! This looks so good and your photos are amazing! I love making my own sauce, so saving this for sure 🙂
Thank you so much! You are so sweet!
Ooh this looks yum! Would love to make this, looks really simple!
thank you very much
I never make my own sauce, but you inspired me!
I am so glad! I hope you try this recipe. Easy and tasty!
This really looks amazing – I have to try making my own marinara!
Simple and delicious
We make homemade pizza every Friday evening. I bet if I let this simmer and thicken a bit, it would make great pizza sauce. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
that would be awesome. Maybe a little more tomato paste to thicken for pizza sauce.