Easy Classic Marinara Sauce
So simple, fast, and delicious, this marinara sauce is perfect for quick and easy pasta dinners, as a zesty pizza sauce, or even as a dip for mozzarella sticks and garlic bread.
With just a handful of simple ingredients, this marinara sauce is ready in about 15 minutes and knocks the socks off store-bought versions any day!
This post was updated on March 20, 2025.
Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe
Every home cook should have a few classic sauce recipes in their back pocket and this one has become a personal favorite!
I like to use crushed tomatoes from a can to save time, but if you’ve got a bounty in your garden that needs to be used up, this is a great recipe to do it. Even though we didn’t plant tomatoes this year, I have tons of basil, and love the fresh kick it adds to this marinara.
Ingredients for Easy Classic Marinara Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter
- 1/4 cup yellow onion
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cloves garlic
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil
- sea salt, to taste
- ground black pepper, to taste
- red pepper flakes – optional, to taste
How to Make Easy Classic Marinara Sauce:
STEP ONE: Sauté the Onion and Garlic. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the butter. Once melted, add the diced onions and sauté for 2 minutes until softened.
STEP TWO: Season and Cook. Add salt and oregano. Continue cooking for 2 more minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions start turning golden.
STEP THREE: Add Garlic. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.
STEP FOUR: Add Tomatoes and Sugar. Pour in crushed tomatoes and add sugar. Increase heat to medium-high for 1-2 minutes just to heat through. Reduce heat back to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
STEP FIVE: Finish and Serve. Remove from heat and stir in the olive oil and fresh basil. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste.
Storing Your Marinara Sauce
- Store marinara sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Just thaw and reheat when you’re ready to use it!
More Sauce Recipes You’ll Love!
- Chimichurri Sauce
- Vegan Hollandaise Sauce
- 5 – Ingredient Tzatziki Sauce
- Green Chile Cheesy Sauce
- Sour Cream Sauce
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Easy Classic Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup yellow onion finely diced
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 28- ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
- red pepper flakes to taste
Instructions
- Into a medium saucepan over medium heat, add butter. When butter is melted, add onions. Sauté 2 minutes, until onions are softened.
- Add salt and oregano. Continue cooking 2 minutes more, stirring frequently, until onions are just beginning to turn golden in color.
- Add garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes and add sugar. Increase heat to medium high for 1-2 minutes, just enough to heat through. Reduce heat back down to low and simmer 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat then stir in olive oil and basil.
- Use salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to adjust seasoning to taste.
Nutrition
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