Every home should have a homemade pasta sauce recipe using fresh, simple ingredients.
This 5 ingredient pasta sauce recipe is just that. Using only whole tomatoes, garlic cloves, fresh basil, olive oil, and an onion, you have a basic homemade marinara sauce. Add in your seasonings, other fresh herbs and maybe some spices. From there, this recipe is easy to customize the very first time you make it. And you can build on it the next time you make it and every other time after that.
Like chunky sauce? You can make this sauce chunky. Like a smooth sauce? You can make this sauce smooth as butter by using a food mill, food processor, blender or an immersion blender. Add your favorite pasta, some garlic bread, and a salad, and dinner is ready.
I was so happy when I found these beautiful Roma tomatoes at my local grocery store.
I can always find ripe tomatoes at the bigger chain grocery stores, but the Roma’s are usually so much smaller. After all, the tomatoes are the star of this recipe. So, we want to use good ones and let their rich flavor shine.
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Equipment needed
- Large pot for boiling water
- Large bowl for an ice/water bath
- Dutch oven or large saucepan. I have two of the Martha Stewart Dutch ovens and use them for everything from soups to sourdough bread!
Equipment Recommended
- Food mill, (I use this one from Amazon) if you prefer to strain out the seeds.
- Food processor, blender, or immersion blender.
Some notes and tips before we begin:
- This recipe will yield roughly 2 quarts (64 oz) of homemade sauce. You can totally halve the recipe if you don’t need that much and prefer not to freeze the rest. Just for reference, a regular size jar of pasta sauce at the store is 24 oz.
- I use Roma tomatoes when I am using fresh tomatoes for this sauce. You can use cherry tomatoes or any other kind of tomatoes you prefer. Just know that if you use more watery tomatoes, you may need to use a tube or can of tomato paste in your sauce. Grow your own tomatoes? Even better!
- Use any kind of onion you like! I have made this using just about every type of onion available at my local grocery store. Red, white, yellow; they are all amazing in this sauce!
- Use a good extra virgin olive oil.
- As for seasonings, you will need salt. Tomatoes need salt. Adding black pepper or any other kind of seasoning, herbs or spices are at your discretion. Fresh herbs (or you can use dry) such as oregano, thyme, and parsley are a few that are regularly found in tomato sauce recipes. If you want to add a little spice, you can add some crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
- Don’t put the lid on your sauce, it will cause condensation and you’ll end up with watery sauce.
- Simmer for at least 30 minutes.
Now let’s get started making this simple pasta sauce that your whole family is going to love.
First, put a large pot of water on the stove to boil.
Take your tomatoes and slit the skin on the bottom in an X shape.
While you’re waiting for the water to boil, get a large bowl and add ice and water. You will use this as an ice bath for your tomatoes after boiling. When the water starts boiling, go ahead and lower the temp to medium heat. Next, depending on the size of your pot, put a few tomatoes at a time into the boiling water for about 5 to 8 seconds. You will see the skin start to peel away from the tomato.
Take out of the pot and immediately transfer to the ice bath. Repeat with the rest of the tomatoes.
Let the tomatoes completely cool in the water bath. It is okay if the ice is completely melted. I let them sit in the water while I prep everything else.
While you’re waiting for the tomatoes to cool, go ahead and chop your onion. I just process mine in my mini food processor. And if preferred, roughly chop your basil or you can leave it whole. And mince your garlic.
Now, peel the skin off the tomatoes and if you’re using a food mill, go ahead and process the tomatoes through the food mill to remove the seeds. Or you can add them to a blender or food processor to chop them all up.
Now, add the olive oil to your saucepan and on medium-low heat, let the olive oil heat up. Next add your onions. Let simmer for 3 to 5 minutes. When they just start getting some color to them, add in your basil. Stir that up, then add in your minced garlic. Stir them around for about a minute.
Now you are ready for the tomatoes. Add your tomatoes to the pan. If they’re still whole, go ahead and let them cook down a bit, then you can mash them with your spoon or a potato masher right in the pan. At this point, if you want a smoother sauce, go ahead and use an immersion blender in your pot to smooth out your sauce.
Now add about 1 teaspoon of salt. You might need more to taste when it’s done, but don’t add too much at first. Bring the sauce to a slight boil, then lower the heat to a gently simmer for (no lid!) for at least 30 minutes. Taste the sauce to see if you want to add more salt or other seasonings, herbs or spices.
Frequently asked questions about homemade sauce
How do you reheat the sauce?
You can reheat the sauce in the microwave or on the stovetop.
How do you store leftover sauce?
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Can you freeze this sauce?
Yes! And please do! Freeze your leftover sauce and/or set a time and make a large batch of this and freeze it. Your freezer container can be freezer safe glass, such as glass Mason or Ball jars. You can use plastic containers or even a Ziplock bag. Whatever you use, make sure it is an airtight container. I recommend reading this post by Carolina Winter at DIY.com, it has all the details you need to know about freezing homemade pasta sauce.
Can you use canned tomatoes?
Yes! Even though fresh tomatoes always taste better, when I can’t find good tomatoes in their peak ripeness at the store, I will grab two cans of Cento brand San Marzano tomatoes. Skip boiling the tomatoes and then just follow the rest of the directions.
Can I add meat to this?
Yes. If you prefer a Bolognese sauce or other meaty type of sauce, brown some hamburger meat or Italian sausage and add it to your sauce. Or even a mixture of the two.
Let me know if you try this recipe! I would love to know any changes you made to customize it to your family. Comments and suggestions are always welcome!
Want to make your own pasta to go with this delicious pasta sauce?
How about your own bread? Homemade bread is the best for garlic bread!
Looking for other recipes with just a few ingredients?
Tangy Ranch Chicken in the Instant Pot
Don’t forget to pin for later!
Simple Homemade 5-Ingredient Pasta Sauce
Make this simple and easy homemade pasta sauce using 5 ingredients
Ingredients
- 5 to 6 lbs. Tomatoes
- 1 small onion or half of a large one
- 8 to 10 cloves of garlic (more if you are a major garlic lover!)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 or 4 basil leaves
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil on the stove, and prepare a large bowl of ice water for when the tomatoes are done boiling.
- Cut an X into the bottom of each tomato.
- When the water is boiling, add a few tomatoes at a time for
5 to 8 seconds. Remove from water and immediately place tomatoes in ice bath.
Repeat with all the tomatoes. - As tomatoes rest and cool off, peel and chop your onion, and
garlic. You can chop the basil leaves or leave them whole. - Next, peel the skin from the tomatoes and remove the area
where the stem was. - Heat the olive oil in your saucepan or stock pot and then add your onions and
garlic. Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, then add your basil and stir to combine. - Add tomatoes. If your tomatoes are still whole, break them up as they cook down.
- If you want a smoother sauce, use immersion blender in your pot to smooth out your sauce
- Add 1 tsp salt, to taste. More, if you think it needs it. Go ahead and add whatever other seasonings, herbs and/or spices you want.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then turn heat down and simmer the sauce for 30 minutes.
- The sauce is done! Toss with your favorite pasta, top with some parmesan cheese and dig in!
Notes
- Use any type of fresh tomatoes you want for this sauce. You might need to add a tube or can of tomato paste if you use a more watery tomato.
- You can also use any kind of onion you like!
- Use a quality extra virgin olive oil.
- As for seasonings, you will need salt. Tomatoes need salt. Any black pepper or any other kind of seasoning, herbs or spices are at your discretion.
- You can use dried or frozen basil in place of fresh leaves.
- Prefer your sauce a little spicy? Add some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
- Don't put the lid on your sauce, it will cause condensation and you'll end up with watery sauce.
- Simmer for at least 30 minutes. You can simmer it longer if you want.
- If you do end up with watery sauce, you can add a can or a tube of tomato paste.
Wow, this looks so nutritious and delicious! Love all the information and details you provide along with other recipes and suggestions!
I’m excited to give this a try! I’ve been thinking lately that it’s about time I started making my own sauce!
I’ve never thought to use a food mill for tomatoes! I must try this recipe. It looks amazing!
That looks so good! Very excited to try this, looks easy enough to make in a dorm. Keep it up!