Learn how to make this homemade tomato sauce recipe that is so good you will want to put it on everything. It’s very delicious and made with onions, garlic, olive oil, tomatoes, bay leaves, and seasonings.
I originally shared this Basic Tomato Sauce recipe back in 2014, and it has since become one of the most popular recipes on the blog. In fact, this was one of the first recipes I posted, so I decided to update it by adding more information to the recipe, including new photos too.
This is a very easy and tasty homemade tomato sauce recipe that you can keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. It’s always great to have a homemade tomato sauce on hand since it is the foundation for so many wonderful dishes. Also, you can easily add ground meat, if you want, to make a meat sauce instead.
Recipe Ingredients
- Onions
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Tomatoes
- Bay leaves
- Seasonings
These are all ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, right? You’ll be delighted with the final result of this tomato sauce. If you like a bit of heat, feel free to add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
How To Make Homemade Tomato Sauce
Easy step by step to follow:
Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook onions until soft and golden, about 4-5 minutes. Sauté garlic, being careful not to burn.
Stir in tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, brown sugar, oregano, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Remove from heat, add fresh basil, and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Olivia’s Recipe Tip
Let the tomato sauce simmer for about 20-30 minutes. But if you have more time, let it simmer for over an hour for a richer flavor. However, even 20 minutes will be enough. And remember, the juicier the tomatoes, the better the sauce.
How to use this Basic Tomato Sauce Recipe:
You will want to put this basic tomato sauce on almost everything. But my favourite ways to use it are with an Eggplant Lasagna, Zucchini Lasagna, Vegetable Lasagna Roll-ups, Lasagna Rolls, Slow Cooker Zucchini Lasagna, Low-Carb Zucchini Lasagna Skillet, Spaghetti, Meatballs, Zucchini Noodles, Cauliflower Pizza, Pizza, and the list goes on and on.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
Storage: Once the tomato sauce has cooled completely, transfer it to an airtight container or a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezing: Allow the sauce to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Make sure to leave some space at the top as the sauce will expand when frozen. Store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Reheating: You can reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave. If using the stovetop, simply transfer the sauce to a saucepan and heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. If using the microwave, transfer the sauce to a microwave-safe bowl, cover with a microwave-safe lid and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until heated to your desired temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Marinara sauce is like a quick and simple tomato sauce with garlic, onions, herbs, and sometimes wine. It’s chunkier and lighter compared to tomato sauce, which is more of a general term for any sauce made mainly from tomatoes, but it can differ in ingredients and how it’s made.
I like to simmer it longer or add tomato paste.
Absolutely, you can make it with fresh tomatoes, but canned tomatoes are often preferred for their consistent flavor and texture.
You don’t have to, but many prefer to remove the skins for a smoother texture. It’s a personal preference!
You can use whole canned tomatoes or fresh tomatoes to make this recipe. However, in my opinion, the best tomatoes to make homemade tomato sauce are the San Marzano tomatoes.
I’ve made this recipe many and many times using all different types of tomatoes and the best results came from San Marzano tomatoes. But what’s so great about these tomatoes? They have a sweet flavor with low acidity and are meatier than other tomatoes. Also, it’s easier to remove the skin, and they have a low seed count, which are all good qualities for making a good and juicy sauce.
It’s good that you can find these tomatoes everywhere from local grocery stores to Amazon. I actually like to buy from Amazon because you can find a variety of San Marzano tomato cans from different brands and prices. My favourite is this one from La San Marzano. The tomatoes are peeled already and come with a basil leaf. But there are lots of other brands to choose from.
Recipes to make with tomato sauce:
- Italian Sausage Tomato Sauce: It is loaded with tomatoes, spices, and fresh sausages. It’s great over zucchini noodles, pasta, mashed cauliflower, lasagna, and even on its own.
- 4-ingredient Chicken Zucchini Rolls: It is amazing because it’s healthy, gluten-free, and low-carb. And last but not least, it’s so D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S.
- Spinach and Zucchini Lasagna: This lasagna is vegetarian, low-carb, and gluten-free. It is made with tomato sauce, skinny ricotta, mozzarella, and zucchini noodles.
Bring Homemade Tomato Sauce into your life. Want to browse all of my healthy recipe posts? Follow my Primavera Kitchen board on Pinterest!!! I also have great Pinterest boards such as Healthy Dinner, Healthy Slow Cooker Meals, and Soups and Stews. I hope you enjoy all the delicious and healthy recipes I have there!!
Watch the Basic Tomato Sauce Web Stories.
Tomato Sauce Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- half onion finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes with the juice or 1¾ pound of fresh tomatoes peeled, seeded, and diced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 dried bay leaves
- Salt and black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add onions and cook 4-5 minutes until they are soft and golden.
- Add garlic and sauté, being careful not to burn.
- Add tomato paste, and stir well. Add crushed tomatoes, including the juice in case you are using canned tomatoes.
- Add brown sugar, dried oregano, dried bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
- Cover and bring to a low simmer for 20-30 minutes.
- Finally, remove from the heat, add fresh basil, and stir well. Remove the bay leaves.
- Adjust the seasoning if you think it is necessary. You can use this delicious sauce in your favorite recipes, or you can pour the sauce into a mason jar and keep it in the fridge for about 3 or 4 days, or you can freeze for months.
Tips
- This sauce is perfect for lots of dishes, but my favourites are 5-Ingredient Chicken Zucchini Boats, saucy Low-Carb Zucchini Lasagna Skillet, and low-carb Ground Turkey Skillet with Green Beans. Mm… All these dishes will make everyone around the table smile 😉
- If the tomato sauce is bitter, add a pinch of baking soda to help neutralize the acidity.
- Another alternative to the diced tomatoes is peeled plum tomatoes or passata sauce.
- To store: Store the tomato sauce in an airtight container for 3 days in the fridge.
- To reheat: Reheat the sauce in the microwave or stovetop until hot.
- To freeze: Once cooled, you can freeze the tomato sauce for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe bag.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
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As a memory, I kept the original photo from 2014!
Kathy says
Soooo Gooood!
Olivia says
Thank you so much. Happy you liked it 😉
Olivia says