by Traci · Published: 12/07/2015 · Updated: 03/24/2021 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe

Name: Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons Olive Oil; 3 cloves Garlic (minced); 1/2 medium Onion (diced (about 1 cup)); 2 (15 ounce cans) Crushed Tomatoes (or 1 1/2 lbs fresh tomatoes); 1/2 (6 ounce can) Tomato Paste; 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano (or 2 tablespoons fresh oregano); 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt; 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper; 1/8 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper (optional); 1 Bay Leaf

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5 from 17 votes

1 hour 15 minutes

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!

close up of red homemade tomato sauce on serving spoon over pot of sauce

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.

Table of Contents hide

1) Tomato sauce recipe ingredients

2) How to make tomato sauce on the stove

3) How to make tomato sauce in the crockpot

4) Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe

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

(top) close up of red homemade tomato sauce on serving spoon over pot of sauce (center) title text (bottom) pot of red homemade tomato sauce

(top) close up of red homemade tomato sauce on serving spoon over pot of sauce (bottom) title text

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