Authentic Italian Marinara Sauce Recipe (2024)

Published: Jan 10, 2023 · Modified: Feb 5, 2024 by Coley · This post may contain affiliate links.

This easy authentic Italian Marinara Sauce recipe is made from canned tomatoes, takes only 30 minutes to make and is infinitely more flavorful and delicious than any sauce you could buy from the store!

Marinara, spaghetti sauce, pasta sauce, sugu, sugo, or gravy – it doesn’t matter what you call it – every home cook should know how to make an authentic Italian marinara sauce from scratch. Using basic ingredients like tomatoes, onion, garlic, and seasonings, this homemade marinara sauce recipe will take dishes like chicken Parmesan and eggplant parmesan to another flavor-packed level of deliciousness.

You can also use it to make a big pot of Italian Sunday Gravy, with spaghetti and Italian meatballs. Or, you can use this simple tomato sauce as a base for the sauce that authentic Italian beef braciole gets cooked in. I also always use this marinara sauce in my Sicilian spiedini recipe.

If you’re reaching for the store-bought stuff because you don’t have the time to simmer a pot of sauce on the stove all day, this recipe will change your ways. It only has to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, so in as little as half an hour you’ll have a batch of the best-tasting homemade tomato sauce ready to go.

Why this recipe works

• Beginner-friendly! This recipe is simple to put together and only requires basic cooking skills.
• Minimal ingredients that are easy to find.
• Budget-friendly. The cost of making this recipe is less than a couple of dollars!
• Pantry ingredients are easy to keep on hand and store so you can whip up this marinara sauce anytime the mood strikes.
• Versatile. This sauce is thick enough to use on your pizza, flavorful enough for your spaghetti and meatballs, and even works as a base for tomato soup!

Ingredient Notes

• Canned Tomatoes - Using canned tomatoes helps your sauce turn out the same – full of flavor and bright color – every time. Use whole peeled tomatoes, as they’re the least processed canned tomatoes and often have the best flavor. Just crush them with a spoon while cooking to break them into smaller pieces.My family is partial to the Pastene brand, but use whatever high-quality canned tomatoes you prefer.

• Onion - I like to use yellow onions as they add a peppery and slightly sweet flavor to the sauce. White onions are a good substitute if needed.

• Garlic- Use the freshest garlic you can find.

• Bay leaf - While you don’t eat the bay leaf, letting it simmer in the sauce adds a subtle flavor that helps to brighten up this tomato-based sauce.

Using Canned Tomatoes for Homemade Marinara Sauce

I always choose to use canned tomatoes, as opposed to fresh, when I make this Italian marinara sauce recipe. You can absolutely make a sauce out of fresh tomatoes when they're ripe in the summer, but it has a completely different taste and feel.

Canned tomatoes are available year-round and have a consistent flavor and texture. Because they're picked at their peak of ripeness, canned tomatoes are always packed with flavor and nutrition. In fact, lycopene – a potent antioxidant found in tomatoes – is more bioavailable in canned tomatoes than it is in fresh ones!

Step by step instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat.
2. Add the onion and sauté until soft, about 3 minutes.
3. Add the garlic, a pinch of salt and red pepper flakes, then cook for 1-2 minutes longer until the garlic is fragrant.
4. Add the canned tomatoes, then use a wooden spoon to smash and break them into pieces.
5. Add a bay leaf and tomato paste (if using), along with about ½ - 1 cup of water, depending on the consistency of your tomatoes and how thick you want your sauce.
6. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
7. Taste and season with more salt and pepper as needed.
8. If the sauce is too acidic or tastes bitter, add a small pinch of sugar to balance the flavors.
9. Add fresh basil or parsley (if using) right before serving to preserve their flavor.

Tips for success

• 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.

Can You Freeze Marinara Sauce?

Freezing this sauce is a great way to enjoy homemade Italian marinara with your favorite recipes any night of the week, especially busy weeknights!

To freeze the sauce, just let it cool, then pour it into plastic freezer storage bags. Squish as much air out as possible and lay the bags flat to freeze.

When you’re ready to use your frozen sauce, you can either get the bag out the night before to thaw in the refrigerator or let it sit under running water until mostly thawed, then pour it into a small pot on the stove over low-medium heat to warm up.

If you are opposed to plastic, you can also freeze in glass jars, but be sure to leave at least an inch of space on top, as the liquid will expand as it freezes.

Best Ways to Use Italian Marinara Sauce

Once you have your sauce ready to go, you can use it to make so many different dishes, you’ll want a batch of this on hand at all times! Try it with:

• Unbreaded Eggplant Parm
• Pizza
• Chicken cutlet sandwiches
• Lasagna
• Calzones
• Dip for breadsticks or mozzarella sticks
• Tomato soup or Minestrone

FAQ's About Italian Marinara Sauce

Did you make this recipe and LOVE it? Please leave a star ⭐️ rating and/or comment to help other readers. I absolutely love hearing from you and do my best to answer all questions and comments.I love seeing when you make my recipes, so please tag me @ColeyCooks on Instagram and I will repost!

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