Marinara sauce is a simple and classic favorite that makes any meal taste better. Whether you’re cooking pasta or making pizza, this easy homemade marinara sauce recipe brings fresh flavor to your dish. Made with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and herbs, it’s healthier and tastier than store-bought options. With just a few steps, you can make a delicious sauce that’s great for all your Italian meals.
Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
Switching to a whole food plant-based diet didn’t lessen my love for pasta. However, finding a store-bought marinara sauce without added sugars or unhealthy ingredients was both difficult and expensive. That’s when I decided to try making my own.
To my surprise, whipping up a simple marinara sauce was much easier than I expected. It made me wonder why I ever bought it premade in the first place! Inspired by a recipe from Spend with Pennies, I created a straightforward marinara sauce that fits my diet perfectly—and my daughters absolutely love it, too.
Naturally Sweet and Healthy Sauce
In my marinara sauce recipe, I’ve kept the ingredients simple, focusing on a few key elements. Instead of using refined sugar, I rely on natural sweetness from ingredients like sweet onions, carrots, and a touch of date sugar. These healthier alternatives enhance the flavor while keeping the sauce nutritious.
For the best results, I prefer to let the sauce simmer slowly. Cooking it in a crockpot on low heat for 4 to 5 hours allows the flavors to blend beautifully. This slow-cooking process helps the onions, carrots, and date sugar meld together, creating a rich and delicious taste.
As the sauce simmers, the vegetables gradually break down, releasing their natural sweetness. This not only deepens the flavor but also helps preserve the sauce’s nutrients. The result is a rich, flavorful marinara that adds depth to any dish while staying simple and wholesome.
Make-Ahead Marinara Sauce
When I make my marinara sauce, I like to prepare a large batch so I have leftovers for busy weekdays. I freeze the extra sauce to use later. When I’m ready to enjoy it, I thaw it overnight and add some button mushrooms before serving to boost the flavor.
If you’re not vegan, you can add ingredients like hot links or any other favorites, just like my daughters do. This makes it easy to customize the sauce to suit your taste. It works well with different pasta types, whether it’s whole wheat linguine or classic rigatoni, giving you plenty of meal options. This flexible sauce is perfect for quick and tasty pasta dishes whenever you need them.
Homemade Marinara Sauce Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbs of olive oil
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, finely chopped
- 6-8 cloves garlic, whole or minced
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 can (28 oz) whole tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon date sugar (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt & pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped
- 1/2 cup water or vegetable broth
Instructions:
Easy Crockpot Method
For a simple and hands-off way to make marinara sauce, the crockpot is my go-to method. Just add all the ingredients straight into the crockpot. Set it to the low setting and let the sauce cook gently for 4-5 hours or longer. Be sure to keep it on low heat to avoid burning, and give it a stir now and then.
This method lets you take care of other tasks or go about your day while the flavors blend and deepen in the crockpot. It’s an easy way to get a rich, tasty marinara sauce without standing over the stove.
When the sauce is done, it’s ready to serve! If you’d like, you can add sliced button mushrooms at the end and let them cook for a few minutes in the warm sauce. Serve the marinara over your favorite pasta and enjoy!
