Keep this Quick Tomato Sauce in your back pocket for lazy days and last-minute dinners. The recipe is simple to prepare and tastes great after a short simmer time (just 15 minutes). Spoon it over pasta, meatballs, or your favorite Italian recipes.
Table of Contents
Recipe ingredients
Ingredient notes
- Sugar: This is an optional sauce ingredient; I prefer just 1 teaspoon to balance out the acidity in the canned tomatoes. Sweeten to taste or feel free to omit.
Step-by-step instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Add garlic cloves and sauté until browned, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove garlic and discard.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, sugar (if using), basil, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste (I like ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper). Reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered until flavors have blended, about 10 minutes. Keep warm over low-heat until serving time, or cool completely and store covered in the refrigerator.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes 4 cups (1 quart) sauce.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: The sauce can be made, cooled, covered, and refrigerated up to 3 days in advance.
- Freezer: Cool the finished sauce, then pack into freezer-safe containers (I like to use glass Mason jars; leave a half-inch of head space for expansion), and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Blender: For a smooth sauce, process in batches in a blender (or use an immersion blender). Ideal for dipping appetizers like mozzarella sticks or pizza bites.
- Creamy: Add heavy cream to taste (start with ¼ cup and see if you want more).
- Spicy: Stir in red chili flakes to taste with the other spices.
- Buttery: Add 1 or 2 tablespoons butter to the sauce for a rich, buttery taste.
Spaghetti and Meatballs
This classic Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe is a hearty and comforting family dinner idea. One bite of this Italian-American dinner recipe will transport you to a Midwestern red sauce restaurant.
View RecipePut your tomato sauce to work
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Quick Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes undrained
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (see note 1)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Add garlic cloves and sauté until browned, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove garlic and discard.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, sugar (if using), basil, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste (I like ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper). Reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered until flavors have blended, about 10 minutes.
- Keep warm over low-heat until serving time, or cool completely and store covered in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Sugar: This is an optional sauce ingredient; I prefer just 1 teaspoon to balance out the acidity in the canned tomatoes. Sweeten to taste or feel free to omit.
- Yield: This recipe makes 4 cups (1 quart) sauce.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make ahead: The sauce can be made, cooled, covered, and refrigerated up to 3 days in advance.
- Freezer: Cool the finished sauce, then pack into freezer-safe containers (I like to use glass Mason jars; leave a half-inch of head space for expansion), and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Blender: For a smooth sauce, process in batches in a blender (or use an immersion blender).
- Creamy: Add heavy cream to taste (start with ¼ cup and see if you want more).
- Spicy: Stir in red chili flakes to taste with the other spices.
- Buttery: Add 1 or 2 tablespoons butter to the sauce for a rich, buttery taste.
Recipes all look good & easy, I’m so over cooking since COVID STARTED, frozen dinner s are awful
So looking for easy!
Thank you
Happy to help Lennie, hope you enjoy! – Meggan
This is everything I hoped and more! Quick, easy and tasty!