San Marzano Tomato Sauce! This simple, 5 ingredient sauce is made with flavorful San Marzano tomatoes and is ready in under 30 minutes.
Nothing quite says “home cooking” like a pot of sauce bubbling away on the stovetop, filling the house with the intoxicating scent of comfort food and Sunday dinners.
This easy and versatile San Marzano Tomato Sauce is the only sauce recipe you’ll need!
Flavorful San Marzano tomatoes are cooked with aromatic onions, garlic and basil to create a perfect sauce for pasta dishes, pizza and other Italian classics.
Whether using this sauce for a dish like Spaghetti with Chicken or serving it up alongside an appetizer like Cheesy Tomato, Basil & Spinach Pinwheels, you’ll find that it becomes a staple in your cooking.
This recipe is naturally gluten free, dairy-free and vegan.
What are San Marzano Tomatoes?
The San Marzano tomato is a type of plum tomato, grown in the San Marzano region of Italy. (Specifically in the Sarno River valley near Mount Vesuvius.)
They are thinner and longer than typical plum tomatoes, and they contain fewer seeds.
The reason that San Marzano tomatoes are considered the gold standard is because they have a lower acidity, water content and sweeter flavor than other tomato varieties. This makes them ideal for creating pizza sauces, pasta sauce and even for canning.
It can be tricky to identify true canned San Marzano Tomatoes, especially in the U.S., because manufacturers who can U.S.-grown San Marzano variety tomatoes can label them as such, even if they do not have the official “protected designation of origin” (D.O.P.) designated to Italian-grown San Marzanos.
If you’re interested in guaranteeing that you purchase the real deal, this article shares ways to identify authentic San Marzano Tomatoes.
Ingredients
You’ll only need 5 simple ingredients to make this sauce:
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Garlic
- San Marzano Tomatoes
- Fresh basil
You’ll also need sea salt to taste and black pepper if desired, but we won’t count that as an ingredient since you already likely have those in your pantry!
Instructions
Heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 3-5 minutes or until slightly softened. Toss in garlic and cook for another minute.
Add a 28 ounce can of San Marzano Tomatoes. Using a wooden spoon (or a potato masher, which is my favorite tool for breaking up meat and large pieces while cooking), mash the whole tomatoes to break them into smaller pieces.
Tip
Prefer a smooth sauce? Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce directly in the pan to your liking.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Cover the pan with a lid and allow the mixture to simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the desired thickness is reached.
Finally, stir in chopped, fresh basil just before serving.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes. This sauce can be made and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Yes! Place the cooled sauce into an airtight, freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 6 months.
Variations & Substitutions
Try these variations!
- Give it some spice with 1/2 a teaspoon (or more!) of red pepper flakes.
- Make it a Bolognese inspired meat sauce by browning up ground beef or Italian sausage before adding the tomatoes.
- Add a splash of heavy cream and Parmesan cheese for an alla vodka style pink sauce.
San Marzano Tomato Sauce
