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    🏠Home » Recipes » Italian Recipes

    30-Minute Chicken Marinara Sauce

    Jan 19, 2020 · Modified: Jan 26, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 6 Comments

    Recipe Table of Contents    
    4.08 from 14 votes

    The best chicken marinara sauce comes together quickly with a few pantry ingredients. Use it as an easy dinner of chicken spaghetti or other Italian dishes. With a delicious taste, this healthy marinara sauce can easily be made vegetarian or with other meat.

    Chicken Spaghetti on white plate
    Jump To:
    • 😊Why you will love this recipe
    • 👨‍🍳How to make chicken marinara sauce on the stovetop
    • 👨‍🍳How to make chicken marinara sauce in a crock pot
    • 📋Ingredients
    • ❓FAQs
    • 📖Italian Recipes
    • 🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
    • 📝Recipe
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    😊Why you will love this recipe

    • Easy to make on the stovetop or in a crock pot with only pantry ingredients and these easy step-by-step photo instructions.
    • Very easy to make vegetarian, use precooked meat like rotisserie chicken or ground meat like Italian sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey.
    • The whole family will love this sauce that is packed with great Italian flavor; it's one of the best marinara sauces you will ever make.
    • Shredding the onion releases the juices and tastes quickly and is the secret to great quick results.
    • It can be done in only 15 minutes if no raw meat is involved.
    • Perfect to use on pasta like spaghetti or in other recipes.

    Inspired by an American Test Kitchen recipe called Quick Tomato Sauce, a flavorful marinara that cooks in about the time of cooking the pasta.

    👨‍🍳How to make chicken marinara sauce on the stovetop

    1. If using raw chicken, trim it into bite-size pieces and start browning.
    2. You can leave out any meat and make it vegetarian. If using precooked meat, like rotisserie chicken, add about 3 cups with tomato products. If using raw ground meat, like Italian sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey, you must brown 1 to ½ pounds of the meat, be sure it reaches a safe temperature, and drain well.
    3. Shred the onion and add to the chicken during cooking. Add the garlic near the end of cooking.
    4. Add the tomato products and spices. Mix well and simmer—15 minutes minimum, but longer is better. If using it for a quick spaghetti dinner, cook the pasta while simmering.

    👨‍🍳How to make chicken marinara sauce in a crock pot

    1. If using raw chicken, cube the chicken as stated in this recipe, but you can cut the breasts into 2-3 chunks each if you want to shred them near the end.
    2. You can leave out any meat and make it vegetarian. If using precooked meat, like rotisserie chicken, use about 3 cups. If using raw ground meat, like Italian sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey, you must brown 1 to 1 ½ pounds of the meat, be sure it reaches a safe temperature, and drain well.
    3. The onion can be chopped or shredded.
    4. Cook on low for about 3 hours in a 3 quart or larger crock pot until chicken is 165°. The main time variation is due to chicken size.
    5. If shredding, remove the chunks from the pot, shred and then add them back to the crockpot. You could add rotisserie chicken at this point, also. Cook another 30-60 minutes to infuse with flavor.
    6. If using rotisserie chicken or the ground meat you cooked, add them at the start of cooking and cook for about one hour, but a longer simmer will add flavor.
    7. A double recipe in a 6 quart or bigger crock pot.

    📋Ingredients

    • Chicken - If using raw chicken, like skinless boneless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, diced into bite-sized pieces. You can also use precooked chicken, like rotisserie chicken, added with the tomatoes.
    • Other Meat - you can use other ground meat like Italian sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey. They require cooking prior to adding the other sauce ingredients.
    • Tomatoes - Good quality is important - use crushed or diced depending on the texture you like.
    • Onion - Grating the onion is the key to a quick sauce with great flavor. You can just dice small, but it will need a bit longer to cook fully.
    • Seasoning - the usual garlic, salt, and pepper. The Italian touch comes from basil which can be dry or fresh basil. But oregano, rosemary, or an Italian seasoning mix could be used. The optional red pepper flakes add a touch of heat.

    ❓FAQs

    Can I use other meats in the marinara sauce?

    Yes. This marinara sauce is not only quick and easy but is a wonderful basic marinara sauce without meat.

    You may go meatless or substitute Italian sausage, hamburger, ground chicken, or turkey. Ground meat should be browned and drained before adding it to other ingredients.

    How to use chicken marinara sauce?

    Usually, you will serve chicken marinara as a simple chicken spaghetti. Just cook pasta like spaghetti or linguine and sprinkle it with some parmesan cheese.

    Baked chicken ziti or baked chicken spaghetti would be easy with this sauce. In a casserole dish, add some al denta ziti pasta with mozzarella cheese and bake in a 350° oven to a golden brown—instant Italian comfort food.

    How to store chicken marinara sauce.

    Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze airtight for 3-4 months.

    📖Italian Recipes

    Crock Pot Chicken Baked Ziti

    Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

    Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore

    Italian Sausage Marinara Sauce

    This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

    Chicken Recipes, Crock Pot Recipes, Easy Dinner Recipes, Italian Recipes, Low Fat Recipes, Small Crock Pots Recipes
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    🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

    two chicken breasts trimmed into chunks

    If using raw chicken, trim the chicken breast of any fat. Cut into slices across the grain of the meat about ⅜ inch thick, then cut again the other way to make more bit size pieces. You can leave out any meat and make it vegetarian. If using precooked meat, like rotisserie chicken, add about 3 cups with tomato products. If using raw ground meat, like Italian sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey, you must brown 1 to ½ pounds of the meat, be sure it reaches a safe temperature, and drain well.

    shedding onion into bowl

    Shred onion with the large side of a shredder into a medium bowl. You can also chop the onion instead-but simmer a bit longer.

    browning chicken in a black pan

    In a large skillet, add a tablespoon of butter or olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute the chicken for about 5 minutes, add the onion and cook until clearing the onion—about 10-12 minutes total. Add the garlic for the last few minutes of cooking.

    adding spices to chicken and tomatoes

    Add all other spices and tomatoes.  Simmer for at least 15 minutes—cook pasta during the simmering time.

    chicken marinara on pasta
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    📝Recipe

    chicken marinara with pasta on white plate

    30-Minute Chicken Marinara Sauce

    From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
    The best chicken marinara sauce comes together quickly with a few pantry ingredients. Use it as an easy dinner of chicken spaghetti or other Italian dishes. With a delicious taste, this healthy marinara sauce can easily be made vegetarian or with other meat.
    Tap to leave a Rating
    4.08 from 14 votes
    Print Email CollectionCollected
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings #/Adjust if desired 6 servings

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Convert to Metric
    • 1 to 1 ½ pounds skinless boneless chicken breasts - or thighs
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 2-4 cloves garlic - minced or crushed
    • 1 onion - medium shredded or diced
    • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
    • 2 teaspoons dry basil - or 2 tablespoons fresh
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper - optional to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon sugar
    • 1 pound Pasta of your choice
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • If using raw chicken, trim the chicken breast of any fat. Cut into slices across the grain of the meat about ⅜ inch thick, then cut again the other way to make more bit size pieces.
      OTHER OPTIONS: You can leave out any meat and make it vegetarian. If using precooked meat, like rotisserie chicken, add about 3 cups with tomato products. If using raw ground meat, like Italian sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey, you must brown 1 to ½ pounds of the meat, be sure it reaches a safe temperature, and drain well.
      two chicken breasts trimmed into chunks
    • Shred onion with the large side of a shredder into a medium bowl. You can also chop the onion instead-but simmer a bit longer.
      shedding onion into bowl
    • In a large skillet, add a tablespoon of butter or olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute the chicken for about 5 minutes, add the onion and cook until clearing the onion—about 10-12 minutes total. Add the garlic for the last few minutes of cooking.
      browning chicken in a black pan
    • Add all other spices and tomatoes.  Simmer for at least 15 minutes—cook pasta during the simmering time.
      adding spices to chicken and tomatoes
    • Perfect for Chicken Spaghetti or other dishes.
      chicken marinara on pasta
    See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

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    Recipe Notes

    Pro Tips

    1. An easy recipe to cut in half.
    2. Use good ingredients. If you use generic tomatoes, you will have generic results.
    3. The shredded onion released flavor and cooks rapidly. It is the secret of the quick sauce. You can use chopped onion and cook a bit longer.
    4. Good refrigerated for 3-4 days or frozen for 3-4 months.
    5. Nutrition does not include any pasta.

    Crockpot Option

    1. If using raw chicken, cube the chicken as stated in this recipe, but you can cut the breasts into 2-3 chunks each if you want to shred them near the end.
    2. You can leave out any meat and make it vegetarian. If using precooked meat, like rotisserie chicken, use about 3 cups. If using raw ground meat, like Italian sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey, you must brown 1 to 1 ½ pounds of the meat, be sure it reaches a safe temperature, and drain well.
    3. The onion can be chopped or shredded.
    4. Cook on low for about 3 hours in a 3 quart or larger crock pot until chicken is 165°. The main time variation is due to chicken size.
    5. If shredding, remove the chunks from the pot, shred and then add them back to the crockpot. You could add rotisserie chicken at this point, also. Cook another 30-60 minutes to infuse with flavor.
    6. If using rotisserie chicken or the ground meat you cooked, add them at the start of cooking and cook for about one hour, but a longer simmer will add flavor.
      A double recipe in a 6 quart or bigger crock pot.

    To adjust the recipe size:

    You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Nutrition Facts
    30-Minute Chicken Marinara Sauce
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 112.9 Calories from Fat 30
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 3.3g5%
    Saturated Fat 1.5g8%
    Trans Fat 0.1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g
    Monounsaturated Fat 0.8g
    Cholesterol 29.1mg10%
    Sodium 623.5mg26%
    Potassium 571mg16%
    Carbohydrates 12.2g4%
    Fiber 3g12%
    Sugar 6.8g8%
    Protein 10.6g21%
    Vitamin A 382.6IU8%
    Vitamin C 14.3mg17%
    Calcium 62.2mg6%
    Iron 2.3mg13%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
    Course : Main Course
    Cuisine : Italian

    © 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

    Editor's Note: Originally Published January 29, 2010. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

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    1. Jeanne Conaway

      April 08, 2020 at 4:34 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious! I’ve been making a similar sauce for years (my mother called it “meatless spaghetti sauce”) and have used it as a base for many dishes. But I had never before used it for chicken spaghetti. I had been staring at a package of boneless skinless chicken thighs and really wanting to do something other than grill them...again. This was perfect! I did add a small can of mushroom stems and pieces from my Coronavirus stocked pantry, but otherwise followed as written. I will be making this again. Thank you!

      Reply
    2. Annette

      January 20, 2020 at 10:14 am

      Hi,
      I always enjoy seeing your latest culinary creation! I had never though about grating the onions! May have to give it a try!
      Thanks,
      Annette
      imannette.net

      Reply
    3. Unknown

      September 14, 2011 at 6:45 pm

      Thanks!!!! This was an yummy. I added a little bit of rosemary and parsley.

      Reply
    4. Chris

      January 30, 2011 at 8:31 am

      Great way to save time cooking and cleaning. My wife will appreciate this one!

      Reply
    5. Steph@PlainChicken.com

      January 29, 2011 at 10:26 pm

      Looks great. We love a good chicken pasta dish. Your tomato basil sauce sounds perfect!

      Reply
    6. Sherry

      January 29, 2011 at 12:41 pm

      I've never made homemade pasta sauce; always figured it would take too long, but this look promising. Thanks1

      Reply

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