Best Simple San Marzano Tomato Sauce – 20 Minutes

Make a quick San Marzano Tomato Sauce in 20 minutes! Blend San Marzano tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, onion, and Italian seasoning, then simmer for the best flavorful Italian tomato sauce. It’s perfect for pasta, meatballs, chicken, lasagna, or pizza!

This San Marzano tomato sauce recipe is a traditional family recipe we have been making for years! It only requires 8 ingredients and about 5 minutes of active time + 15 minutes to simmer and become perfectly transformed into a restaurant-style sauce that you can make at home. The flavors in this sauce recipe are amazing and it tastes like it has been simmering for hours. 

The secret to this delicious tomato sauce is in the quality of the ingredients like the authentic San Marzano tomatoes, which are less acidic than regular whole tomatoes and have a sweeter flavor. Using good quality extra virgin olive oil and fresh garlic cloves adds even more richness to this sauce. 

It results in a beautifully simmered, balanced sauce that tastes rich like a marinara sauce but is a little lighter and packed with so much flavor. Blending the ingredients, and then quickly simmering the sauce makes this San Marzano sauce so easy that you could actually use it in so many ways like on pasta, pizza, chicken, meatballs, or even in lasagna!

Why this simple tomato sauce recipe works

• Quick and easy – ready in 20 minutes.
• Simple ingredients – minimal ingredients that you probably have.
• Packed with flavor – the best flavorful, light, and sweet tomato sauce!
• Great to make ahead – It stores great and goes on everything!
• Healthy – this recipe, as written, is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and easily made paleo. 

Recommended Tools For Making This Recipe

• Garlic press – or cutting board + knife
• Food processor
• Large pot
• Wooden spoon

*Check out the recipe card located at the bottom of this post for the complete list of recipe ingredients, instructions, and nutritional information.

Ingredients you will need

• San Marzano Tomatoes – make sure they are “REAL” San Marzano tomatoes since some versions will say “flavored like San Marzano tomatoes”. You also want to make sure they are authentic from Italy and not somewhere like New Jersey. Don’t worry, you can find them at most grocery stores, so they are pretty accessible. 
• Garlic – fresh garlic for that nice garlicky flavor in the sauce. 
• Onion – for a nice aromatic touch. 
• Olive oil – a good quality extra virgin to give the sauce a nice rich flavor. 
• Italian seasoning – for that authentic Italian flavor we all love in a good tomato sauce. 
• Maple syrup – to bring out the sweetness of the tomatoes and remove any acidic taste. 
• Tomato paste – to enhance the tomato flavors.
• Sea Salt and pepper – kosher salt and black pepper

Substitutions and Variations

Since this tomato sauce recipe is already so simple to make, there are not that many substitutions but here are a few in case you are short on some of the ingredients. 

• Use garlic paste in place of the fresh garlic – this is not ideal but will work if that is what you have on hand. 
• Skip the maple syrup and place a whole carrot in the sauce while it simmers, then remove it to help reduce any acidity in the sauce. Which also would make this a paleo tomato sauce. 
• Add some heat by sprinkling in 1-2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes for a nice spicy tomato sauce.  
• Make it creamier by stirring in a ¼ cup of heavy creamy right at the end of the cooking time. 

What is so great about San Marzano Tomatoes?

San Marzano tomatoes are popular due to their unique flavor and qualities. Grown in Italy’s Sarno River valley near Mount Vesuvius, they benefit from rich volcanic soil and a Mediterranean climate, resulting in a special taste and texture. Certified with the Protected Designation Of Origin (PDO), they have a distinctive shape, deep red color, and thick flesh with fewer seeds and less water content.

Their meatiness and flavor make them ideal for quick tomato sauce. With a sweet and rich flavor and lower acidity, they are perfect for sauces, soups, and stews.

What to look for to make sure your tomatoes are authentic san marzano tomatoes?

• Genuine San Marzano tomatoes will have the DOP seal on the packaging, indicating they are grown and processed in the designated region of Italy.
• To be certified authentic San Marzano tomatoes must be whole or cut in half. Pureed, diced, or boxed tomatoes are likely not San Marzano tomatoes, even if the package says they are. 
• Authentic San Marzano tomatoes tend to be pricier than regular tomatoes due to their unique qualities. If the price seems unusually low, it could be an indication of lower-quality or counterfeit products.

How to make a simple san marzano tomato sauce in 20 minutes

After you prep the ingredients, which takes less than 5 minutes, you are ready to blend and simmer the san marzano tomato sauce. This super quick tomato sauce can be made in 3 easy steps!

1. Prep the aromatics. Chop up the onion and garlic, which will help add amazing flavor to the sauce. 
2. Combine ingredients and blend. Add all of the sauce ingredients to a food processor and blend on high for 20 seconds. 
3. Simmer the San Marzano tomato sauce. Pour the sauce into a saucepan on the stovetop and bring it to a low boil. Then cover and simmer on medium-low heat for 15 minutes, for the best flavor. Stir in some chopped fresh basil once it is done cooking. 
4. Serve. You can enjoy this amazing tomato sauce over your favorite pasta, on pizza, or with meatballs.

Do I need to add sugar to San Marzano tomato sauce?

The need to add sugar to San Marzano tomato sauce varies based on personal preference and tomato characteristics. San Marzano tomatoes are naturally sweet and rich, often eliminating the need for sugar. However, less ripe or higher acidity tomatoes may benefit from a small amount of sugar to balance flavors. Taste preferences also influence the decision. Another alternative is adding a whole carrot while simmering the sauce, which can serve the same purpose as adding maple syrup to a recipe.

Tips For Success

• Use fresh, authentic San Marzano Peeled Tomatoes. For the best results, you want to use San Mazano’s for that rich, sweet tomato flavor. They are also less acidic and contain fewer seeds which makes them perfect for a sauce like this. 
• Blend the ingredients then cook the sauce. This step makes this recipe very easy and allows the flavors to blend together nicely before you simmer them for a wonderfully bold, rich, and luscious sauce. 
• Use real garlic. For that authentic, rich Italian flavor, real garlic must be used. Garlic powder can be used in a pinch but the sauce will not be as flavorful. 
• Tomato paste adds some really incredible tomato flavor. You can use any tomato paste you have but sun-dried tomato paste is best in this recipe if you can find it. 
• Simmer the sauce. You may think you do not need to simmer this sauce but YOU MUST! It really brings out all of the Italian flavors that make this recipe AMAZING!

Ways to serve the best san marzano tomato sauce

This san marzano tomato sauce pairs beautifully with pretty much any pasta dish, meatballs, chicken, pizza, anything really. Make the tomato sauce quickly then store it for months so you always have it on hand. 

Here are some delicious ways we love to use this San Marzano tomato sauce: 

• On your favorite pasta! My kids love pasta, so we always have some made. This San Marzano tomato sauce is great on any type of pasta from penne to spaghetti! Try it on these butternut squash noodles for a fun twist!
• With meatballs. Try this sauce with these eggplant meatballs or these turkey meatballs for an extra delicious dinner everyone will love!
• Chicken parmesan – we love chicken parmesan, especially with a healthy spread of this san marzano tomato sauce and some melted cheese. YUM!
• On pizza! This sauce doubles as an amazing pizza sauce. Try this naan pizza or protein pizza.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular tomatoes instead of San Marzanos for the sauce?

Yes, you can use regular tomatoes as a substitute for San Marzano tomatoes in sauce recipes. However, San Marzano tomatoes are known for their specific flavor profile and texture, which can affect the overall taste of the sauce. If using regular tomatoes, you may need to adjust the seasoning and balance the flavors accordingly.

This really creates a nice, smooth sauce that is perfect for pasta and pizza.

Should I peel and seed San Marzano tomatoes before making sauce?

It is not necessary to peel and seed San Marzano tomatoes before making sauce. The skins of San Marzano tomatoes are thin and blend well when cooked. However, if you prefer a smoother texture, you can blanch the tomatoes to easily remove the skins and remove the seeds by straining the crushed tomatoes.

Can I add meat or vegetables to San Marzano tomato sauce?

Yes, you can add meat or vegetables to San Marzano tomato sauce to enhance the flavor and texture. Common additions include ground meat, such as beef or sausage, as well as vegetables like onions, bell peppers, or mushrooms. Cook the meat or vegetables before adding the San Marzano tomato sauce to ensure they are fully cooked and tender.

HOW TO STORE HOMEMADE TOMATO SAUCE

One of the best qualities of this San Marzano tomato sauce is that you can store it and have it ready to go anytime you need it, which makes it a great make-ahead recipe. 

• Store it in the refrigerator: Let it cool completely and then transfer it to a few mason jars or airtight containers. Top the jars or containers tightly with the lids, label them, and store them for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. 
• Freeze it: To freeze this sauce, let it cool completely then transfer it to a few freezer-friendly ziplock bags. I like to measure it out into 3-4 cup (24-32oz) portions since that is the typical size of a jar of store-bought sauce. This recipe makes about 8-10 cups of tomato sauce. Finally, lightly press down on the bag to remove any excess air bubbles. Close it up tightly, label it, and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months.

More easy sauce recipes to try

• Easy 5 Minutes Romesco Sauce
• Simple Roasted Beet Pesto
• Easy Homemade Basil Lemon Pesto
• 10 Minute Homemade Cranberry Sauce
• Healthy Tzatziki Sauce
• Healthy Buffalo Sauce

Did you make this San Marzano Tomato Sauce recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear how yours turned out.

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