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Home » Recipes » Pasta Recipes

Hearty Marinara Sauce Recipe

Published: Sep 24, 2022 · Modified: Sep 24, 2023 by Debra Clark · 20 Comments

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

This hearty Marinara Sauce Recipe is the most perfectly balanced sauce. It's an easy recipe with amazing flavor and chunky texture. Technically referred to as Mom's Sunday Gravy, this red sauce is perfect for a delicious dinner if you're making chicken parmesan or pasta night!

Marinara Recipe in a blue sauce pan surrounded by fresh tomatoes, garlic and onions and basil. With print overlay.
Marinara Sauce - serve with pasta sprinkled with parmesan cheese and minced parsley, meatballs, or Bracioli
Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • No time to cook or simmer this on the stove? 
  • Equipment
  • FAQ's
  • Things to know
  • Storage
  • Serve with
  • Recipe for Marinara Sauce
  • Recipe backstory
This is a recipe for Marinara Sauce or red sauce in a blue pot surrounded by fresh vegetables.
Michelle's recipe for Sunday Gravy!

Ingredients

You'll only need a handful of simple ingredients. Please take a look at the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements.

  • onion
  • garlic
  • tomato paste
  •  28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • red wine
  • fresh basil
  • bay leaf
  • sugar, salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder

Instructions

This is an overview. For detailed instructions scroll down to the bottom to the recipe card!

  1. Chop the onion and mincing garlic
  2. Sauté in olive oil. 
  3. After about 5 minutes add tomato paste and water. 
  4. Simmer this and as it thickens it will become a rich base and concentrates the onion and garlic flavors!
  5. Then you'll add the remaining ingredients - crushed tomatoes, red wine, basil, chili powder, salt and pepper. 
  6. Finish by allowing it to simmer on the stove.

No time to cook or simmer this on the stove? 

  • After adding all the ingredients, place the Dutch oven into the oven at 250 for 1 ½ hours.
  • Another option is (again after you've added all of the ingredients) pour everything into the slow cooker. Turn on low and allow it to cook all day long.

Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.   

The Le Crueset 5 quart Casserole Dish is an investment, but will last you a lifetime!

Marina recipe in a blue pot surrounded by fresh garlic, tomatoes and onions.
This in an amazing recipe for Marinara Sauce.

FAQ's

Can I use ketchup in place of tomato paste?

Catsup seems like a quick and easy substitute if you do not have tomato paste, but it's much more watery than paste. It's not a good substitute.

What is the difference between marinara sauce and spaghetti sauce?

Spaghetti Sauce is deep and complex in flavor and usually smooth and silky. Marinara Sauce is thick and chunky and often a quicker sauce to make. Often using basil, red pepper flakes and even fresh tomatoes.

Things to know

When you do make this, trust me - you're going to want to make a double batch.

Bonus? It freezes great! And it's so good you'll never want to use the jarred version again!

Storage

Refrigerate - allow the sauce to cool completely and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to three days.

Freeze - Leftover sauce freezes great. Store in an air-tight container or even a ziplock bag. I love using those because they stack so well in the freezer. Freeze up to three months.

Recipe for marinara sauce simmering in a blue pot surrounded by fresh basil and onions.
The flavors of Mom's Sunday Gravy just can't be beat!

Serve with

You can serve it with pasta, parmesan cheese with some torn basil. You can simmer it with meatballs, or sauce up Chicken Cacciatore - it a sweet, well balanced sauce.

Perfect sauce for homemade Lasagna. Use it for pizza sauce, dipping sauce and of course your favorite pasta sauce.

  • Butternut Squash Ravioli
  • Turkey Meatballs
  • Easy Pizza Bread

Be sure to leave a comment below and tell me what you think of this recipe, I’d love a five star rating!!

AND if you make it, be sure to tag me @bowl_me_over or #bowlmeover

Chunky hearty marinara sauce in stock pot.
5 from 7 votes

Recipe for Marinara Sauce

Mom's Sunday Gravy Marinara Sauce - serve with pasta sprinkled with parmesan cheese and minced parsley, meatballs, or Bracioli.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
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Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time2 hours hrs
Total Time2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
Course: Sauces
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 8 cups
Calories: 76kcal
Author: Deb Clark

Ingredients

  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 6 oz. can tomato paste
  • ½ cup red wine
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 28 oz *can crushed tomatoes
  • ½ cup fresh basil or if using dried substitute with 2 tablespoons dried
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 tablespoons sugar sugar sweetens the acid in the tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • Begin by dicing the onion and mince the garlic.
  • In a large heavy bottom pan over medium heat, sauté the onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons good olive oil.
  • When it's lightly browned - about five minutes - add the tomato paste and 3 cups water. Increase the heat to high. Stir together well, bring to a boil then reduce to medium low.
  • Simmer for twenty minutes on medium low heat, stirring frequently. This makes a rich base and concentrates the onion/garlic flavors.
  • Next add the remaining ingredients; 1 can of crushed tomatoes, the fresh or dried basil, bay leaf, sugar, salt, pepper, chili powder, red wine & garlic powder.
  • Continue to cook, stirring occasionally until well blended. Simmer on the stove for 1 ½ hours. Adjust seasonings to your taste.

Notes

*If you'd prefer use a can of whole tomatoes, just crush them by hand.

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    Nutrition

    Calories: 76kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 299mg | Potassium: 49mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 1.5mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.1mg

    Recipe backstory

    I'm taking you on a trip around the world today! We're going to Italy today but first we're making a stop along the way to see my friend Michelle! 🇮🇹 You see Michelle gave me this recipe for Marinara Sauce several years ago!

    When I originally shared this recipe it was with this fabulous recipe for Bracioli but since then I've made it with everything under the sun because it's an easy sauce with the most amazing flavor!

    This recipe for Marinara Sauce is from my Italian friend Michelle - I'm so honored that she has shared this amazing recipe with me!

    Here's another note *From Michelle - Italian women shake the cans. If the tomatoes slosh around, they keep checking until they find one that doesn't slosh because the cans are fuller. This is probably a myth, but it's a fun thing to do!

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    About Debra Clark

    Hey I'm Deb Clark, and I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over! We live in the sleepy little town of Scappoose, Oregon. And I admit it... I love food! Join me in this foodie journey (even if you've never cooked before!) I will help you learn to be confident in the kitchen! Want to learn more? Let's stay connected, you can email me at debra@bowl-me-over.com and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

    Comments

      5 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Dan Overall says

      August 22, 2018 at 6:47 am

      I will make a double batch. Can it be "water bath" canned?

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        August 23, 2018 at 12:12 pm

        Hey Dan - yes you can water bath can this sauce. After you ladle it into jars, add 1 tablespoon lemon juice into each pint jar and stir. Process in a water bath for 45 minutes. Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. jacquee | i sugar coat it! says

      August 26, 2017 at 8:27 am

      These flavours sound absolutely, mouthwateringly deeelish!!

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        August 26, 2017 at 3:53 pm

        Wait until you make it - your mouth will be watering as it simmers away on the stove - enjoy Jacquee!!!

        Reply
    3. Jagruti says

      August 26, 2017 at 6:25 am

      Your mum's Sunday Gravy pictures are so nice, thanks for sharing

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        August 26, 2017 at 3:54 pm

        My friend Michelle is pretty much like my second Mom! 🙂 Thank you Jagruti!

        Reply
    4. Julia says

      August 26, 2017 at 5:15 am

      5 stars
      Marinara sauce is such a great sauce! My favorite one as well! 🙂

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        August 26, 2017 at 3:55 pm

        I so agree, thank you Julia!

        Reply
    5. Liza says

      August 25, 2017 at 10:32 pm

      5 stars
      Oh this Sauce is PERFECT!!!! And it's the definite MUST-MAKE for me because I just LOVE everything tomato-red sauce related! I actually order Marinara at a restaurant and eat it as a side! And now I'm going to make my own thanks to this great recipe! 🙂 LOVE IT! 🙂

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        August 26, 2017 at 3:58 pm

        Oh my gosh, there will be no need to go out now! This is the BEST sauce, please tell me you are going to make it!! I so hope you do and be sure to double it, because you're going to want to freeze some! Enjoy Liza!!!

        Reply
    6. Ginny McMeans says

      August 25, 2017 at 10:04 pm

      5 stars
      This is exactly the kind of red sauce/gravy that I love! Thanks for the great recipe. Pinning!

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        August 26, 2017 at 3:59 pm

        You are so welcome Ginny, I'm so appreciative of Michelle sharing it with me! Thanks for pinning and I hope you give it a try!

        Reply
    7. Jillian says

      August 25, 2017 at 9:51 pm

      5 stars
      This looks sooo good! I could just drink it from a cup!

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        August 26, 2017 at 3:59 pm

        Ha! I ate it with a spoon so that works too! 🙂 Thank you Jillian!

        Reply
    8. Dahn says

      August 25, 2017 at 8:16 pm

      5 stars
      every kitchen needs a good marinara sauce! It is the basis to some of the best comfort foods around!

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        August 26, 2017 at 4:10 pm

        That's so true Dahn, it's such a great starting point!

        Reply
        • Mike says

          January 09, 2022 at 12:04 pm

          Any recommendations for which brand red wine to use?
          I only ask because I know nothing about red wines but would assume it can make a huge difference using the right one. Thanks.

          Reply
          • Bowl Me Over says

            January 09, 2022 at 4:09 pm

            Francis Ford Coppola cabernet or pinot noir are an affordable wine that would be great for this recipe. Basically any drinkable wine. You'll spend $10-$12. And it's totally worth it! Double the recipe and you'll be happy you did - enjoy!

            Reply
    9. Carlos At Spoonabilities says

      August 25, 2017 at 7:34 pm

      5 stars
      Love easy recipes!
      I will keep this recipe for the next time, I make marinara sauce

      Reply
      • Bowl Me Over says

        August 26, 2017 at 4:11 pm

        Fantastic! Enjoy, because this is an amazing sauce - thanks Carlos!

        Reply
    Blogger Deb Clark smiling at camera holding a plate filled with a casserole.
    Welcome to Bowl Me Over!

    Hey I'm Deb Clark! I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over. We live in a sleepy little town just north of Portland in the beautiful Pacific Northwest... (read more)

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