This Spaghetti Marinara is a simple, made-from-scratch sauce you’ll be making again and again. It requires just a few basic ingredients, takes a quick 10 minutes to prep, and yields the most flavorful marinara. Serve over spaghetti or another type of pasta or use in another recipe!
Is there anything better than a big bowl of spaghetti with marinara sauce?
This homemade Spaghetti Marinara recipe is the perfect way to enjoy a comfort food classic! It’s a super easy recipe that requires just three simple steps.
Plus, this recipe makes a ton, so you can serve a crowd or store it in the fridge or freezer so it’s ready to go anytime!
Skip the store-bought sauce! This recipe is a homemade sauce you can be proud of.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Simple ingredients – This recipe is made with ingredients you can keep on hand so you can easily whip up a homemade sauce anytime.
- Easy to make – Just 10 minutes of hands-on time required.
- Amazing flavor – A handful of spices and plenty of time to simmer really gives this sauce the most mouthwatering flavor.
- Makes a ton – At about 1/2 cup per serving, this marinara sauce recipe can serve up to 16 people!
- Freezes well – Since this recipe makes so much, it’s a great way to get ahead with meal prepping. Make a big batch, then store it in the freezer so it’s ready to go.
Recipe Notes
This pasta marinara recipe is as simple as promised! Just 10 minutes of prep for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make marinara pasta to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Spaghetti – Or substitute whatever pasta your heart desires.
- Olive Oil
- Onion and Garlic – These two ingredients are sautéed together to create the perfect flavor base for the sauce.
- Canned Tomatoes – The base for our sauce is a combination of stewed tomatoes and crushed tomatoes for texture. We’re also using a little bit of tomato paste for flavor depth!
- Chicken Broth – I use chicken broth, because that’s what I tend to have on hand. If you prefer to use beef broth that will work too. Alternatively, to make this sauce vegetarian, use veggie broth.
- Parsley – If you don’t have fresh you can skip this one.
- Granulated Sugar – A little bit of sugar helps offset the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Seasonings – We’re rounding out the flavor of the sauce with a combination of dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Chicken Marinara Pasta – Top your spaghetti marinara off with baked chicken breast or serve it alongside an Italian chicken and veggie skillet.
- Shrimp Marinara Pasta – Layer on a few pieces of juicy cooked shrimp for a delicious seafood entree.
- Marinara and Alfredo Pasta – Try mixing in a little bit of homemade Alfredo sauce for a richer, creamier pasta dinner.
- Spaghetti Squash Marinara – Skip the regular spaghetti noodles and sub in cooked spaghetti squash instead.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make spaghetti marinara.
Heat oil in a large pot, then add in the onions and sauté until translucent. Add in the garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds.
Add the rest of the marinara ingredients, then cover the pot and simmer for a minimum of 20-30 minutes.
Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce to your desired texture.
Serve over cooked spaghetti (or any pasta of your choice.)
Recipe Tips
- Leave plenty of time to simmer – I recommend a minimum of 20-30 minutes, but really the longer the better. The flavors just intensify as the sauce sits!
- Play with texture – If you like an extra smooth sauce, blend all of the tomato chunks out. If you prefer a sauce with a little bit of texture, blend less. Alternatively, if you really like a chunky sauce, then skip the blender and use a wooden spoon to break up the large tomato pieces.
- Taste before serving – Before you mix your sauce with the pasta, I recommend giving it a quick taste test to make sure it’s seasoned and salted to your liking.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Use pre-minced garlic – While the flavor of fresh garlic is hard to beat, you can save a little bit of time by simply using the pre-minced, jarred stuff.
- Make the sauce ahead of time – You can save yourself a whole lot of time later on by just making a big batch of sauce, then storing it in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. That way it’s ready to go when you need it! All you have to do is warm it up.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this marinara sauce recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Prepare the marinara sauce as instructed, simmer as long as you like, then cool completely.
- Transfer to a freezer-safe container and store.
- When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw the sauce overnight in the refrigerator, then warm on low on the stove until heated through.
- Cook the spaghetti and top with marinara.
What to Serve with Marinara Pasta
Since this meatless dinner has the delicious flavors of marinara sauce, it will pair well with many of your favorite Italian side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Best Ever Garlic Bread – Is there any combination more delicious than spaghetti marinara and garlic bread? This garlic bread is simple, buttery, and brimming with salty, garlicky flavor.
- Brown Butter Broccoli – Make your classic veggie side dish a little more decadent with this brown butter broccoli recipe. This recipe features crisp-tender broccoli florets tossed in the perfect combination of butter and seasonings.
- Italian House Salad – Round out your meal with an Italian restaurant classic! This house salad features fresh spring mix lettuce, grape tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, red onion, and parmesan all tossed in a homemade Italian dressing.
Spaghetti Marinara Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! The sauce saves and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-5 days
- in the freezer up to 6 months
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti – Turn your spaghetti marinara into an even heartier meal with this million dollar baked spaghetti. It’s loaded with Italian sausage, ground beef, and so much cheese!
- Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan – This baked chicken parmesan is the best easy weeknight dinner! Juicy slices of chicken breast are breaded, baked until golden and crispy, then topped with marinara and melty mozzarella.
- Spinach Ravioli Bake – This spinach ravioli bake is cheesy, flavorful, and ready in just 30 minutes. It’s made with cheese ravioli, spinach, onion, and garlic doused in marinara and finished with mozzarella cheese.
- Italian Stuffed Peppers – Lighten your meal up a little bit with these Italian stuffed peppers. They’re made with sweet bell peppers piled with ground turkey, veggies, marinara, and cheese.
Recipe FAQ’s
What is the difference between marinara and spaghetti sauce?
Traditionally, marinara is a tomato-based sauce that’s made with tomatoes, a couple of aromatics, and a few seasonings. It’s also simmered for a shorter period of time—closer to 30 minutes. Spaghetti sauce, on the other hand, is usually made with a more extensive list of ingredients that are simmered together for a longer period of time.
What’s the difference between ragu and marinara?
The difference is that marinara is traditionally a meatless tomato-based sauce. Ragu, on the other hand, is a tomato-based sauce with all of the same aromatics and seasonings, but that also includes a meat such as ground beef.
More EASY Pasta Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy dinner recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite pasta recipes below. Once you decide what you want to make, you can also check out spaghetti dinner side ideas that are perfect. .
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Cheeseburger Pasta
- Blackened Chicken Alfredo Pasta
- Creamy Tomato and Basil Pasta
Spaghetti Marinara
Ingredients
- 16 ounces spaghetti, or other pasta
For the Homemade Marinara
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 6 cloves garlic, pressed
- 29 ounces stewed tomatoes, (2 cans)
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, (1 large can)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot or dutch oven, saute the onions over medium heat until translucent. Add the garlic and stir for 30-60 seconds.
- Add the remaining ingredients and simmer covered, for 20-30 minutes, or up to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce together. If you prefer a chunky marinara sauce, you can just use a wooden spoon to break the larger tomatoes into pieces instead of using a blender.
- Cook spaghetti per package directions to al dente. Once done, drain, then transfer pasta to the sauce and toss. Alternately, serve pasta plain and pour marinara sauce over the top.
Recipe Notes
- Broth – Beef broth or veggie broth will work in place of the chicken broth.
- in the refrigerator for 3-5 days
- in the freezer up to 6 months
- Prepare the marinara sauce as instructed, simmer as long as you like, then cool completely.
- Transfer to a freezer-safe container and store.
- When you’re ready to enjoy again, thaw the sauce overnight in the fridge, then warm and serve as desired.
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