Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce (2024)

When life gets in the way, this Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce recipe can be ready in 15 minutes! It's a fresh, delicious alternative to sauce in the jar.

Why 15 minute tomato sauce?

“I’m having one of those days” is a phrase that both of us are use too often lately. The idea of coming home after a hard day and having to feed a family is stressful. Necessity truly is the mother of invention. That's how our Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce was born. We serve it on pasta, over our Homemade Meatballs, and even as Pizza Sauce.

Ingredients

• TOMATOES: vine-ripened tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, or Roma tomatoes (or substitute canned crushed tomatoes)
• GARLIC: 3 garlic cloves
• GREEN ONIONS: sliced
• BASIL LEAVES: fresh basil leaves
• SUGAR:
• OLIVE OIL: use the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can afford

see recipe card for quantities.

How to make tomato sauce

1. Peel and chop garlic cloves.
2. In a large sauté pan, add oil, garlic and green onions. Sauté over medium low heat for 3-4 minutes.
3. Dice tomatoes into small pieces and add to sauté pan. Cook down, stirring often (about 10 minutes).
4. At this point you can use an emulsion blender if you like a smoother sauce. If not, go ahead and add the sugar and cook an additional 5 minutes.
5. Remove from heat.
6. Tear basil leaves and add to sauce.
7. Salt and pepper to taste.
8. Serve over your favorite pasta.

What tomatoes are best?

We recommend large homegrown tomatoes are best for homemade sauce because of their natural sweetness. We like: vine-ripened tomatoes or beefsteak tomatoes. In the off season, use Roma tomatoes or canned San Marzano tomatoes.

Why this recipe works

We love an authentic tomato sauce that has been stewed over and loved on for hours (like our favorite Meatless Mushroom Ragù). Keith does this well, and he enjoys the process. We’ve both spent time with Italian mammas and nonnas who swear by “this ingredient “or “that method” that puts their sauce over the top. There is nothing better. But life gets in the way sometimes. Work, school, and obligations take over, and before you know it that last jar of sauce has disappeared from the pantry. Using a few fresh ingredients, this homemade pasta sauce is the perfect satisfying stand-in.

Variations

• Use Canned Tomatoes: If you don't have homegrown tomatoes, use canned San Marzano tomatoes (whole or crushed tomatoes both work).
• Smooth Sauce: If you prefer a smooth sauce (not chunky), use an emulsion blender (or put it in the food processor) before serving.
• Make it Spicy by adding some red pepper flakes: for a spicy version of this sauce, check out our Arrabbiata Sauce recipe.

Storage

• Store in refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 7 days
• Sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months

What to serve with homemade tomato sauce:

Spaghetti with Mushroom Ragù

Meatball Ciabatta Bread Pizza

Pickled Pepper Focaccia Bread: a bowl for dipping is the best!

Print

• Apple Cider Vinaigrette
• White BBQ Sauce (Alabama White Sauce)
• Tomato Jalapeño Jam + A Summer Grazing Board
• Thai Dumplings with Peanut Dipping Sauce