Quick Homemade Simple Pasta Sauce Recipe (5 Minutes)

Simple Pasta Sauce tastes so much better than anything you can buy at the store, and your taste buds will do backflips over the fresh, robust flavors!! Believe it or not, this quick and easy marinara sauce takes just 5 minutes to make, and all you need are a blender and a few basic pantry staples.

Making a mouthwatering Italian dinner that your family will love doesn’t get much simpler than with my homemade pasta sauce recipe!!!

This great recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and my go-to recipe. The simple ingredients are so much better than store-bought pasta sauce, and home cooks will agree.

Forget about the jarred sauce, and make this easy homemade spaghetti sauce on your own. The steps on the recipe card are easy to follow – and you’ll have creamy sauce in no time at all! 

Simple Pasta Sauce

Tangy, smooth, and bursting with heavenly, aromatic Mediterranean flavors, this quick and simple marinara sauce has a boatload of uses! 

Of course, it’s fabulous over pasta – this is kind of a given. But, I also use it in Italian casseroles, like Chicken Parmesan Pasta. 

Traditionally, marinara is intended to be used as a dipping sauce. It’s a fabulous fit with my recipes for Air Fryer Garlic Knots and Italian Garden Breadsticks!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Fire Roasted Tomatoes With Garlic– There are all kinds of jarred and canned options to choose from, so any brand will do. 
  
  To cut back on the sodium, start with a low sodium sauce, then add salt to taste just before serving. I prefer using canned tomatoes or whole tomatoes, but that’s because it’s a personal preference because it’s such a time savor.
  
  When making your own sauce, you can use either. Just know that fresh vs canned does change the consistency of the sauce and you might have to add more seasonings, etc. 
  
• Italian Seasoning – If you have dried oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme, you can make homemade Italian seasoning instead of using a premade blend.
  
  If you do make it yourself, don’t hesitate to use the Italian seasonings you like best.
  
• Red Pepper Flakes – If you don’t like spicy marinara, you can leave this out — but I recommend using at least a pinch! 
  
  Substitutes include cayenne pepper and paprika, though they are not as spicy as crushed red pepper flakes.

You can also keep this easy pasta sauce simple and use salt and black pepper for taste. I like to add a little heat, but it’s not a requirement. (and it’s not a good idea to make it spicy if you’re the only one that likes spice!)

Fresh minced garlic is also super yummy in this easy homemade pasta sauce. 

Tips for Amazing Pasta Sauce

1. Leave it a bit chunky.

Don’t puree it completely! Marinara is best with a bit of texture and body to it. 

So give it a few pulses, check the consistency, and don’t be afraid to leave some tomato chunks in there.

2. Adjust the spiciness.

Increase the red pepper flakes to 1 teaspoon for more heat. If that’s still not spicy enough, add a small pinch of cayenne pepper. 

3. Use fresh aromatics.

You can use fresh onions, garlic, and herbs if you happen to have them on hand. 

This homemade pasta sauce recipe intentionally uses shortcuts, because I wanted a quick and simple pasta sauce. 

But, if you have time and desire, feel free to add some home cooked touches to your marinara sauce!

Storing, Freezing, and Reheating

Leftovers of the homemade pasta sauce recipe need to be refrigerated and used up within 4 days. 

Be sure to store it in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, to maximize its shelf life

For longer storage, your marinara can be frozen for up to 3 months without losing flavor.

Don’t reheat the sauce too many times, because it loses flavor each time it’s reheated. Instead, only heat up as much as you need and store the rest in the fridge. 

Heating, cooling, and reheating is just an open invitation for bacteria to grow.

Marinara Sauce FAQ

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Other Simple Italian Sauces

Originally published January 2013. Last updated and republished March 2025

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