San Marzano Sauce

This simple San Marzano Sauce recipe will be your new favorite red sauce! With whole tomatoes, fresh herbs, olive oil, and garlic, you will love this red sauce recipe.

Recipe Inspiration

San Marzano tomato sauce one of the easiest and most delicious Italian sauces. It's no secret, because San Marzano tomatoes are one of the more popular types of tomatoes for red sauces. Their sweet flavor and low acidity are perfect for a sauce recipe. Plus, they have fewer seeds than other tomatoes.

This sauce is perfect for freezing, so you always have homemade tomato sauce on hand! This is perfect for your favorite pasta, or for homemade pizza sauce.

You'll need to pick up some san marzanos - most grocery stores carry them, and Costco has great deals on large cans of them. They really do make the best tomato sauce!

If you're looking for other delicious sauce recipes, check out our Tuscan Bolognese, Calabrese Sauce, or Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.

Why You'll Love this Recipe

Delicious - This recipe is so delicious. Each bite is packed with flavor that your family will truly love! It's really a perfect dish for the whole family. Great for entertaining too!

Approachable - This recipe is approachable and is easy to make. Plus, it's done in just one pot!

Versatile - You can use the sauce in this recipe and top on pasta, chicken, or meatballs.

Ingredients

Here are the fresh ingredients you will need for this homemade sauce recipe:

• Extra virgin olive oil - use good quality! I love this brand.
• White Onion - diced. You can also substitute with yellow onion.
• Fresh Garlic Cloves - minced
• San Marzano Tomatoes - I used canned but you can use fresh San Marzano tomatoes as well! If you can't find San Marzano tomatoes, you can use Roma tomatoes or plum tomatoes as a substitute.
• Oregano - dried or fresh
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Fresh Basil or Italian Parsley - for serving

Directions

Let's make this delicious recipe together!

Step 1

Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add olive oil and onion and sauté for 5 minutes, until translucent.

Step 2

Add in garlic and sauté for one minute. Then, add San Marzano tomatoes, including the liquid in the can, into the pot. Add oregano, salt, and black pepper.

Step 3

Reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer on low heat for at least one hour to achieve the authentic Italian flavors.

Step 4

Use an immersion blender to break up the tomatoes and smooth the sauce. Or, if you like your tomato sauce chunky, break up tomatoes with a wooden spoon. If you don't have an immersion blender, you can also use a food processor.

Top with fresh basil or Italian parsley and enjoy this family recipe.

Expert Tips and Tricks

Here are some expert tips and tricks when making this delicious marinara sauce.

Make it for a Crowd - This recipe is really great for a large crowd, or it's great to have leftovers on hand during the week! You can definitely meal prep this recipe and use in salads and pasta dishes through the week.

Be Patient - Be patient letting the sauce simmer. It will develop so many delicious flavors that will make your sauce even better!

Use an Immersion Blender - Using an immersion blender makes this sauce so smooth and creamy. I definitely recommend investing in one!

Kitchen Equipment

Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.

Immersion Blender - I have this immersion blender and I love it. It's great quality and perfect for using in sauces like this one. 

Large Pot - This pot is great quality - investing in a good soup pot or dutch oven will last you years! 

Spoon Rest - I love spoon rests like this one. They are great for stirring sauces and add a pop of color to the kitchen!

Recipe Substitutions/Variations

Here are some common recipe substitutions and variations for this easy recipe.

Thicker Sauce - Make your sauce thicker by adding in tomato paste during step 2. The tomato paste will help thicken up the sauce and give it great flavor.

Meat Sauce - Make this a meat sauce by adding in your choice of ground meat in step 1. I recommend using a blend of beef and pork if you're going to add meat. They'll add delicious flavor to the sauce!

Spicy Sauce - Add some spice with red pepper flakes in step 2. This will give each bite a little spicy kick!

Frequently Asked Questions

Recipe Storage and Reheating

Here are storage and reheating instructions for this tomato sauce recipe.

Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight continuer and eat leftovers within 4-5 days.

Freezer Storage: Freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container or freezer-friendly ziplock bag and keep for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as instructed below.

Reheating Instructions: The best way to reheat this recipe is to heat in a skillet with a little olive oil over low heat until warm. Top your favorite pasta or meat with the heated sauce and enjoy.

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