Tomato Sauce

This homemade tomato sauce is made with canned tomatoes, fresh garlic, basil, parsley, and seasonings. It’s homemade comfort food at it’s best.

Flavor: Bright and tangy with a hint of basil, homemade tomato sauce tastes better than store-bought.
Skill Level: Everything is simmered to perfection in a single pot. It’s beginner-friendly with minimal hands-on time.
Serving Suggestions: Dip breadsticks or use the sauce as a base for hearty sloppy joes.
Yield: If the pot is big enough, double or triple the recipe and freeze for future recipes.

tomatoes , parsley , salt , garlic , oil , onion , oregano , basil with labels to make Tomato Sauce

Ingredient Tips for Homemade Tomato Sauce

Tomatoes: Use the highest quality canned tomatoes, like San Marzano, for the best flavor. For a chunkier sauce, diced or crushed tomatoes work well. Fresh tomatoes will take a little longer to cook, but they add great flavor to the sauce.
Seasonings: This sauce is seasoned with basil, oregano, and parsley. For more flavor, add a dash of Italian seasoning, a simple shake of rosemary, or some red pepper flakes.
Variations: Add some heavy whipping cream to the pot once the sauce is pureed after Step 3 for a creamier sauce. Sliced mushrooms, shredded zucchini, or any leftover veggies from the fridge will stretch the sauce and add some nutrients!

adding seasoning to tomatoes to make Tomato Sauce

blending ingredients in pot to make Tomato Sauce

If your sauce is tasting too acidic, add up to ½ teaspoon of sugar, honey, or ¼ cup of grated carrots to the sauce in Step 3.
Simmer uncovered for a thicker sauce. Add water or broth if it thickens too much!
Blend all or part of the sauce with an immersion blender (right in the pot!) for a smoother texture.

Ways to Use Tomato Sauce

This homemade tomato sauce is super versatile and packed with cozy, savory flavor. It’s one of those go-to recipes you’ll find endless ways to use, like in these recipes!

This sauce makes a great dip for garlic bread or mozzarella sticks, too!

Storing Leftovers

Keep leftover homemade tomato sauce in a covered container or mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze in zippered bags for up to 3 months.

More Sauces to Savor!

Did you enjoy this Tomato Sauce recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

5 from 26 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

This homemade tomato sauce is rich, fresh, and full of bold flavor. It’s perfect for pasta, spaghetti, chicken, or pizza!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

In a pot, combine olive oil and onion over medium heat. Cook until onions start to soften. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
Gently mash the tomatoes with your hands and add to the pan with juices. Stir in basil.
Simmer 20 minutes, adding water if needed to reach desired consistency. Optional: Once thickened, use an immersion blender to blend the sauce to desired consistency.
Stir in parsley. Taste sauce and season with add salt & pepper.

Simmer to thicken to desired consistency.
The acidity of tomatoes can vary based on brand. If your tomato sauce is acidic, add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar or 1/4 cup grated carrots.
Sauce can be left slightly chunky or blended smooth with a hand blender or a blender.
If using a blender, be sure not to place the lid on tightly or the steam could cause it to burst open.
Keep leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days. This sauce freezes well and will last for 3 months in the freezer.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Pasta, Sauce

Cuisine American, Italian

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.