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This recipe for Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce shows how to make spaghetti sauce from scratch right in your own kitchen.
Serve with pasta and a side of warm Homemade Garlic Bread for an easy weeknight dinner everyone will enjoy!
This easy homemade pasta sauce is super simple to make and tastes so much better than store-bought ever could!
Simply saute onions, garlic carrots, and celery in a pan, adding tomatoes, seasoning, and fresh herbs – it’s that easy!
Why This Recipe Works
- Using carrots in the sauce adds sweetness and lowers acidity.
- Using fresh herbs and aromatics adds a flavor that can’t be found in store-bought sauces.
- Slowly simmering the sauce brings out all the deep, rich flavors without lots of added ingredients.
What Tomatoes For Tomato Sauce
When buying canned tomatoes, it’s always a good idea to go for whole plum or Roma tomatoes. Manufacturers save the best quality tomatoes for canning whole because they need to look pristine. They are picked and canned at the peak of ripeness.
San Marzano tomatoes are high-quality tomatoes with a sweet flavor and little acidity. Legally, and to be called a San Marzano, this tomato has to be grown in the Sarno Valley in Italy and there will be a DOP symbol on the can.
This recipe calls for crushed tomatoes, but I use whole canned tomatoes that I crush myself. Whole tomatoes can be put through a food mill, crushed or pureed in a food processor before using them for the sauce.
Using Fresh Tomatoes
To use fresh tomatoes instead of canned ones in tomato sauce, remove the ends and cut them into quarters. Then coat with olive oil and salt and pepper and roast them at 400°F for 30 to 35 minutes (keep an eye on them if you don’t want them browned) then I puree the mixture until smooth. This is a great way to keep them from becoming too watery (although tomato paste may need to be added to thicken the sauce). Then use as you would canned tomatoes.
Use 1 lb of fresh tomatoes for every 14oz can (this recipe would need 4 lbs). See the recipe notes for more detailed instructions.
How to Make Homemade Tomato Sauce:
- Soften the chopped onion and vegetables then add the garlic and cook another minute.
- Add the tomatoes, seasoning, and herbs bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer until thickened.
Step By Step Instructions
Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large saucepan on medium heat and saute the onion, celery, and carrots until they are soft and no liquid is being released from them.
The key to keeping this Easy Homemade Tomato Pasta Sauce recipe really simple is a food processor. It’s not only a speedy way to chop the vegetables but by chopping them quite fine, they cook even faster. The smaller they’re chopped, the quicker the sauce will cook.
In the middle of the softened vegetables, form a well, and add the remaining olive oil, followed by the garlic. Allow the garlic to brown slightly (being careful not to let it burn). This allows the garlic to release the most flavor.
Mix in the tomatoes and herbs.
Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.
This tomato sauce will thicken as it cooks. If it becomes too thick, you can add a little water to loosen it up.
Serve this Spaghetti Sauce on pasta or add it to pizza – the choices are endless!
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Recipe
Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion (peeled and quartered)
- 2 stalks of celery (cleaned and cut into chunks)
- 2 medium carrots (peeled and cut into chunks )
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves of garlic (finely chopped)
- 56 oz crushed tomatoes ((four 14oz/400g cans or two 28oz cans))
- 1 good handful fresh flat-leaf parsley (chopped)
- 1 good handful fresh basil (chopped)
- Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Add the onion, carrots, and celery and to a food processor and chop them into small pieces.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large saucepan on medium heat and saute the onion, celery, and carrots until they are soft and no liquid is being released from them.
- In the middle of the softened vegetables, form a well, and add the remaining olive oil, followed by the garlic. Allow the garlic to brown slightly (being careful not to let it burn).
- Mix in the tomatoes and herbs.
- Add seasoning, bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.
- If you like a thinner sauce you can add it to the food processor and puree into your desired consistency or if you like a thicker sauce, skip this step.
Tips
Erren’s Top Tips
- Choose Your Texture: For a silky smooth sauce, run it through a food processor or blender once it cools slightly. For a rustic, hearty sauce, leave it as is.
- Don’t Skip the Veggie Base: Let the onion, carrot, and celery cook down fully before adding tomatoes. This step builds a naturally sweet, rich flavor and avoids watery sauce.
- Dried vs. Fresh Herbs: If you don’t have fresh parsley and basil, swap in dried. Just remember—dried parsley adds little flavor, so try oregano instead for a better match.
- Fixing Acidity: If your sauce tastes too sharp or bitter, stir in a tiny pinch of baking soda at a time. It neutralizes the acidity without masking flavor.
- Control the Thickness: Tomato sauce thickens as it simmers. If it gets too thick, loosen it with a splash of water or even a bit of pasta cooking water for extra flavor.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
- Refrigerator: Let the sauce cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavor actually gets even better after a day or two.
- Freezer: Portion into freezer-safe bags or containers, leaving a little space for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheating: Warm gently on the stove over low heat, stirring occasionally. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water or broth to loosen it back up.
Using Fresh Tomatoes
To use fresh tomatoes you will need 4 lbs of tomatoes, cut into quarters, coat with olive oil and salt and pepper, and roast at 400°F for 30-35 minutes (keep an eye on them if you don’t want them browned) then I puree the mixture until smooth. This is a great way to keep them from becoming too watery (although tomato paste may need to be added to thicken the sauce). Then use as you would canned tomatoes.
Save to favoritesYour saved recipes will be right here waiting for you every time you visit, so you can easily find and make the meals you love.FAQs
Can homemade tomato sauce be frozen?
Yes, it can easily be made in large batches and frozen by separating it into airtight, freezer-safe containers and freezing for up to four months.
How do you store tomato sauce?
Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days.
Alternatively, see this article on The Spruce Eats for canning tomato sauce.
How do you make tomato sauce thicker?
The best way to thicken tomato sauce is to reduce it by simmering uncovered until it thickens on its own.
Update Notes: This post was originally published on: Sep 25, 2017, but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions, cooking tips and video in Feb 2019.
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