Some of life’s best flavors come together in a marinara sauce — tomatoes, parsley, garlic, oregano, and onion are among the staple ingredients of this sauce. Here are the seven best marinara sauces you can add to your recipe collection.
1. Italian Marinara Sauce Recipe from Scratch (with Fresh Tomatoes)
This fresh and decadent Italian marinara sauce recipe from scratch is incredibly versatile. It can be used with your favorite pasta or chicken cutlet dishes. You can either dress it up or down depending on what you’re serving the sauce with.
To make it, take your fresh tomatoes and chop them in a food processor. Next, heat extra virgin olive oil in a saucepan and sauté your onions and garlic. Add your food processed tomatoes followed by basil, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring the sauce to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for 20 minutes. The recipe is well-suited to additions such as capers, black olives, or anchovies if you feel it needs a little something more.
Get the full recipe and directions here.
2. Simple Marinara Sauce
Look no further if you have been searching for the easiest homemade marinara sauce. For this recipe, you’ll need these five basic ingredients: tomatoes, onion, garlic, dried oregano, and olive oil. The author adapted it from the Marcella Hazan’s 1992 cookbook Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking.
You’ll love this recipe because it calls for a minimum number of ingredients, chopping is not required, there is no added sugar, and it makes a great pasta and pizza sauce. What’s not to love about the versatility of this marinara sauce?
Get the full recipe and directions at Cookie and Kate.
3. Quick and Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
This marinara sauce is a breeze to put together. Here’s what you’ll need: olive oil, minced garlic, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, sugar, and herbs. The process is simple. Start by heating olive oil in a medium saucepan and add garlic followed by the different varieties of tomatoes. Once you’ve cooked those larger ingredients, you can add your sugar, salt, oregano, basil, and crushed red pepper and continue to cook until the mixture begins to simmer.
Get the full recipe and directions at Lemons for Lulu.
4. Chunky Vegan Marinara Sauce
In its most basic form, marinara sauce is vegan. However, there are variations that add animal products that don’t make it friendly for all dietary restrictions. If you’re looking for a chunky, delicious, vegan-friendly recipe, you’ve met your match. This sauce uses all the most common ingredients like tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and onion. It also includes carrots, sea salt, baking soda, basil, and more for some added touches. If you prefer to taste chunky bits of tomato in your sauce, you’ll love this recipe.
Get the full recipe and directions at Resplendent Kitchen.
5. Instant Pot Marinara Sauce
The Instant Pot has become a sensational, all-in-one kitchen gadget. There’s something about a “set it and forget” recipe that makes people excited. For this recipe, you’ll prepare everything you need such as freshly diced tomatoes, sautéed onions, and minced garlic, and then add it to your Instant Pot. Follow it up with the red wine plus all the spices and seasonings. Give it a quick stir before adding tomato paste, but do not stir in the tomato paste. Pressure cook the sauce on high for 25 minutes then blend it well once it is cooled.
If you find your marinara is too acidic, try using a sweeter wine, adding sugar, or mixing in a touch of baking soda. Any of these additions can help to balance the flavor of your sauce.
Get the full recipe and directions at Simply Happy Foodie.
6. Spicy Marinara Sauce
Anyone that prefers to have a little kick to their sauces will enjoy this recipe. You will use the usual ingredients plus red chili flakes, cumin powder, and red chili powder to make this version of marinara. These spices are added at the very end of the cooking process and can be adjusted according to your preferences.
Get the full recipe and directions at Archana’s Kitchen.
7. Nomato Sauce
If you’ve never heard of a tomato-free marinara sauce, yes, it is a thing. Whether you have a sensitivity to tomatoes or you’re following paleo protocol, you will certainly find that this recipe comes in handy. The ingredients you will need include olive oil, onion, garlic, carrot, celery, butternut squash, beets, and red wine vinegar. You’ll also season it to taste with thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary, and sea salt.
Get the full recipe and directions at Heal Me Delicious.
All of these marinara sauce recipes can be used in different ways in the kitchen, but they’ll take your existing dishes to the next level. Why go with a pre-made marinara sauce when you can create your own from scratch? We hope you try making these recipes in your home and begin incorporating them into your favorite pasta dishes.
If you like this post, we think you’ll really like our Mezzelune with Marinara Sauce Recipe post.
