Homemade Marinara Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes

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Homemade Marinara Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes is easy, flavourful and loaded with fresh ingredients like plum tomatoes, basil, oregano and thyme. It makes the perfect topping for pizza, meatballs or pasta dishes, and comes together in just one pot!

Fresh tomato marinara sauce in a glass bowl next to a napkin and wooden spoon.

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This post was originally published in September 2018 and has been updated with new text and process photos. The recipe remains the same.

When fresh tomatoes and local herbs are in season, this easy marinara sauce is on repeat in our house. And even when they're not in season, fresh tomatoes and herbs are usually easy to find, so this recipe is perfect to make and enjoy year round.

What can you use marinara sauce for?

healthy homemade pizza or air fryer mini pizza
air fryer chicken parmesan or air fryer chicken meatballs
pizza or meatball subs (my hubby's personal faves)
pasta bakes (hello lasagna!)
zucchini noodles (my fave)
stuffed peppers
dipping sauce for breadsticks, garlic fingers or air fryer gnocchi

Plum tomatoes and other marinara sauce ingredients arranged in individual bowls.

Details on a few ingredients

While marinara sauce is typically a simple tomato-based sauce with just a few seasonings like garlic, basil and oregano, this recipe has a few extras that take it up a notch.

These additions don't overcomplicate the recipe, but they do add a little extra flavor.

Fresh tomatoes: Of course, tomatoes are essential for marinara. Instead of using canned tomatoes, however, this recipe calls for fresh Roma (plum) tomatoes.
Red bell peppers: For some added sweetness and texture, I love to add red peppers to sauces and dips.
Jalapeño: This is totally optional, but the extra spicy kick pairs nicely with the sweet and savory sauce.
Tomato paste: A small can of tomato paste really brings the sauce together, and adds texture as well as extra tomato flavor.

Up-close view of chopped tomatoes in a bowl.

How to make marinara sauce from scratch

Step 1: In a large pot, heat some oil and sauté your onion and garlic.
Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients to the pot and stir to combine.
Step 3: Simmer on low for 35-40 minutes, or until the veggies have softened and the mixture has stewed together.
Step 4: Remove from heat and blend until a thick sauce forms but there are still bits of tomatoes and herbs throughout.

Collage of 4 images showing how the marinara sauce ingredients come together in one pot.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best tomatoes for marinara sauce?

Most recipes call for San Marzano, but other plum tomatoes, such as Roma, are also great as they're a little less seedy, and their texture and flavor are perfect for sauces. I also use them in this recipe as they're usually readily available in grocery stores year round.

Can you use canned tomatoes?

There are plenty of recipes out there that use canned tomatoes, but I've only tested this sauce with fresh tomatoes.

Do you have to peel the tomatoes for marinara sauce?

While some recipes call for peeling the tomatoes, I've never done that for this recipe. I find the tomato skins blend into the sauce nicely, and it saves time by not peeling them.

Can you use dried herbs?

This recipe uses a lot of fresh basil and oregano, and the flavor of the sauce is really dependent on the fragrant and flavorful fresh herbs, so I would avoid using dried herbs in this recipe.

How long will marinara sauce last? Can it be frozen?

If stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, this sauce will last for 4-5 days. Or you can freeze it in small batches for up to 3 months. Just let it defrost in the refrigerator before reheating.

Overhead view of marinara sauce in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon and napkin off to the side.

Additional recipe tips and substitutions

You can make this sauce in a cast iron or heavy bottomed pot. Just make sure it's big enough to hold all the ingredients.
I use my handheld immersion blender to purée the ingredients as it gives me more control over blending, and therefore, the texture of the sauce. It also means the sauce comes together in just one pot. If you don't have a handheld blender, you can use a heat safe stand blender and blend in batches.
The sauce is puréed until everything is blended together but there are still tiny pieces of tomato and herbs remaining. If you like a smoother sauce, just blend for a little longer.
If you want to thin out the marinara sauce, just add a splash or two of wine or veggie stock at the end.

If you make this recipe, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments below!

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