In this Basics by The BakerMama, I teach you how to make a Simple Marinara Sauce for pasta, pizzas or as a dip for appetizers. Homemade marinara is so flavorful, you’ll never want go back to jarred sauce again!
Basics by The BakerMama
Welcome to Basics by The BakerMama! I created this how-to series to help beginner cooks hone their skills, make the most of their time in the kitchen, and create great family memories. I hope you enjoy!
Easy Homemade Marinara
Learning to make your own simple marinara sauce is a game changer! It’s so flavorful, perfectly-seasoned and just the right texture. This homemade marinara makes the perfect topping for basic pasta dishes or for using as a pizza sauce. And we love dipping our favorite mini calzones in it!
Why Make Your Own Marinara?
Y’all, jarred sauce works great, especially when I don’t have time for anything else. But I also love being able to control the amount of salt in our food. And I like the freedom of customizing the level of spices like garlic and oregano. For instance, this recipe calls for 2 cloves, but it’s not unusual to catch me adding at least twice that. What can I say? I like my garlic!
Overall, there’s just a lot more flavor in homemade sauce. Plus, homemade marinara stores great! You can keep a batch in the fridge for a week and in the freezer for up to six months!
What Do I Need to Make a Simple Marinara Sauce?
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Dried oregano
- Canned crushed tomatoes
- Canned tomato paste
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Grated parmesan, for garnishing
- Chopped fresh basil, for garnishing
How to Make Simple Marinara Sauce
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Add the garlic and oregano and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the can of crushed tomatoes and tomato paste.
- Increase the heat to medium-high. Once the tomatoes start to boil, reduce the heat and let simmer for 20 minutes, or until the sauce has slightly thickened. Season with the salt and black pepper, plus more to taste.
- Serve with pasta and/or meatballs. Garnish with parmesan and chopped fresh basil, if desired.
How to Store Homemade Marinara Sauce
Store leftover marinara in an airtight container for one week.
To freeze, allow to cool completely. Then store in a freezer safe container in the freezer for up to six months. If storing in a glass container, remember to leave room for it to expand!
I hope you find these simple basics helpful! When you make something with the help of my BakerMama’s Basics series, be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see and others can be inspired! Enjoy!
xoxo,
How to Make Simple Marinara Sauce
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 cups
Description
In this Basics by The BakerMama, I teach you how to make a Simple Marinara Sauce for pasta, pizzas or as a dip for appetizers. Homemade marinara is so flavorful, you’ll never want go back to jarred sauce again!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
- Grated parmesan, for garnishing
- Chopped fresh basil, for garnishing
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Add the garlic and oregano and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the can of crushed tomatoes and tomato paste.
- Increase the heat to medium-high. Once the tomatoes start to boil, reduce the heat and let simmer for 20 minutes, or until the sauce has slightly thickened. Season with the salt and black pepper, plus more to taste.
- Serve with pasta and/or meatballs. Garnish with parmesan and chopped fresh basil, if desired.
How to increase quantities to make large batches for canning?
Do we just double all of the ingredients, or triple them? Or is there a different mixing combination to increase the size of the batch.
Thank you!
Hi, Babs! I would just double or triple the ingredients, depending on your needs. Should work just great! Good luck and enjoy!