Name: Easy Marinara Sauce (Ready in 20 Minutes)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 Servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 0.5 yellow onion; 4 cloves garlic; 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes; 24 ounces passata; 1 tsp fine sea salt; 0.5 tsp black pepper; 1 tsp dried basil; 0.5 tsp dried oregano

Easy Marinara Sauce (Ready in 20 Minutes)

Easy Marinara Sauce (Ready in 20 Minutes) cover

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Easy Marinara Sauce (Ready in 20 Minutes)

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Easy Marinara Sauce (Ready in 20 Minutes)

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ yellow onionfinely diced

4 cloves garlicminced

¼ tsp red pepper flakesoptional

24 ounces passata(can substitute for crushed tomatoes)*

1 tsp fine sea saltplus more to taste

½ tsp black pepper

1 tsp dried basilor 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

½ tsp dried oreganooptional but recommended

Instructions

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Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a medium pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly translucent. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.

Pour in the passata (or crushed tomatoes), salt, pepper, basil, and oregano. Stir well to combine. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Let it cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. For a deeper flavor, simmer for 30–40 minutes. The longer it cooks, the richer and slightly thicker it becomes!

Taste and add more salt if needed. If using fresh basil, stir it in during the last few minutes of cooking.

Notes

*If using crushed tomatoes instead of passata, expect a slightly more rustic texture. No blending needed.

Storage Instructions – Store leftover marinara sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

To freeze, let the sauce cool completely and store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Bloom Your Dried Herbs 🌿
Toast the oregano and basil in hot olive oil for 30 seconds before adding other ingredients to unlock their essential oils and intensify their flavor dramatically.
Caramelize Your Onions First 🧅
Cook diced onions in olive oil for 3-4 minutes until golden and fragrant before adding garlic—this creates a deeper, sweeter foundation for your sauce.
The Garlic-Timing Secret 🧄
Add minced garlic in the last 30 seconds before the passata to prevent it from burning and turning bitter while preserving its pungent, fresh character.
Salt in Layers, Not All at Once 🧂
Season with half your salt at the beginning and the remaining half after the sauce simmers for 10 minutes—this allows you to taste and achieve perfect balance without oversalting.
Finish with Red Pepper Flakes Strategically 🌶️
Reserve a pinch of red pepper flakes to sprinkle in during the last minute rather than cooking them the entire time, so they add a fresh, bright heat instead of a dull burn.