Rich, incredibly flavorful, and slightly sweet, this Italian pasta sauce recipe is sure to become a family favorite. With just a few simple ingredients and even less activity, you’ll have the most heavenly sauce on hand to spoon over pasta, pizza, or soft, crusty bread.
Adorn yourself with an adorable apron, put on an Italian opera (or find a fine Italian cafe video to play), and let’s get cooking! Buon appetito!
Why You Need to Make This Authentic Italian Pasta Sauce
Not only is this homemade Italian sauce incredibly delicious, but it’s also a wonderful staple recipe to have in your kitchen. You can easily keep the ingredients on hand in your pantry and have a savory sauce simmering on the stove in no time!
- Super simple to make
- Only a few ingredients needed
- Chock-full of antioxidants
- Perfect for meal prep
- A deep, rich flavor that you can’t get from any jarred sauce
- Gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, and nut-free
How To Serve Up Your Italian Pasta Sauce
There are endless ways to use this scrumptious pasta sauce and we think you’ll love all of them! Having a supply of homemade sauce in the freezer is also a great way to be prepared for any dinner emergency. Just set the frozen sauce into a large saucepan (or Dutch oven) and heat over medium until beautiful and bubbly.
- Layer With Lasagna – Use this savory sauce with any lasagna recipe. Alternate layers of pasta sheets with sauce and add your favorite vegan cheese in between. Delicious!
- Pour on Top of Pizza – You don’t need special sauce to make your pizza pie––this recipe works wonderfully with any vegan pepperoni, vegan cheese, and other tasty toppings.
- Flavor Your Fried Dough – If you’ve never had fried dough, it’s an iconic Italian treat. It’s similar to a small, light, personal pizza crust that you can sprinkle with tomato sauce, sugar, or olive oil and herbs. This pasta sauce recipe is absolutely perfect for fried dough.
- Pair With Pasta – An everyday classic! Boil up a batch of al-dente pasta and slather with as much Italian pasta sauce as you wish. Add a mound of vegan meatballs, season with a few shakes of vegan parmesan, and you’ve got yourself the most satisfying meal.
- Delve Into Dipping Sauces – Replace that dusty jar of marinara with a few tablespoons of this super fresh pasta sauce. You’ll love dipping french fries, onion rings, jalapeño poppers, or pretty much anything in this thick, rich sauce.
Star Ingredients
This recipe is literally loaded with some of the best and most nutrient-dense ingredients. If you serve your sauce over a whole grain or legume pasta (such as whole wheat, quinoa, black bean, lentil, or chickpea), you’ll be adding even more amazing health benefits to your meal.
- Tomatoes – Great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, vitamin K, and lycopene
- Basil – Rich in vitamins and minerals, as well as full of antioxidants such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene
- Oregano – Antibacterial, packed full of antioxidants, and an excellent source of fiber, vitamin K, manganese, iron, vitamin E, tryptophan, and calcium.
- Bay Leaves – Also antibacterial, with small amounts of calcium, copper, iron, zinc, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and K
- Olive Oil – Good source of antioxidants, as well as rich in monounsaturated fat
My Family’s Tip for Enjoying This Homemade Sauce
I have one more suggestion that is a favorite in our family and I really wanted to share it with you. When I was little, both my Great-Grandma Lena and my Grandma Catherine would let me (and my little sister) taste the simmering sauce as a snack. They would hand me a large slice of soft Italian bread (if it was Scali bread dotted with sesame seeds in the crust, I was in heaven!) covered in homemade sauce very close to the time when the rich red “gravy” would be ready. Please give this a try. The combination of soft bread and warm sauce is so satisfying!