A handful of simple ingredients and a little over 30 minutes is all that’s needed to make your own delicious homemade marinara sauce. Fresh and minimally processed, this marinara sauce is super healthy as it contains no preservatives or unnecessary additives. My favorite way to use up sun-ripened summer tomatoes, you can also make this easy recipe with canned tomatoes (or a mixture of each). Perfect as a pizza sauce or mixed with juicy meatballs, it’s the perfect base for all of your favorite Italian recipes including lasagna, chicken parmesan, stuffed shells, and ravioli.
Sauté the onions and garlic: Cook the onions in a little extra virgin olive oil until softened and translucent. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, dried parsley, salt, and black pepper. Cook for an additional 30 seconds or so.
Add the tomatoes: Whether you’re using canned, fresh, or a mix of each, add them to the softened onions and mix well. Cover and simmer for approximately 15-20 minutes. In the last 5 minutes, stir in the sugar and fresh basil leaves.
Blend the mixture into a sauce: Work in batches, if necessary using a blender or immersion blender. Process until the desired consistency is reached. Careful not to overprocess.
Season to taste: Return the marinara sauce back to a large pot and continue to simmer, covered, over low heat until ready to serve. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.