The Easiest 15-Minute Homemade Marinara Sauce: Quick, Flavorful & Versatile
Say goodbye to bland, store-bought marinara and hello to a vibrant, fresh homemade sauce that’s incredibly easy to make! This recipe will revolutionize your weeknight dinners, proving that you don’t need hours over the stove or a pantry full of ingredients to create a rich, deeply flavorful marinara. With just three core ingredients – high-quality tomato paste, robust olive oil, and water – plus a delightful medley of Italian herbs, you can whip up the best marinara sauce in under 15 minutes. It’s a culinary shortcut that doesn’t compromise on taste, delivering an authentic Italian experience that’s far superior to anything from a jar.
When I declare this the EASIEST homemade marinara sauce recipe, I truly mean it! Forget the tedious task of peeling and chopping pounds of fresh tomatoes, and the long hours spent simmering a traditional sauce on the stovetop. This method offers a brilliant, time-saving shortcut that brings delicious, authentic Italian flavor to your table in a fraction of the time. Our secret? Starting with concentrated tomato paste, then enriching it with quality olive oil and water.
Elevated with just a few essential herbs and seasonings, this versatile marinara is ready in mere minutes. It’s perfect for layering into a hearty lasagna, spreading over a homemade pizza, serving alongside savory arancini as a dipping sauce, or tossing with your favorite pasta. This simple approach ensures you always have a vibrant, flavorful sauce on hand, even on your busiest days.
Why This Quick Marinara Sauce Will Become Your Go-To
- Unbeatable Speed and Simplicity: No Peeling, Chopping, or Slow Cooking. While I adore the rich depth of homemade tomato sauce and pomodoro sauce made from fresh, ripe tomatoes, those recipes often demand significant time and effort. This quick marinara offers all the delicious flavor you crave with none of the hassle. By using tomato paste as our base, we bypass the labor-intensive steps of preparing fresh tomatoes, making it ideal for those hectic evenings when time is a luxury you don’t have. You get a gourmet taste with minimal effort.
- Minimal Ingredients, Maximum Flavor: Just Three Core Components. The foundation of this incredible sauce is built on a humble trio: concentrated tomato paste, premium olive oil, and water. This simplicity allows the pure, bright flavor of the tomato to shine through. We then enhance this robust base with classic Italian herbs like fragrant oregano, fresh basil, and vibrant parsley, creating a perfectly balanced and aromatic sauce. You’ll be amazed at the depth of flavor achieved with such a short ingredient list.
- Incredibly Versatile for Every Meal: A Culinary Workhorse. This homemade marinara sauce is not just for pasta; it’s a true kitchen chameleon! It pairs beautifully with classic dishes like spaghetti and meatballs, acts as the perfect base for homemade pizzas, and elevates vegan chicken parm sandwiches. Its rich, classic Italian profile means it complements an array of recipes, making it an indispensable part of your culinary repertoire. Plus, it freezes exceptionally well, allowing you to easily prepare a large batch for future meals, ensuring you always have delicious, homemade sauce ready when you need it.
Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Marinara
Understanding your ingredients is key to achieving the best flavor. While the full recipe with precise amounts is located in the recipe card below, here are some important details and tips on the components that make this quick marinara truly shine.
- Tomato Paste: The Secret to Speed and Depth. This recipe is an excellent solution for using up that leftover tomato paste! Many recipes call for just a tablespoon, leaving you with an open can or tube. Here, tomato paste is the star, providing an intense, concentrated tomato flavor without the need for lengthy simmering to reduce fresh tomatoes. It’s already packed with rich umami. For the best flavor, consider using tomato paste sold in tubes, which often offers a fresher, less metallic taste than canned varieties and allows for easy portioning and storage.
- Olive Oil: The Foundation of Flavor. As olive oil is one of the primary ingredients, its quality significantly impacts the final taste of your marinara. Opt for a good-quality extra virgin olive oil. Its fruity, slightly peppery notes will meld beautifully with the tomato and herbs, contributing to a truly authentic Italian flavor profile.
- Herbs: Freshness is Best. A blend of oregano, basil, and parsley forms the aromatic heart of this sauce. I strongly recommend using fresh herbs whenever possible, as they impart a brighter, more vibrant flavor that dried herbs simply can’t match. If fresh herbs aren’t available, you can substitute with dried herbs, but remember to use about one-third of the amount specified for fresh, as dried herbs are much more potent. Feel free to experiment with a pinch of dried thyme or a bay leaf for added complexity.
- Garlic Powder & Seasonings: The Flavor Boosters. Beyond salt and pepper, garlic powder adds a fundamental layer of savory warmth. It’s a fantastic shortcut that delivers consistent garlic flavor without any chopping. If you prefer, you can certainly use freshly minced garlic (about 2 cloves, sautéed briefly with the olive oil before adding the tomato paste). A touch of onion powder can also be added for an extra layer of savory depth, enhancing the overall Italian profile of the sauce.
How to Make Homemade Marinara Sauce in Minutes
Seriously, it doesn’t get any easier than this! In about the same amount of time it takes to open and heat a jar of store-bought marinara, you can create your own superior homemade sauce from scratch. I love making a large batch to keep in the freezer, ensuring a delicious foundation for countless pasta dinners, pizzas, and other Italian-inspired meals.
- Start the Tomato Base. Begin by heating a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the tomato paste, water, and olive oil to the pan. Stir these ingredients vigorously and continuously with a spatula or spoon until they are fully combined and the mixture begins to boil gently, which usually takes about 1 minute. This initial boil helps to deepen the tomato flavor. After a minute, season generously with salt and pepper to taste, stirring to incorporate.
- Add the Seasonings and Simmer. Now, stir in the remaining herbs and garlic powder, reserving a small amount of fresh parsley for garnish at the end. Reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan, and allow the sauce to simmer gently for 5 to 8 minutes. During this time, the flavors will meld beautifully. Keep an eye on it to ensure the herbs don’t scorch. If you prefer a thinner sauce, you can add more water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
- Finish and Serve. Once simmered to perfection, remove the sauce from the heat. Give it a final taste test and adjust seasonings if necessary. Garnish generously with the reserved fresh parsley before serving. This fresh burst of green adds both visual appeal and a refreshing aromatic finish.
Pro Tips for the Best Homemade Marinara Sauce
- Invest in High-Quality Tomato Paste. Since tomato paste forms the core flavor of this quick marinara, choosing a premium product is paramount. Look for brands known for their rich, sweet flavor and vibrant color. As mentioned, tubes of tomato paste often offer a more concentrated and fresher taste compared to traditional cans, and their resealable nature reduces waste.
- Always Use a Non-Reactive Saucepan. When cooking acidic ingredients like tomatoes, it’s crucial to use a non-reactive pan. Stainless steel, enamel-coated cast iron, or glass are excellent choices. Aluminum, bare cast iron, or copper pans can react with the acid in the tomato sauce, potentially imparting a metallic taste or discoloring the sauce.
- A Pinch of Sugar Can Balance Acidity. After simmering, taste your marinara. If it tastes a bit too acidic or tart, a small pinch of sugar (about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon) can work wonders to balance the flavors without making the sauce sweet. This trick helps to round out the tomato’s natural tanginess.
- Bloom Your Tomato Paste for Deeper Flavor. For an even richer, more complex flavor, consider blooming the tomato paste. After heating the olive oil, add the tomato paste to the pan and cook it over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, before adding the water. This process caramelizes the sugars in the paste, intensifying its inherent sweetness and depth.
- Adjust Consistency to Your Liking. The beauty of homemade sauce is customization. If you prefer a thicker sauce for pizza or a heartier pasta, allow it to simmer uncovered for an extra few minutes until it reduces slightly. For a thinner sauce, simply add a tablespoon or two more water or vegetable broth until the desired consistency is achieved.
Endless Culinary Possibilities: Ways to Use Your Homemade Marinara Sauce
With a batch of this incredibly easy homemade marinara sauce ready in just 15 minutes, your meal possibilities are truly limitless. Here are some of my favorite ways to incorporate this versatile sauce into delicious recipes:
- The Perfect Pizza Base. This rich, flavorful homemade marinara sauce makes an exceptional foundation for any pizza. Use it on classic Neapolitan-style pizzas, quick French bread pizzas, flatbreads, or even as a spread for gourmet toasted sandwiches. Its robust tomato flavor perfectly complements cheese and toppings.
- Elevate Your Pasta Recipes. Marinara sauce is the quintessential partner for pasta. Toss it with your favorite spaghetti and meatballs, mix it into creamy vegan gnocchi, layer it generously in a classic lasagna, or bake it into a comforting baked ziti. It clings beautifully to any pasta shape, ensuring every bite is bursting with flavor.
- An Irresistible Dipping Sauce. Forget those bland dips! Serve this savory marinara sauce warm as a gourmet dip for a variety of snacks and appetizers. It’s fantastic with crispy breadsticks, homemade mozzarella sticks, low-carb pizza bites, golden polenta fries, or even fresh vegetable sticks. It’s also the ideal accompaniment for arancini or bruschetta.
- More Italian-Style Dishes. Beyond pasta and pizza, this marinara sauce is a staple for many beloved Italian-American dishes. Use it to prepare a delightful vegan chicken parmesan, fill a savory stromboli or calzone, or spoon it over grilled vegetables for a burst of Mediterranean flavor. It’s an essential building block for countless comforting meals.
How to Store Your Homemade Marinara Sauce
This quick marinara sauce is perfect for meal prep, making it easy to enjoy homemade flavors throughout the week or for months to come.
- Refrigerate: Once your homemade marinara sauce has cooled completely, transfer it to a clean glass jar or an airtight food storage container. It will keep beautifully in the refrigerator for up to a week, ready to be reheated and enjoyed with your next meal.
- Freeze: Marinara sauce is an excellent candidate for freezing, making it perfect for batch cooking. I recommend transferring cooled sauce into freezer-safe bags, pressing out any excess air, and then laying them flat in the freezer. This maximizes space and allows for quicker thawing. Alternatively, you can freeze it in airtight containers or even ice cube trays for smaller portions. When you’re ready to use it, simply place the frozen bag in a bowl of hot water until thawed, or transfer the frozen block to a saucepan and gently reheat on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally. Frozen marinara will maintain its quality for up to 3 months, ensuring you always have a delicious homemade option at your fingertips.
Enjoy, friends! If you make this homemade marinara recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
More Easy Homemade Sauces to Try
- Spicy Arrabbiata Sauce
- Vegan Alfredo Sauce
- Basil Pesto
- Parsley Pesto
How to Make Homemade Marinara Sauce
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Ingredients
- 6 oz. of tomato paste
- 6 oz. of water
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 teaspoons of oregano
- 1 teaspoon fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tbsp of fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
Instructions
- Heat a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add the tomato paste, water and olive oil to heat. Using a spatula or spoon, stir ingredients together frequently until incorporated and begins to boil a little for about 1 minute.
- Add salt and pepper to taste and incorporate. Then add the rest of the ingredients, leaving a little parsley behind. Stir ingredients and lower heat to low. Cover the pot and leave to simmer for about 5 minutes to 8 minutes, checking to make sure the basil and parsley don’t burn. If it’s too thick for you, you can add more water by the tablespoon.
- Garnish with remaining parsley.
Notes
To freeze: Freeze sauce in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or immerse in hot water, then heat on the stovetop.
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.