Hearty Marinara Sauce Recipe

You need just 15 minutes and a few pantry staples to make this Hearty Marinara Sauce recipe. It's healthier than jarred and just as easy to prepare. Serve over pasta with meatballs or use with delicious gluten free mozzarella sticks- it's sure to be a hit.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
• How To Make Hearty Marinara Sauce
• Expert Tips
• Ways To Use Your Hearty Marinara Sauce
• Frequently Asked Questions
• How To Store and Freeze
• Did you make this recipe?
• Hearty Marinara Sauce
• Check Out Latest Recipes

Do you need a quick and healthy pasta sauce recipe for dinner tonight? If you do, look no further than this delicious, hearty marinara sauce!

This simple recipe is made in just 15 minutes and uses basic, pantry staple ingredients. Simply sauté you garlic, add in the crushed tomatoes, season to taste, and enjoy.

You can serve this hearty pasta sauce over pasta with meatballs, use as a dip for mozzarella sticks, or even as a quick and easy pizza sauce. Either way, the taste of this flavorful sauce shines through and elevates any dish it's added to.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It's gluten free, dairy free, and vegan
• Made with pantry staple ingredients
• Prepared in just 15 minutes
• A hearty marinara, not lacking in flavor
• Such a versatile sauce recipe, great for a lot of dishes

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Olive oil: You only need 1 tablespoon in order to sauté the garlic, but butter or avocado oil are good substitutes
• Garlic: Fresh garlic makes all the difference, but you can use garlic powder in a pinch
• Crushed tomatoes: Crushed tomatoes are the perfect consistency for our hearty marinara sauce. If you don't have crushed, diced tomatoes also work, just use an immersion blender to break them up a bit.
• Italian seasonings: This is a blend of dried herbs common in Italian cooking. If you don't have that, feel free to use a mix of fresh basil, dried oregano, and dried parsley
• Salt & pepper: You'll want to season to taste
• Red pepper flakes: These are optional, but I like the added spice
• Baking soda: This ingredient may seem odd, but it neutralizes the acidity of the tomatoes without having to add sugar. You only need a small amount, but if you don't have any skip it or use 1 teaspoon of sugar

How To Make Hearty Marinara Sauce

1. In a large pan heat the olive oil over medium heat
2. Once hot, sauté the minced garlic for 2-3 minutes until soft. Be sure to stir constantly to prevent burning
3. Add the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and baking soda to the pan and stir to combine all ingredients
4. Bring the hearty marinara sauce to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent any burning
5. After 5 minutes, turn the heat off, serve your marinara as needed, and enjoy

Expert Tips

• Use high quality ingredients for the best flavor
• Stir frequently to prevent burning
• Season to taste
• Cover with a lid while simmering to keep the mess to a minimum
• You can add other veggies like onions, carrots or celery to make this sauce even heartier- just sauté until soft before cooking the garlic
• Stir in browned ground beef for a quick and healthy dinner

Ways To Use Your Hearty Marinara Sauce

One of my favorite ways is to use it as a dip for mozzarella sticks, however this sauce is so versatile and pairs well with so many other dishes! Here's a few ideas:

• Serve over gluten free pasta with meatballs
• Use as a pizza sauce (similar to Domino's hearty marinara sauce)
• Layer on breaded chicken and top with cheese for a simple chicken parmesan
• Add in browned ground meat for a 15 minute meal
• Serve on the side of garlic bread, pasta chips, or other American/Italian side dishes

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Store and Freeze

STORING: You can store any leftover hearty marinara sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Use as needed with chicken and pasta, or reheat in the microwave if serving as a dip.

FREEZING: Did you know you can also freeze homemade marinara sauce? It's true! To freeze, pour your sauce into a 1 quart container, and place into the freezer. It stays good for up to 6 months.

Did you make this recipe?

If so, I would appreciate you leaving a comment and star rating down below. Also, follow me on Instagram and tag me or use #incoleskitchen so I can see what you make and share it.

Print

Check Out Latest Recipes