Name: 5 Ingredient Easiest Ever Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons olive oil; ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more, if you like it spicy); 3 cloves of garlic, minced; 2 (28 oz) cans crushed tomatoes; 20 basil leaves, torn or chopped; ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped; 1 tsp salt; ½ tsp black pepper

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With just 5 ingredients, this is the Easiest Ever Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce. Once you try it, it’s sure to become your go-to sauce.

Finished tomato in a glass jar for storage

Sharing This Very Easy Marinara Sauce Recipe

OK folks, this right here has been my go-to tomato basil marinara sauce for ages and today I’m sharing it with you all. There is good reason why this has been my go-to recipe for at least 15 years.

It’s a simple sauce, using simple ingredients, requiring very little prep time and cooks up in about 20 minutes. It’s perfect for those busy weeknights when time is at a premium. And, the depth of flavor is amazing for such a simple recipe.

It’s so easy, in fact, that you may never buy another jar of marinara sauce again. So, if you want to make your own marinara sauce, let’s dig in a little more.

Close up of the marinara sauce on a spoon to show the thickness of the finished sauce

Requires a Small Handful of Ingredients

There are only five main ingredients for this homemade sauce:

Crushed tomatoes
Garlic
Red pepper flakes
Fresh basil
Fresh parsley

After that, all you need is some olive oil to saute the garlic (I like using extra virgin olive oil) and a little salt and pepper. These ingredients are typically pantry staples (or easily found in your local grocery store) and relatively inexpensive.

You are likely spending less with this marinara recipe than buying jarred sauces. And, because you are using simple, fresh ingredients, this is likely nutritionally better. That’s a game changer and a win-win!

(Note: If you don’t have any fresh basil or parsley on hand – don’t worry! I substitute dried Italian seasoning for those ingredients. Frankly, sometimes I even add dried Italian seasoning to the recipe in addition to the fresh herbs. The sauce is still fantastic.)

No Need for Specialized Kitchen Appliances

I love this part. All you need is a large sauce pan. That’s it!

No immersion blender, no food processor, no food mill. Just a large sauce pan with a cover. This can also be done in a large skillet if you don’t happen to have a large sauce pan.

The best part? Limited cleanup!

Showing the finished marinara sauce in a jar.

This Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce is Perfect for Batch Cooking

If you happen to have a lot of fresh basil and parsley on hand, I recommend making a double or even triple batch of this delectable marinara sauce. It freezes beautifully and that will make dinnertime even easier if all you have to do is defrost a container.

To freeze, put approximately 2 cups of the finished marinara sauce into an airtight container and place in the freezer. It will be good for up to three months.

To defrost, simply take out of the freezer a few hours before you need to use it. Or, if you are in a hurry, defrost in the microwave for 10-15 minutes. I defrost on 5-10 minute intervals.

Serving Suggestions for this 5 Ingredient Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce

Have I mentioned how versatile this sauce is, as well? There are so many things you can do with this 20 minute marinara sauce.

Use as a simple spaghetti sauce.
Use as a pasta sauce over your favorite pasta(s).
Add some meatballs to the sauce or brown up some ground beef for a thick and hearty meat sauce.
I have found that it works great as pizza sauce.
This is also a great dipping sauce for fried ravioli or garlic bread.

So what are you waiting for? Fill up your freezer with a big batch of tomato basil marinara sauce. It really is the easiest ever!

Close up overhead photo of the marinara sauce being stored in a jar

Tips and Tricks

Fresh basil and fresh garlic make all the difference in the flavor of this sauce. I do not recommend using dried basil or garlic powder.
The sauce freezes well. So, I will often make a double batch and freeze in 2 cup portions to have on hand for quick pasta dinners.

Ingredients Needed to Make Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce

Full instructions can be found below in the printable recipe card

Olive oil – I recommend this, rather than vegetable oil because it does add good flavor to the sauce.
Red pepper flakes – This adds a little kick to the sauce. If you like your sauce milder, add less and if you like your sauce spicier, add more.
Fresh garlic – I love the flavor the sauce gets from fresh rather than garlic powder.
Crushed tomatoes – This sauce turns out richer and thicker with crushed tomatoes than it would with regular tomato sauce.
Fresh basil leaves – Fresh is far superior to dried basil in this recipe. It gives the sauce a bright, fresh flavor.
Fresh parsley – This adds a brightness to the flavor of the sauce.
Salt
Black pepper

How to Make Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce

Heat olive oil over medium-low heat.
Add red pepper flakes and garlic.
Cook until garlic starts to sizzle, about 3-5 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic.
Stir in crushed tomatoes, increase to medium heat and bring to a simmer.
Add basil, parsley, salt and pepper.
Reduce heat to simmer, cover and let simmer for at least 15 minutes to let flavors develop.

More Easy Tomato Sauces

Yield: 6-8