Spicy Marinara Sauce

Turn up the heat in your kitchen with this bold and flavorful Spicy Marinara Sauce! Featuring a robust blend of finely chopped onions, fragrant garlic, and a fiery kick from crushed red pepper flakes, this sauce is simmered to perfection with ripe canned tomatoes, a touch of tomato paste, and aromatic herbs like basil and oregano. A hint of sugar balances the zestiness, while a bay leaf infuses depth into every bite. Ready in just under an hour, this easy-to-make sauce is a versatile staple, perfect for tossing with pasta, spreading on pizzas, or transforming any dish into a comforting, spicy Italian delight. With a hint of heat and a rich, savory profile, this homemade spicy marinara will easily outshine any store-bought version!

Nutriscore Rating: 76/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 28 ounces canned whole peeled tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 0.25 cup basil leaves, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried basil)
• 1 teaspoon oregano, dried
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
• 1 bay leaf
• 0.25 cup water (optional, for consistency)

Directions

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the finely chopped onion and sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent.

Step 3

Stir in the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, cooking for about 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 4

Carefully pour in the canned whole peeled tomatoes, crushing them with your hands as you add them to the pan. Stir in the tomato paste.

Step 5

Add the chopped basil leaves (or dried basil), oregano, sugar, salt, black pepper, and bay leaf to the mixture. Stir to combine all the ingredients.

Step 6

If the sauce is too thick, add up to 1/4 cup of water to reach your desired consistency.

Step 7

Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Lower the heat to medium-low and let it simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Step 8

Remove and discard the bay leaf. Adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.

Step 9

Serve the spicy marinara sauce hot over your favorite pasta, or use it as a base for pizza or other recipes. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1109.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	577.7

Total Fat 30.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 4.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3382.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 74.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.0g	0%
Total Sugars 46.0g
Protein 11.6g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 266.7mg	0%
Iron 8.4mg	0%
Potassium 2020.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 44.2%

Protein: 7.5%

Carbs: 48.3%