San Marzano Marinara Sauce

4.93 from 13 votes

Make this rich and flavorful San Marzano marinara sauce at home using simple ingredients. Perfect for pasta, pizza, or dipping!

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: condiment, sauce

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: san marzano tomatoes, san marzano sauce, gluten-free, marinara sauce, pasta sauce, tomato sauce

Servings: servings

Calories: 110kcal

Pour tomatoes into a large bowl and crush, using your hands or a potato masher. *Note: They may not crush all the way down at first, and that's okay. After they have simmered for 5-10 minutes, they will soften.
Pour 1 cup of water into the can (to get all of the tomato juice left in the can) and set that aside.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering and hot, add the garlic.
As soon as the garlic begins to sizzle (about 30 seconds), add the tomatoes and the reserved tomato water.
Stir in the red pepper flakes and oregano. Taste the sauce, then season it with salt and pepper as desired.
Simmer tomato sauce until it is rich and has thickened, about 15 minutes. After 5-10 minutes, use a potato masher to crush the tomatoes futher. This helps to create a smoother consistency.
Before removing the pan from the heat, be sure to taste the sauce and add more salt and/or pepper, if needed.
Garnish with chopped fresh basil before serving, if desired.

If you use fresh herbs, add them in the last 10 minutes or so of cooking so as not to simmer away the flavor.

Recipe Variations:

Classic homemade pasta sauce: Add finely chopped onions, a grated carrot, and a pinch of kosher salt while sautéing the garlic. This adds natural sweetness and depth to the homemade pasta sauce, perfect for tossing with spaghetti or baked ziti.
Pizza sauce variation: Simmer the San Marzano base with dried thyme, oregano, and basil to create a robust pizza sauce. Blend until smooth, then use it on homemade pizza crust or flatbreads. A small piece of parmesan rind can be added during cooking for an umami boost.
Hearty casserole sauce: Stir in browned ground beef or Italian sausage along with the tomato base. This hearty version is great layered into your go-to casserole or baked rigatoni. Add your favorite aromatics like crushed fennel seed or rosemary for extra flavor!

Storing Instructions:

This Italian tomato sauce should be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 6 months.
For either storing method, let it cool completely before transferring it to a completely airtight container. We tend to use mason jars for homemade sauces — and holding onto old marinara jars is perfect for this!
Frozen or refrigerated, it can be slowly reheated on the stovetop.