Hello, my chickpeas! I believe that a good sauce is the most important component of a meal, and marinara sauce is no exception. There are many pre-made marinara sauces available, but I love making my own when I want to elevate a meal. That's where my Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce comes in!
This delicious sauce elevates your pasta or pizza to the next level, and it's easy to make! It's even oil-free, and of course vegan. Let's get into it!
Inspiration for Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
Pasta was a staple in my house growing up, so it is one of my favorite comfort foods. And nothing says comfort like a delicious marinara sauce to go with it! There's absolutely nothing wrong with a store-bought marinara sauce if that's what works for you. But once I started playing with making my own at home, it quickly became my favorite option. It's perfect for easy pasta nights or even as a pizza sauce!
When creating this recipe I had 3 goals. 1) I wanted to include some delicious sautéd onion for some extra veg, freshness, and flavor. 2) I also wanted it to be oil-free (which is hard to find in store-bought options!). And, 3) I wanted it to be relatively quick & easy. This recipe checks all of those boxes and I think you will be pleased with it!
Ingredients
This one has a pretty short and sweet ingredient list. Let's take a look at what we are working with today.
- Onion & garlic: these will be sautéd and provide a pop of fresh flavor. Onion powder and garlic powder work in a pinch, but fresh really can't be beat!
- Crushed tomatoes: after trying this recipe with a number of different canned tomato options, I decided that crushed were the best consistency! It's just the right level of chunky but not too chunky.
- Dried oregano and basil: very necessary for a good marinara sauce!
- Tomato paste: this is going to add just a bit more depth and richness to our Homemade Marinara Sauce.
- Maple syrup: we want a balance of savory with a hint of sweetness, and which we will get from maple syrup!
How to Make Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
You guys know the drill: check out the full recipe below for the details. But here are the basics:
- Sauté onion.
- Add garlic, sauté a bit longer.
- Add all other ingredients and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat and cook for a few minutes.
- Add salt to taste.
- Serve as you wish and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks
Have fun fitting this one to your preferences if desired! Here are some ideas of other twists you can put on this Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce:
- Out of dried oregano & basil? Italian seasoning will work in place of these if needed.
- Do you like your marinara sauce super smooth? Substitute the crushed tomatoes for plain tomato sauce if you want a smoother texture.
- Wanting some extra veggies thrown into the mix? Add whatever veggies you'd like when you sauté the onions! Bell peppers or zucchini could be a fun addition.
- If adding this marinara sauce to pasta, you can stir in a couple tablespoons of pasta water before adding to the pasta. This isn't absolutely necessary, but it does help the sauce stick to your pasta a bit better.
- This recipe makes a pretty big batch, so get creative with how you use it throughout the next few days! Try it on pasta or pizza, on roasted or air fried veggies, or even in a sandwich! It would also be delicious as a dip for a vegan grilled cheese, or on some Crispy Potato Gnocchi.
- Looking for other pasta sauce options? You may also love my Roasted Veggie Pasta Sauce and my Easy Vegan Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce!
Enjoy!
📖 Recipe
Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ medium yellow onion - diced
- 4 cloves garlic - minced
- 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Bring a medium nonstick pot to medium-high heat on the stovetop. Add a small amount of water to prevent sticking, and add the onion. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding small amounts of water as needed to prevent sticking.
- Add garlic to the pot and continue to sauté for another 1-2 minutes, until garlic is very fragrant.
- Add crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, tomato paste, and maple syrup to the pot. Stir to combine. Lower slightly to medium heat, partially cover with a lid, and bring to a simmer. Once it reaches a simmer, continue to cook at this temperature for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce the temperature to low and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
- Add salt to taste
- Serve as you wish and enjoy!
Happy cooking! If you made this recipe don’t forget to tag me (@joyfulbalanceofficial) on facebook or instagram so I can cheer you on for your sauce-making ways.
Stay joyfully balanced!
Laurie Griggs says
YUMMY recipe! Love the "secret" ingredient of a little maple syrup. I'll often add in a bit of sugar, but will try with maple syrup next time!
Delaney Marie says
It's a great addition! Hope you love it!
Sharon says
I love having a recipe like this on hand for when I don't have jarred sauce at home but I have canned tomatoes and tomatoe paste instead. Love it!!
Delaney Marie says
It's perfect for those times! So glad you love it! 🙂