Name: Hearty Marinara Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 8 Servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 onion; 6 cloves garlic; 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 cans crushed tomatoes; 2 bay leaves; 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning; 1 tbsp seasoning blend; 0.25 cup parmesan cheese

This spaghetti sauce marinara recipe is perfect for so many dishes such as pasta, lasagna and chicken parmesan, tender meatballs, homemade beef, a subway meatball sub recipe, meatball marinara hoagie, meatball marinara sandwich, turkey meatballs and pork meatballs. The options are simply endless!

Other

30 m

Italian

It is a Keeper

March 9, 2026

Itisakeeper.com

From the Cook

1/5

Hearty Marinara Sauce

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pot.

Add onions and sauté for 5 minutes or until translucent.

Add garlic to pot and cook for 1 minute.

Add crushed tomatoes, bay leaves, Italian seasoning blend and House seasoning blend; stir to combine.

Bring to a bubbling simmer then turn the heat down to low and simmer for 20 minutes.

Add grated parmesan cheese; stir to combine.

Serve immediate or freeze for later.

Video Tutorial

Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Caramelize Your Aromatics 🧅
Cook diced onions and garlic low and slow in olive oil for 8-10 minutes until golden and sweet, creating a rich flavor foundation that elevates the entire sauce.
Bloom Your Dried Herbs 🌿
Toast the Italian seasoning and bay leaves in the hot oil before adding tomatoes to release their essential oils and intensify their aromatic compounds.
Simmer Low and Long ⏱️
Maintain a gentle simmer for 30-45 minutes rather than a rolling boil to allow flavors to meld and acidity in the tomatoes to mellow naturally without becoming sharp.
Finish with Raw Garlic 💎
Stir in minced fresh raw garlic in the final minute of cooking to add a bright, vibrant note that cuts through the richness and prevents that cooked-garlic bitterness.
Grate Parmesan Fresh and Late ✨
Never pre-grate parmesan—grate it fresh just before finishing the sauce and add it off-heat so it melts gently without becoming grainy or separating.