Easy Marinara Recipe

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This Easy Marinara recipe is rich, flavorful, and ready in about 15 minutes. Whether you’re tossing it with pasta, spreading it on pizza, or serving it as a dipping sauce for breadsticks and mozzarella sticks, it’s a simple recipe you’ll use again and again.

Easy Marinara Sauce Recipe

If you need a quick, flavorful marinara sauce that tastes like it simmered all day, this Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce is it. Made with simple pantry staples, it comes together in about 15 minutes and works perfectly as a dipping sauce or pasta sauce.

I use this homemade marinara for mozzarella sticks, meatballs, breadsticks, garlic knots, and even pizza night.

It’s rich, slightly smoky from the fire-roasted tomatoes, and full of classic Italian flavor. Keep it chunky or blend it smooth, depending on your preference.

This has become my go-to red sauce for everything from holiday appetizers to easy weeknight dinners. If you haven’t made homemade sauces before, you’re going to love this!

Why You’ll Love This Easy Marinara Sauce

This easy Marinara Dipping Sauce recipe is…

• Ready in about 15 minutes
• Made with simple ingredients
• Perfect for dipping or pasta
• Freezer-friendly
• Better than store-bought!

Tools Needed

• Skillet or small saucepan
• Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
• Knife and cutting board for garlic
• Blender or immersion blender, optional
• Measuring spoons

That’s it. Nothing fancy required — just basic kitchen tools you probably already have.

Ingredients

The ingredients for homemade marinara are all pantry staples.

• Olive oil
• Fresh Garlic, minced
• Diced fire-roasted tomatoes
• Dried Italian seasoning (or dried oregano if you don’t have the mixed herbs) 
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Red pepper flakes, optional
• Warm water, optional

Find the complete recipe with ingredient measurements in the recipe card below.

How to Make Marinara Sauce

This simple sauce only uses a handful of ingredients and comes together quickly but it tastes as good as any traditional marinara sauce!

1. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until it begins to shimmer.
2. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, just until fragrant and lightly golden. Watch closely so it doesn’t burn.

3. Stir in the tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
4. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. The sauce will thicken and develop rich flavor. This is the perfect chunky sauce!

5. For a smoother sauce, remove from heat and let cool for 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully transfer to a blender and blend for about 10 seconds until smooth.
6. Alternatively, use an immersion blender directly in the pan. Pulse in short bursts until you reach your desired consistency.
7. Return the sauce to the pan if needed and thin with a little warm water to reach your preferred texture.

8. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
9. Whether you leave it chunky or blend it smooth, it’s delicious either way, and this is the best marinara sauce for meatballs!

Substitutions and Variations

Don’t have exactly what the recipe calls for? No problem. This marinara sauce is very forgiving.

• Tomato Sauce – If you don’t have diced fire-roasted tomatoes, you can use plain tomato sauce for a smoother base. The flavor will be milder, so you may want to simmer a few extra minutes to thicken it.

• Crushed Tomatoes – Crushed canned tomatoes are an easy swap and create a slightly thicker sauce with small bits of texture.

• Tomato Puree – Tomato puree makes a smoother, more concentrated sauce. You may need to add a splash of water to reach your desired consistency.

• Tomato Paste – Stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste for a deeper, richer tomato flavor. This is especially helpful if your sauce tastes a little thin.

• Fresh Tomatoes – You can use fresh tomatoes instead of canned. Peel and chop them first, then simmer a little longer to reduce excess liquid. This is a great way to use up that fresh summer produce but the texture and flavor will be different!

• Fresh Basil – Add chopped fresh basil at the end of cooking for a bright, fresh finish. It makes the sauce taste even more homemade.

This recipe is flexible, so use what you have and adjust the seasoning as you go.

Red Chili Flakes – Increase to ½ teaspoon or more for a spicier marinara with bold flavor. Add them when you stir in the tomatoes so the heat blooms while the sauce simmers. For an extra kick, sprinkle in a small pinch just before serving.

Ways to Use This Marinara

• Use as the perfect sauce for meatballs or a wonderful dipping sauce for pizza bites
• It’s the perfect dipping sauce for mozzarella sticks, bread sticks, or cheese sticks
• Pairing with breadsticks or garlic bread
• Tossing with your favorite pasta
• Using as pizza sauce – marinara usually has a thinner consistency than pizza sauce but this sauce still works great! You can also simmer it longer if you want it a little thicker before you spread on your pizza crust and add your favorite pizza toppings.
• Serving with Thanksgiving appetizers

Storage

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To freeze, let the sauce cool completely and store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop.

More Delicious Recipes

• Crockpot Meatball Subs (Easy Recipe)
• Kids Thanksgiving Appetizer Idea: Turkey (Cheesesticks & Meatballs with Marinara)
• Tortilla Pizzas (Great for Kids!!)
• Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe