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    Easy Marinara Sauce

    By Julia | Updated: Jul 19, 2018 | Published: Mar 18, 2014 | 12 Comments

    5.7K shares
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    Easy marinara sauce made from scratch. Perfect to serve over pasta or chicken dishes.

    simple marinara sauce

     

    One of the best and most delicious pasta sauce recipes is a simple marinara sauce, which can be served over a large variety of pasta (fettuccine, linguine, short and long pasta, etc.).   Perhaps, most often it is served over spaghetti as a  meatless spaghetti sauce or spaghetti marinara.

    So, what is a marinara sauce?   Marinara sauce is a basic tomato sauce, made with tomatoes, garlic, onions, and herbs (usually basil), some red pepper flakes, and a little bit of red wine. Marinara sauce is meant to be very simple.   There is no need to over-think this sauce. There is no need to over-complicate it with more ingredients. The deliciousness of this sauce comes from its simplicity.

    best marinara sauce

    Because this sauce is so simple, your kids will love it! Just boil some spaghetti or linguine, mix it in with some marinara, sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese - and this dish will be a favorite with kids and adults alike!

    simple marinara sauce

    The marinara sauce takes only 30 minutes to make and is so convenient because you're using the most basic items from your pantry!

    simple marinara sauce

    Although this basic tomato sauce IS MEANT to be used as is, it can also serve as a great starting base for a large variety of more complicated sauces, involving more herbs, more flavor, other veggies (such as mushrooms, red bell peppers, etc.), even meat.  But, today we are enjoying a  simple and basic marinara:

    Easy marinara sauce recipe

    5 from 1 vote

    Easy Marinara Sauce Recipe

    Easy marinara sauce made from scratch - classic Italian pasta sauce. Perfect to serve over pasta (spaghetti, linguine, fettuccine, etc.) or chicken dishes.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 servings
    Author: Julia

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 onion , chopped
    • 5 cloves garlic , chopped
    • 28 oz whole plum tomatoes , from the can
    • 1 tablespoon basil
    • ¼ cup red wine
    • salt and pepper
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions 

    • Heat olive oil over medium heat, add onion, garlic and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
    • Add tomatoes and basil and wine and cook the sauce on medium-low heat, while it simmers covered, for about 30 minutes.
    • Place the sauce in food processor and process until puree consistency.
    • Return the sauce to the same pan, re-heat gently and add salt and pepper to taste.

    Nutrition Disclaimer:

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Keyword how to make marinara sauce, marinara sauce
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    5.7K shares
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      Recipe Rating




    1. buttercream bakehouse

      July 28, 2014 at 4:40 pm

      I am making this tonight minus the onions. Thanks for a great recipe.

      Reply
    2. Daniela

      March 18, 2014 at 9:35 pm

      Simply delicious!
      Love the easy elegance of this sauce.

      Reply
    3. Deb

      March 18, 2014 at 8:06 pm

      Such an exceptional recipe for a weeknight dinner! The fragrant sauce simmers away while the pasta is prepared, just blissful!

      Reply
    4. Matt @ Runner Savvy

      March 18, 2014 at 7:49 pm

      Mmm a simple marinara sauce is the best!

      Reply
    5. Kayle (The Cooking Actress)

      March 18, 2014 at 6:10 pm

      This pasta is beautiful. Such a simple, stunningly perfect marinara sauce!!

      Reply
    6. Monica

      March 18, 2014 at 4:00 pm

      I love how bright and cheerful the food always look here, Julia. : ) And you can't go wrong with a good, classic marinara sauce recipe. It's like the little black dress every woman needs. ; )

      Reply
    7. Angie (@angiesrecipess)

      March 18, 2014 at 12:30 pm

      Marinara sauce is a favourite. Love the bright colour of those clicks, Julia.

      Reply
    8. Shashi @ RunninSrilankan

      March 18, 2014 at 11:07 am

      I am not even a huge fan of pasta - but your photos always have me drooling! Thanks for sharing this easy marinara sauce recipe, Julia!

      Reply
    9. Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking

      March 18, 2014 at 10:52 am

      I LOVE pasta sauce and marinara tops the list! This looks delicious! How do you get your colors so vibrant? Beautiful

      Reply
    10. ela@GrayApron

      March 18, 2014 at 10:38 am

      That's a good one to have it at hand! Thanks for sharing! 🙂 ela

      Reply
    11. Monique

      March 18, 2014 at 9:06 am

      You photo so prettily!

      Reply
    12. Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen

      March 18, 2014 at 6:41 am

      Yum! So easy and delicious. Love that you added the wine. Such an important ingredient providing depth of flavor. Gorgeous photos as always, my friend! Thanks for sharing. Pinned!

      Reply

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    Julia is the author of JuliasAlbum.com (a food blog focused on easy dinner recipes, pasta dishes, salads made with seasonal ingredients). In this photo, Julia is pictured wearing a yellow sweater against an Autumn background.

    Hi, I'm Julia!

    I am a full-time food blogger living in beautiful Colorado. I focus primarily on savory recipes (protein-based & fiber-rich main dishes, pasta, salads) using fresh & seasonal ingredients. A food blogger since 2012, I help home cooks create well-balanced and visually appealing dinners (many of which are 30-minute ONE-PAN meals). Find out more about me and my cooking philosophy. 

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