Nonna's authentic Italian Pasta Sauce recipe. This traditional Italian tomato sauce comes straight from my Nonna's Cucina and is the best homemade sauce.
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This post was originally published in 2022 and was updated in May 2024 with new pictures and information. The recipe is still the same.
If someone asks me what my favorite meal is, I would 100% say pasta, especially with tomato sauce. To me, it's home and comforting. This is probably the first recipe I ever made! Homemade tomato sauce is also one of the easiest recipes to make to serve a crowd or for busy weeknights.
This recipe has a special place in my heart. My Nonna was the epitome of an Italian grandmother. Her kitchen was always filled with mouthwatering aromas, people and love! When visiting, I would always look forward to her cooking, especially her perfect sauce. It was, and is, the best tomato sauce.
Nothing can replace watching her make this recipe and then enjoying it together, but every time I make it, I think of her and am so lucky that I have this recipe to recreate. I truly hope you enjoy this as much as my family and I do.
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What's the Difference Between Italian Red Sauce and Marinara?
Marinara sauce is a simpler tomato-based sauce, typically consisting of tomatoes, garlic, onions, olive oil, and herbs like basil and oregano, cooked quickly for about 20-30 minutes. It's smooth and thin, often used as a pasta sauce or dipping sauce.
Italian red sauce, however, encompasses a broader array of ingredients, including additional vegetables like carrots, celery, and bell peppers, as well as meats such as ground beef or sausage, requiring longer cooking times, sometimes simmering for hours. This results in a heartier, thicker texture and a more complex flavor profile.
Italian red sauce is versatile, finding use in various dishes like pasta, lasagna, pizza, and as a base for meatball or eggplant parmigiana. This is what you'll find in Italian family homes and local restaurants.
Reasons to Love Nonna's Sauce
- Basic ingredients. This tomato sauce is made with ingredients easily found at your local grocery store and pantry staples, that combine into the most delicious sauce.
- Flavorful. While simple, this sauce is super flavorful and comforting and will be your go-to pasta sauce recipe.
- Authentic recipe. This authentic Italian tomato sauce recipe comes straight from my Nonna's recipe book just like pasta al forno and chicken cacciatore!
Ingredients
- Oil and butter. I like to use both unsalted butter and extra-virgin olive oil when making this recipe. If you need this recipe to be vegan, substitute vegan butter or omit it altogether.
- Mirepoix. This is a combination of onion, celery and carrots. The carrots add sweetness to the sauce without needing to add sugar. Use more or less carrots depending on your preference.
- Red wine. I recommend using Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir or a Chianti. You can make this recipe without wine if you wish, a splash of balsamic vinegar is a great addition!
- Crushed tomatoes. Crushed tomatoes work great in this recipe. However, you can also use a can of whole peeled tomatoes or even a combination of both. I always recommend real San Marzano plum tomatoes or use your favorite brand of tomatoes.
- Fresh herbs. You will need fresh basil and fresh thyme, however herbs will work in a pinch!
See the recipe card below for quantities and remaining ingredients.
Substitutions & Variations
This simple tomato sauce is perfect the way it's made, but you can always add things to make it your own.
- Need pizza sauce? Yup, you heard me! I use this sauce recipe on my homemade pizzas as well! You can use it for kids' favorite pizza rolls or bagel pizzas.
- Add spice. Add some red pepper flakes to the sauce for some added heat. Or try my spicy ground pork sauce.
- Try creamy Italian sausage pasta or chicken bolognese if you prefer a meat sauce.
How to Make Italian Pasta Sauce
- Step 1: Sauté the mirepoix in olive oil and butter until everything is slightly softened. Add the salt and garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant.
- Step 2: Deglaze the pan with red wine and let it cook for about 5 minutes.
- Step 3: Pour in the can of tomatoes and the remaining ingredients.
- Step 4: Simmer on low for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Step 5: Use an immersion blender to smooth out the sauce slightly and blend the veggies into the sauce.
- Step 6: Serve over your favorite pasta and enjoy!
Sarah's Favorite
Immersion Blender
I love using my immersion blender to blend soups and sauces and to make mayo!
Recipe FAQs
My favorite way to sweeten sauce is to use carrots which add a natural sweetness. However, if for some reason you don't want to use carrots, you can add a tiny bit of sugar.
Yes! This sauce can be made a few days before eating it. It will stay in the fridge for about 5 days and can also be frozen.
No, this recipe hasn't been tested for canning so I don't recommend it.
Sarah's Top Tips
- Most tomato sauce recipes call for oil but I recommend adding butter as well. Butter adds a creamy flavor to the sauce.
- Use a food processor to chop your mirepoix and speed up the prep time!
- For best results make sure you use high-quality ingredients, especially high-quality tomatoes. Better ingredients equal a better sauce.
- Make sure your sauce has some popping bubbles when simmering.
- Simmer on low heat for at least 45 minutes to help the sauce develop more flavor.
How to Serve Authentic Italian Pasta Sauce
Italian pasta sauce can be served with different varieties of pasta, including penne, spaghetti, rigatoni, angel hair and fettuccine. It can also be used in other dishes such as chicken parmesan, lasagna and pizza.
You can serve the sauce as is over pasta or add meatballs, sausage or grilled chicken. Don't forget some freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese on top! If you prefer a meat sauce, try short rib bolognese instead.
Storage & Reheating
This sauce will last in the fridge for about 5 days. Ensure you allow the sauce to cool completely before putting it in the fridge. Store in an airtight container. Check out my top tips for storing spaghetti.
Freeze the sauce in a freezer-safe container or storage bag for up to 3 months. Allow it to defrost in the fridge then reheat it on the stove or microwave.
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Authentic Italian Pasta Sauce
KITCHEN TOOLS NEEDED
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Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, or vegan butter
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled & diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ cup red wine, such as Chianti, Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed San Marzano tomatoes
- black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup fresh basil, torn
- 1-2 sprigs of fresh thyme
Instructions
- Heat olive oil & butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Once hot, add the diced onion, carrots & celery and saute until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add in 1 teaspoon of salt and the garlic and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
- Pour in the red wine and allow it to simmer for 5 minutes. Next, add in the can of crushed tomatoes, more salt, black pepper to taste, basil and thyme.
- Cover the pot, bring it to a slight boil, turn down the heat to low & simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Turn off the heat, allow the sauce to cool for a few minutes, then blend with an immersion or a traditional blender until smooth.
Sarah's Tips
- Most tomato sauce recipes call for oil but I recommend adding butter as well. Butter adds a creamy flavor to the sauce.
- Use a food processor to chop your mirepoix and speed up the prep time!
- For best results make sure you use high-quality ingredients, especially high-quality tomatoes. Better ingredients equal a better sauce.
- Make sure your sauce has some popping bubbles when simmering.
- Simmer on low heat for at least 45 minutes to help the sauce develop more flavor.
- This sauce will last in the fridge for about 5 days. Make sure you allow the sauce to cool completely before putting it in the fridge. Store in an airtight container. Check out my top tips for storing spaghetti.
- Freeze the sauce in a freezer-safe container or storage bag for up to 3 months. Allow it to defrost in the fridge then reheat it on the stove or in the microwave.
Hilary Villanueva says
Good bye name brand big box store sauce. Hello new staple sauce for my family of 10
Vladka says
This sauce is definitely a keeper. I can use it even on pizza or meat, and it always comes delicious.
Katy says
This was packed full of flavour and even my fussy little ones loved it - thank you!
Sarah Hill says
You're welcome Katy!
Evan says
This was so good. As a pasta lover, I'm constantly looking for new recipes and this one was such a classic. I think the red wine really makes the sauce shine here. Definitely a keeper!
chhavi vashisht says
This was absolutely fantastic! Do you think the recipe will stay the same with fresh tomatoes as well?
Sarah Hill says
I haven't tried it with fresh tomatoes but I do think it could work
Rita says
Been looking for this recipe! Thank you! Made this this week for my husband who came from out of town and he said it's the best meal he had. I'm excited to make this again for pizza sauce!!
Jim Trout says
Wow! Excellent depth of flavor! But my sauce was more orange than red 🙂 Next time I'll either drop to 1 carrot or add more tomatoes. When we were in Italy this year, we visited Tuscany. The owner of the farmhouse where we stayed gave us a cooking class. Her old family recipe was similar to this one, except I think it only had one carrot. It also didn't use butter, but I do like the texture it contributes.
Sarah Hill says
Hi Jim, really happy to hear you enjoyed the sauce! Definitely adjust it next time to suit your tastes. One carrot should still give it that sweetness but it will be more red. My mom sometimes makes this with an extra can of tomatoes so you can do that also!
Brooklyn Hill says
This is amazing, so good! My family loved it too. So easy to make too
Sarah Hill says
Hi Brooklyn, so glad both and your family enjoyed the sauce!
Sue Peterson says
LOVE this sauce. Making it now with the addition of a friends Moms recipe for meatballs - so I on the menu here this evening we have Marrisa's, your Nonna's sauce, with Large Marge's Meatballs. (never met Marge, she was called large Marge because she was TINY : )
Morgan says
Reading this recipe is making me so hungry! I love from scratch sauce and haven’t made my own version in a while. This is inspiring and looks so delicious!
Sarah Holt says
Thanks so much Morgan 🙂