Homemade marinara sauce served over a bed of spaghetti and topped with meatballs and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. This recipe is the only marinara sauce recipe you need.
Marinara sauce over meatballs and spaghetti
How to Make Marinara Sauce
Making this sauce is so easy and simple you probably have all the ingredients on hand.
Tomato sauce on meatballs and spaghetti
This basic marinara sauce can be modified by adding and or substituting ingredients. I have used fresh tomatoes, and canned diced tomatoes in place of crushed tomatoes. When using fresh tomatoes the cooking time will increase by one hour without a lid. I have added bay leaves, red wine, ground beef and/or Italian sausage for a meat sauce hearty sauce.
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Supplies
- Cutting board
- Chef’s knife
- Teaspoon measuring
- Garlic press
- Large saucepan
- Bamboo saute spoon
- Jar funnel
- Jars
- Ladle
- Plastic lids
- Can Opener
- Cheese grater
Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic, pressed
- 2 each Onions fine chopped
- 3 - 28oz cans crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 tsp Italian Spice
- I Sprig Fresh Basil
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high. Add chopped onion and pressed garlic and saute for 4 minutes, stirring a few times while cooking.
- Add remaining ingredients: crushed tomatoes, Italian spice, tomato paste, and fresh basil sprig stir to combine.
- Cook until it reaches a simmer then reduce heat low, cover and continue to cook 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Before serving, remove the fresh basil and/or bay leaf (if using)
Nutrition
Tomato Sauce Ingredients
The ingredients for this recipe are easy to find in any grocery store.
- Onion
- Garlic cloves
- Olive oil
- Canned crushed tomatoes
- Canned tomato paste
- Italian spice
- Fresh basil
Simple Store-bought canned tomatoes and fresh ingredients
Saute onion and garlic in olive oil
Add canned tomatoes
Next, add Italian seasoning to the crushed tomatoes
Add tomato paste to crushed tomatoes tomato sauce
Add fresh basil and then stir occasionally (remove before serving)
Another cooking option is to allow the sauce to cook on low in your slow cooker or Crockpot for 2 hours.
Serving Suggestions
Most people think of spaghetti and meatballs served with marinara sauce, but there are many serving options for this sauce. It makes a perfect dipping sauce for fried mozzarella sticks.
This recipe makes enough to feed a crowd on a budget. Just add spaghetti noodles, crusty Italian bread, and crisp green salad.
Marinara sauce can be used to top your favorite pizza crust. and it also makes the perfect sauce for eggplant parmesan, lasagna, and manicotti.
My favorite tomato sauce recipe served over meatballs and spaghetti
To make meatballs you only need a few more ingredients: onion, lean ground beef, garlic spices, egg and bread crumbs.
The boxed spaghetti noodles can be easily cooked in boiling water.
To serve layer pasta, meatballs and ladle on the thick hearty marinara sauce and top with grated parmesan cheese.
Storing Marinara Sauce
To store the leftover sauce ladle it into jars using a jar funnel and top with plastic lids. Add a label with the name of the recipe and date. Store sauce in jars in the refrigerator for 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Supplies
Store spaghetti sauce in refrigerator in jars
Use a plastic lid on your tomato sauce jars
For a light and refreshing dessert, I like to serve my classic pineapple upside-down cake.
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Sometimes we all need a little inspiration for easy meals and recipes. I put together some recipes I think you will like. If you like easy everyday recipes then you might enjoy my favorite recipes delivered straight to your inbox click HERE.
Thank you so much for your visit today. I hope you have found some inspiration.
Bon appétit,
Kippi
Kathy
Monday 1st of June 2020
This sauce and meatball recipe is off the hook. Seriously wonderful.
Our Hopeful Home
Friday 24th of April 2020
Wow, this looks great -- I am starving now:) Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm. xo Kathleen
Ann @ Dabbling & Decorating
Friday 24th of April 2020
Kippi this looks sooo yummy?? I’d luv to invite you to join us and share over at Charming Homes & Gardens Link Party, our new Link party???? We’d luv to have you??♀️ https://www.dabblinganddecorating.com/single-post/2020/03/31/Charming-Homes-Gardens-Wednesday-Link-Party
Jayne
Wednesday 22nd of April 2020
Your photos are so lovely, my mouth is watering - pinned this for later because it's definitely the kind of sauce my family will love. Pineapple upsidedown cake - I learned how to make that in school a long, long time ago, you just brought back some lovely memories for me - funny how food can do that!