I love cooking from scratch, but I also love getting dinner on the table at a reasonable time. On the days when I don’t have time to roast tomatoes and make a tomato sauce, I use this recipe! So long as you have a can of crushed tomatoes in your pantry, you can make it, too!
As a mom, I’m all about giving myself grace. It’s a personal goal that my family eats nourishing, whole foods. But that isn’t always the reality.
We are a homeschooling family. We are a farming family. We are a social family. There are things that take our attention away from home.
On those days, I like to rely on a few favorite recipes that help me get dinner on the table in an hour! This tomato sauce recipe is one of those!
I have used this recipe on pasta, chicken parmesan, and pizza. It’s versatile, comes together in one bowl, and is always a crowd-pleaser.
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Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe (From Canned Tomatoes!)
For this recipe you will need (printable recipe card at the end of this blog post!):
A 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes, garlic powder, dried parsley, dried basil and dried oregano.
Gather your crushed tomatoes, garlic powder, and dried herbs.
In a medium saucepan, combine crushed tomatoes and all your seasonings. Whisk together until combined.
Heat over medium-low heat until your sauce reduces slightly. Stir often. Store in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to a week.
For a smoother sauce, use a food processor or an immersion blender. This will only be necessary if you use diced tomatoes.
If you are opting for an uncooked sauce, consider adding a teaspoon or so of sugar to offset the bitterness and acidity of the tomatoes.
For a bit of spice, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Want more frugal kitchen recipes and hacks?
I’m done worrying about meals and you should be, too! No matter what comes my way, I know my family will be taken care of. The Lord is good to take care of our every need. And I’m going to do my part with what He has blessed us with.
That’s why I created this FREE ebook about how to stock your pantry on a budget! I want to help you gather a few shelf-stable ingredients that will be ready for you and your family when you need them.
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You can get this 6-page resource, and more of my frugal-shopping tips, by supplying your email below.
If you want even more pantry stocking inspiration – like price comparison sheets and inventory sheets – check out my $5 ebook “How to Stock a Pantry on a Budget – Plan, Compare, Prepare.” Click on this link to get it from the Homemaker and Happy Shop!
Why Make Uncooked Sauce?
Cooking down canned tomato sauce helps rid the sauce of any bitter taste. So if you plan your meal accordingly, you could easily let your sauce simmer while your pizza dough rises or while your pasta water comes to a boil.
If you have time throughout the week, you could make your tomato sauce ahead of time, store it in an airtight container, and it will be cooked when you’re ready to use it.
Why Make Tomato Sauce at Home?
Grocery stores make it easy to make grab-and-go dinners. And with every seasoning imaginable, you can easily grab a sauce like this from the grocery store shelf!
The idea is to make small changes that give you more control as a homemaker. This tomato sauce recipe has 5 ingredients. How many ingredients does a jar of tomato sauce have?
This recipe is also cost-effective. A can of crushed tomatoes is 10 cents cheaper than a jar of the off-brand, pre-seasoned pasta sauce. The pasta sauce is also 4 ounces less than the can of crushed tomatoes.
This post was written in October 2024. Consider that as you research current-day prices and products.
Even though you’re seasoning the tomato sauce yourself, you can purchase an entire container of garlic powder for a dollar or so and use it for many recipes!
Don’t be afraid to take the leap and use simple recipes like this to build up your pantry, flex your cooking muscles, and create yummy food for your family. All while saving a few cents here and there!
Every penny saved adds up. Your work is not in vain!
Red Sauce vs. Marinara Sauce
A red sauce and marinara sauce are essentially the same thing. They are both tomato-based with spices.
Some red sauces may be thinner. Some marinara sauces may be thicker and used as a condiment, like as a dip for breadsticks.
If you use the terms interchangeably, you won’t be incorrect.
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Homemade vs. Store-Bought Pizza Sauce
We’ve already talked a bit about the cost savings that come with opting for homemade versions of our favorite tomato sauce. Let’s talk about a few more technical details of scratch-made food.
When you have tomato sauce on hand, you don’t have to run to the grocery store to get it. That’s even more savings in your pocket!
On top of the savings, you’re prepared to make meals at a moment’s notice. This may not be a skill we need in this day and age, but it can come in handy if you have an income problem, or for some reason, weather makes travel in your area difficult.
Plain, crushed tomatoes also offer an incredible amount of versatility in your kitchen! You can season them as you’d like for meatloaf, ketchup, barbecue sauce, braising sauce, pizza, and more. Seasoned, store-bought pizza sauce narrows your scope of cooking to pasta and pizzas that lend themselves to those iconic Italian flavors.
Tomato Sauce Substitutions
Fresh Tomatoes
I rarely use fresh tomatoes when I make my pasta sauce. They are full of water, and it takes time for the tomatoes to make their way through the oven, blender, and sauce pot to get that moisture out!
That’s not to say it can’t be done. If you are using fresh tomatoes, consider the variety of your tomatoes when it comes to flavor. And be sure to start on your sauce well before you intend to use it. It’s going to take time to come together!
San Marzanos are possibly the most popular tomato used in tomato sauces.
I have used fresh Roma tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, and even thrown in cherry tomatoes when I make my tomato sauce fresh. Opting for fresh means it’s a cooking process, but you have even greater control over the end product.
Tomato Paste
I love using tomato paste instead of crushed tomatoes!
I recommend using an 6-ounce jar of tomato paste, 1 cup of water, and the same seasonings listed in this recipe.
Dried Herbs
In this recipe, we focus on basil and oregano because that’s what we prefer. But you may be able to sub in two tablespoons of Italian seasoning and get the same results.
Other dried herbs, like thyme and rosemary, would also make a wonderful addition to this tomato sauce.
Fresh Garlic
We don’t always have fresh garlic on hand, but if you do, use that instead of garlic powder!
I have used canned garlic, in oil, in this recipe and it works great as well.
Prioritize Simple Ingredients
Cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be daunting. And when you prioritize simple ingredients, it can make the learning process flow smoothly!
You’ll be forced to think about how things pair together. Or how your kitchen flow needs to run.
From-scratch food doesn’t require as much equipment as you might think, either. My homemade marshmallow recipe only requires a stand mixer, a small saucepan, and a 9×13 glass pan.
My one-pot butternut squash pasta sauce only requires a medium sauce pot!
Both are great recipes that will help you realize your true potential in the kitchen.
For even more simple recipes, check out my recipes tab! And you can always follow me on Pinterest to get more homemaking inspiration.
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Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe Card
Tomato Sauce (from Canned Crushed Tomatoes)
Create a versatile sauce in minutes! This sauce is perfect for price savings and simple, quick meals. You can prep it in advance or put it together in a pinch. This is definietly a recipe you want to keep in your back pocket!
Ingredients
- 1 28 Ounce Can Crushed Tomatoes
- 2 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 3 Tsp Dried Parsley*
- 1 Tsp Dried Basil*
- 1 Tsp Dried Oregano*
- 1 Tsp Sugar, Optional
- Red Pepper Flakes, Optional
Instructions
Gather your crushed tomatoes, garlic powder, and dried herbs.
In a medium saucepan, combine crushed tomatoes and all your seasonings. Whisk together until combined.
Heat over medium-low heat until your sauce reduces slightly.** Stir often. Store in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to a week.
If you are opting for an uncooked sauce, consider adding a teaspoon or so of sugar to offset the bitterness and acidity of the tomatoes.
For a bit of spice, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Notes
* Fresh herbs can easily be swapped for dried herbs in this recipe. However, you may need more fresh herbs than you do dried herbs.
**This sauce can be made and used immediately. However, it may be thinner than marinara sauce.
For a smoother sauce, use a food processor or an immersion blender. This may only be necessary if you use diced tomatoes.
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