Quick and easy Italian sausage marinara sauce that will blow you away with great taste. Just follow these simple step-by-step photo instructions for some great Italian.
Introduction
A good marinara sauce escapes most people, and the need to get to great requires a long simmer which will scare many people away. Usually, they end up with the discussing jar sauce.
But how about a really good sauce in just about an hour. Plus it is so easy to do.
I based this recipe on several others I have used over the years.
My Rating
We really like this. I'm going just into the five range but low 5.
🐖The Sausage
The sausage needs to be one you enjoy. I suggest a sweet Italian sausage, not a hot one. You want to be able to control the heat level.
If you have links, you can remove the casing, cut into pieces, and cook them almost like a meat ball. Or just mash them up and cook like bulk sausage.
You just need to brown the sausage some. Since we are simmering the sauce, it will finish cooking then.
🍅Tomato Products
I will say it again. Quality matters. If you buy cheap generic products, you will get cheap generic results.
I like to use crushed tomatoes, but you can use an equal amount of diced tomatoes.
The tomato paste adds a huge burst of tomato taste and some very nice sweetness.
🔥The Heat
This is relatively mild with a heat level of 2-3 if you use ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper. Without that, almost no heat.
If you use hot Italian sausage, the heat can get out of hand quickly. So be careful.
If you use hot Italian sausage, do a taste test before adding any. It can wait to be added to near the end of simmering.
🇮🇹Italian Recipes
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Picture note: pictures may be from other cookings and are used to illustrate the step. Pans and cutting boards may vary.
If you have links of Italian sausage, you can cut them into 1-inch pieces, remove the casings, and use them as small meatballs. You can break the links up into ground sausage and use it that way. Or just use Italian ground sausage.
Chop a medium onion and add until the meat is browned and onion slightly brown. It is ok for the meat not to be totally cooked at this point. Add 4 to 5 cloves crushed garlic and let "bloom" for 30 seconds. Remove from heat.
Add 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 2 teaspoons dried basil, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional), 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 6 oz tomato paste, and 6 oz water, and 14 ½ oz diced tomatoes.
Place back on medium heat until light boil.
Cover and turn down to a light simmer for 1-3 hours.
📖Recipe
Italian Sausage Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound Sweet Italian Sausage
- 1 onion - medium
- 4 cloves garlic - crushed
- 2 teaspoon oregano
- 2 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes - optional
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 6 oz water
- 15 oz diced tomatoes
Instructions
- If you have links of Italian sausage, you can cut them into 1-inch pieces, remove the casings, and use them as small meatballs. You can break the links up into ground sausage and use it that way. Or just use Italian ground sausage.
- Chop a medium onion and add until the meat is browned and onion slightly brown. It is ok for the meat not to be totally cooked at this point. Add 4 to 5 cloves crushed garlic and let "bloom" for 30 seconds. Remove from heat.
- Add 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 2 teaspoons dried basil, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional), 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 6 oz tomato paste, and 6 oz water, and 14 ½ oz diced tomatoes.
- Place back on medium heat until light boil.
- Decrease to simmer, cover, and simmer for 1 to 3 hours.
My Private Notes
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- You can use bulk or linked Italian sausage. If links, you can cook it in some chunks like a small meatball.
- Use only sausage and tomato products you like. Generic ingredients will get generic results.
- You can use diced tomatoes instead of crushed.
- The heat level for ½ teaspoon of crushed pepper is about 3. A full teaspoon will be about 6-7.
- I suggest not using hot Italian sausage, or the heat can get out of hand.
- As little as 30 minutes will give fairly good results. The longer, the better.
- Good refrigerated for 3-4 days and frozen for 3-4 months.
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
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Editor's Note: Originally published April 13, 2010. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Robert Heng
Another way to use your great marinara sauce. SPAGHETTI MEATBALL BAKE. Had some leftover meatballs. Broken anglehair (uncooked) in bottom of casserole dish, lay meatballs on top, poured marinara sauce over. Covered with foil, baked in 350 (conventional) for 30 minutes. Uncovered and stirred to bring spaghetti up. Added small amount of water, recovered and returned to oven for approximately 30 minutes. Uncovered and added mozzarella cheese on top, back in oven until cheese melted and slightly brown. ENJOY
Tony
Olive oil??
DrDan
Generally not needed if using non-stick pan. The fat in the sausage is enough. If not using a non-stick pan and a lean sausage, then a tablespoon of oil at the start is fine.
Dan
Dr Dan
They'll outgrow that. Mine did. When they were little we had to buy the most awful BBQ sauce for them. I think it was Kraft Honey something. Yuck. We are all on the same page now.
Chris
Ah yes, I remember that one at Rex's. I still haven't tried it because it seemed close to ours. I need to give it a shot because I like spicy (although the kids will probably not like it....punks, I don't think they're mine.)