Why buy jarred sauce when you can make this homemade Spicy Marinara Sauce? This recipe is quick and easy and yields a rich, flavorful pasta sauce using just a few pantry staples: olive oil, garlic, dried herbs, tomato paste, sauces and diced tomatoes, plus a touch of crushed red pepper for heat.
Homemade marinara delivers brighter, fresher flavor than most store-bought sauces and is versatile enough for pizza, pasta, casseroles, soups and more. It’s also economical and easy to customize — swap or add fresh herbs, roast garlic, or incorporate ground meat or plant-based crumbles for a heartier sauce. Make a batch, refrigerate or freeze portions, and you’ll always have a reliable red sauce ready at mealtime.
What is Marinara Sauce?
Marinara is a tomato-based Italian-American sauce typically made with tomatoes, garlic, onions and herbs. It’s simple, fast to prepare, and very adaptable—try adding capers, olives, wine or different spices to match your dish.
🍝 Ingredients:
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Garlic – minced
- Herbs – basil, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, onion flakes, parsley (fresh or dried)
- Tomato paste and tomato sauce
- Diced tomatoes (canned or fresh)
- Sugar – to balance acidity
- Parmesan cheese – for garnish
See the printable recipe card below for exact measurements and serving details.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use fresh herbs like basil, thyme or oregano, or add whole vine tomatoes when in season.
- Adjust heat by varying the crushed red pepper flakes or adding cayenne.
- Add a bay leaf while simmering or brown a small onion with the garlic for more savory depth.
- Stir in cooked ground beef, turkey, chicken, sausage or plant-based crumbles for a meat sauce.
- Roast a head of garlic or finish with a splash of dry red wine for extra richness.
🔪 Instructions:
Step 1: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil and sauté minced garlic over medium heat for 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
Step 2: Add basil, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, onion flakes, tomato paste, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Reserve sugar and garnish until tasting.
Step 3: Bring the sauce to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes to let flavors meld.
Step 4: Taste and add granulated or brown sugar as needed to balance tomato acidity. Adjust salt, pepper, herbs and red pepper flakes to your preference.
Pro Tip: This is the stage to fine-tune the seasoning. Add more herbs for brightness, more red pepper for heat, or a pinch of salt and black pepper to round the flavors.
Step 5: Serve over your favorite pasta, use as a pizza sauce, or add it to any Italian-style dish.
Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and chopped parsley or basil. Serve with a simple salad and garlic bread for a complete meal.
Recipe Tips for Spicy Marinara Pasta Sauce
- Serving ideas: pizza, casseroles, creamy tomato soup, meatballs in marinara, dipping sauce for mozzarella sticks or fried calamari, or the base for minestrone.
- If using fresh tomatoes, you can leave the skins on for texture or peel them for a smoother sauce. Canned tomatoes are already skinless.
- Choose high-quality, ripe tomatoes (San Marzano are excellent) and wash fresh tomatoes well if keeping the skins.
- This marinara has a pleasant kick but isn’t extremely hot—add cayenne or extra red pepper flakes if you prefer more heat.
Recipe FAQs
Refrigerator: Cool completely, then store in an airtight container for 4–5 days. Freezer: Cool completely and freeze in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 4 months. Portion into smaller servings (2-cup portions work well) for quicker thawing and convenient use.
If refrigerated, reheat on the stovetop over low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. You can also microwave the sauce covered to prevent splatters. If frozen, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating, or use a cold-water thaw for faster results or the microwave defrost setting if needed.
Spicy Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
- 12 oz tomato paste
- 29 oz tomato sauce
- 2 — 15 oz cans diced tomatoes
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- Fresh basil, oregano and/or parsley for garnish
- Parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet or Dutch oven, sauté garlic in olive oil over medium heat 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
- Add all remaining ingredients except the sugar and garnish: basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, onion flakes, tomato paste, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook 30 minutes.
- Taste and add granulated sugar to cut the acidity, if desired. Adjust salt, pepper and spice to taste.
- Serve over pasta or use as desired.
Notes
- Great on pizza, in casseroles, as a base for soups, with meatballs, or as a dipping sauce.
- Peel fresh tomato skins for a smoother texture, or keep them on for more body.
- San Marzano tomatoes are an excellent choice when available.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 16 g |
Protein: 4 g |
Fat: 2 g |
Sodium: 846 mg |
Fiber: 4 g
If you try this Spicy Marinara Sauce recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it turned out in the comments below.