Easy homemade tomato sauce recipe made entirely with pantry staples and so much better than store-bought. Use this zesty sauce as a pizza sauce or pasta sauce. You can even freeze and thaw as needed!
Classic tomato sauce is America's favorite kitchen staple for getting a quick dinner on the table. We know how easy it is to buy packaged sauce and I always have some on hand for hangry emergencies. But, have you ever made your own? It's so easy and puts you in control of ingredients like salt and sugar, just like my Hidden Veggie Marinara Sauce.
Tomato sauce recipe ingredients
- olive oil
- fresh garlic
- onion
- canned crushed tomatoes (or fresh tomatoes)
- tomato paste
- oregano
- crushed red chili pepper (optional)
- salt and pepper
- ground fennel
- bay leaf
How to make tomato sauce on the stove
Step 1: saute garlic and onion in a saucepot on medium-high heat.
Step 2: add tomatoes, tomato paste, and seasonings.
Step 3: adjust heat to high long enough to bring to boil
Step 4: reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour, stirring as needed.
How to make tomato sauce in the crockpot
Step 1: saute garlic and onion in a saucepot on medium high heat
Step 2: transfer to a crockpot.
Step 3: add remaining ingredients.
Step 4: set crockpot on high for 2 hours or low for 4-6 hours, stirring as needed
Why we love homemade tomato sauce
- No added sugar and no salt overkill. YOU control the ingredients.
- It's vegan AND gluten-free.
- Tastes better than anything you've had in a jar...promise!
- Meal prep and freeze it for tons of convenience.
- Save money! This recipe costs .09¢/oz, while retail tomato sauce averages .29¢/oz. WOW!
- The crockpot version cooks itself and doesn't heat up the whole kitchen (great during summer!)
- Use homemade sauce for pasta, homemade pizza sauce, lasagna, meatballs, and Shakshuka. It's so versatile!
Speaking of meatball sliders, we first tested this very recipe on 25 people after a local, holiday parade.
We put 75 cooked, meatballs and 4 quarts of my cooked marinara sauce in a big Crockpot, turned it on LOW for several hours, went to the parade, and returned to a self-serve, meatball-slider extravaganza.
Everyone loved the sauce and it couldn’t have been any easier.
Recommended tools
- chef knife and cutting board (for garlic and onions)
- 3-quart soup pot or 10" skillet
- slow cooker / crockpot
Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1/2 large Onion, diced
- 1 28-oz can Crushed Tomatoes, or 1.5 lbs fresh tomatoes
- 3 oz Tomato Paste, same as 1/2 of a 6oz can
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano, or 2 Tbsp fresh
- 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/8 tsp Crushed Red Pepper, optional
- 1 Bay Leaf
Recipe Instructions
Tomato Sauce (stove instructions)
- In a 3-quart sauce pot, heat OLIVE OIL on medium heat until shimmering (about 2 minutes).
- Add ONION and GARLIC; sauté until slightly tender; stir as needed (3-5 min).
- Add TOMATOES, TOMATO PASTE, OREGANO, CHILI PEPPER, SALT, and PEPPER; stir in sautéed onions and garlic.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about an hour, stirring as needed.
Tomato Sauce (crockpot instructions)
- In a 10" skillet, heat OLIVE OIL on medium heat until shimmering (about 2 minutes).
- Add ONION and GARLIC; sauté until slightly tender; stir as needed (3-5 min).
- Meanwhile, to a 3+ quart slow-cooker, add TOMATOES, TOMATO PASTE, OREGANO, CHILI PEPPER, SALT, and PEPPER; stir in sautéed onions and garlic.
- Cover and turn heat to HIGH (2 hours) or LOW (4-6 hours).
Serving and Storage instructions
- Sauce will be thick and chunky, feel free to puree using a stick blender if needed.
- If freezing, allow to cool completely, package into freezer bags or containers, and freeze.
Nutrition
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
M-J says
About to try your recipe. We are aiming for that authentic Italian taste and I found fennel in your recipe ergo that wud be the ital taste we are so craving lol will let u know
Alrighty! Hope you love it like we do
Amy says
Excellent! This sounds like the perfect recipe and everyone seems to love it!! I have so many fresh tomatoes from the garden. How bout doubling up on the recipe?;) Love to try the crock pot version.
Glad you think so, Amy! Sure, you could double it up if your slow cooker will accommodate about 16 cups of sauce (this recipe yields 8) Hope you love it!
Anne says
Traci,
Another wonderful, fresh tasting, easy to put together recipe! Thank you for sharing. I have made this recipe in a crock pot and on the stove, both are excellent...
Anne...so glad you enjoyed this one 🙂 It's a hidden gem, really! Thanks so much for swinging by with your feedback...much appreciated.
Dannii says
You just can’t beat a homemade pasta sauce. It's so easy and cheap to make.
I totally agree, Dannii! Enjoy!
liz says
Nothing I love more than a homemade tomato sauce! I love that you can make it so quickly if your in a time crunch or you can let it simmer for hours!
Exaactly, Liz...that's the beauty of this tomato sauce for sure. Thanks! 🙂