This simple, homemade oil-free marinara sauce is perfect for spooning over your favorite pasta, lasagna, or as a tasty dipping sauce for garlic bread. Plus it's super customizable!
This easy Italian-inspired marinara sauce comes together quick on the stovetop with just a few simple pantry ingredients. This is by no means an authentic Italian marinara sauce, but simply my own easy version that I enjoy.
I enjoy making homemade versions of store-bought staples (like Enchilada Sauce and Taco Seasoning) because you can control the ingredients. But also because you can cater it directly to your own taste.
Store-bought jarred marinara sauce (while delicious and convenient) typically has added sugar and oil. So you have the option of omitting those ingredients by making your own right at home.
Ingredients for Oil-Free Marinara
For this recipe you will need:
- Canned crushed tomatoes (be sure to use good quality)
- Onion
- Garlic
- Dried basil
- Dried oregano
- Salt
- Optional: fresh basil, red pepper flakes, balsamic vinegar, cane sugar
This recipe is customizable with your own favorite flavors and herbs. Please see the optional additions below for ideas on how to make this sauce your own.
For more inspiration, see all sauce & seasoning recipes or oil-free recipes.
Easy Marinara Sauce (Oil-Free)
Ingredients
- 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes (use good quality)
- 1/2 small onion
- 4-5 cloves garlic
- 1 Tbsp. dried basil
- 2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. salt (more/less to taste)
Optional additions:
- Fresh basil (to stir in at end), 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes, 1-2 tsp. balsamic vinegar, 1/2 tsp. cane sugar (or 1 Tbsp. maple syrup)
Instructions
- Finely dice onion.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, sauté onion for 7-8 minutes. (I use 3 Tbsp. water/broth for no-oil sauté method, adding more as needed.)
- Meanwhile, mince garlic.
- When onion is translucent, add garlic, basil, and oregano. Stir and sauté 2 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add tomatoes and salt. Stir, then cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasonings/flavors as desired. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days or freeze.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)
If you're enjoying this oil-free marinara sauce, also browse all Italian-inspired recipes or check out:
Please leave a review and rating if you make this recipe. Your feedback is greatly appreciated - thank you!
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Weigh2Go
How long does it last in terms of not using it all at once? Can I use on pizza as the sauce? By the way love all your recipes.
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer
Glad you're enjoying the recipes. You can definitely use this as a pizza sauce. (I have another pizza sauce recipe on the site I adore as well.) I think the sauce could freeze for 1-2 months (however use your best judgement as I have not tested this.) I've had it in the fridge for about 4 days, so anything past that I'm not sure.
CJ - Food Stories
I love chunky marinara so would have to leave this as is. Yum!
Alida
I love this sauce. So simple and your presentation is very good too.