Hearty Marinara Sauce (Quick and Easy)

There is a hearty marinara sauce in a white bowl surrounded by a few bowls containing cooked noodles, fresh basil, dried herbs, garlic and red pepper flakes.

5 from 1 vote

Hearty Marinara Sauce (Quick and Easy)

This hearty marinara sauce is so easy to prepare and makes for a perfect simple Italian sauce for pasta. You will mostly need pantry ingredients to make it and it can be wrapped up under 30 minutes! Use in lasagna dishes, over over pizza and so much more!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Main Course, Pasta, Sauce

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: freezer-friendly, gluten-free, healthy, Low in fat, Vegan, vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 76kcal

Author: Jessica Laroche

Ingredients

1 white onion diced
1 tbsp dried Italian mix herbs (or oregano)
3 large cloves of garlic crushed
¾ cup water
½ tbsp maple syrup or any other sweetener
½ tsp salt or to taste
pinch of red pepper flakes optional
15 oz diced tomatoes
28 oz canned whole peeled tomatoes
½ cup fresh basil (or 1 tsp dried basil) plus more for serving

Instructions

In a medium pot, cook the onion for 5-7 minutes on medium-high heat stirring often. Use a small amount of oil or water to prevent the veggies from burning.
Then, add the dried herbs (if using dried basil instead of fresh basil, add them at this point) and garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds while stirring (don't let the garlic burn!)
Add the water, maple syrup, salt, red pepper flakes (if using), diced tomatoes and stir. Then, crush the canned whole tomatoes directly into the pot using your hands. Make sure to add all the tomato juice from the can to the pot.
Keep cooking, uncovered and stirring often, for about 15-20 minutes or until the sauce is thicker and to the desired consistency.
Optional: For a smoother texture, you can use an immersion blender (upright mixer) and blend some of the sauce right in the pot, while leaving some of the chunks.
Remove the pot from the heat and add the fresh basil. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
Serve over your favorite cooked pasta with a sprinkle of vegan parmesan cheese.

Video

Notes

I love using San Marzano canned tomatoes to make this recipe. If you cannot find them, you can also use fire-roasted tomatoes as well. Regular canned tomato works just fine too!
Store in an airtight container until ready to use (up to 5 days in the fridge). Can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.

Nutrition