Instant Creamy Marinara Sauce (Printer View)

Velvety tomato-based sauce ready in minutes with simple pantry ingredients for versatile dishes.

# What you'll need:

→ Sauce Base

01 - 2 cups (16 fl oz) tomato sauce, plain and unsalted if possible

→ Dairy

02 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

→ Seasoning

03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - ½ teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
05 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Additions

06 - 1 tablespoon heavy cream for added creaminess
07 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano)

# Method:

01 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine tomato sauce, butter, and garlic powder.
02 - Stir until butter melts completely and sauce begins to simmer, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Add salt and black pepper; stir thoroughly.
04 - Add heavy cream and dried Italian herbs for richer flavor if desired, stirring to combine.
05 - Simmer an additional 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed; serve hot over pasta, as a dipping sauce, or on pizza.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you simmered it for hours, but you'll have it on the table in 10 minutes flat.
  • The butter does something almost alchemical to canned tomato sauce, turning it into something that tastes homemade and restaurant-worthy.
  • It's endlessly flexible—serves as a pasta sauce, pizza base, dipping sauce, or even a braising liquid for chicken.
02 -
  • Don't skimp on the butter—it's not just flavoring, it's literally the structure of the sauce; less butter means a thinner, less satisfying result.
  • Stir frequently enough that nothing sticks to the bottom, but don't feel like you need to hover over it; this sauce forgives a little neglect.
03 -
  • Buy the best tomato sauce your budget allows—San Marzano or fire-roasted varieties have more depth than generic brands, and it matters in such a simple recipe.
  • Keep the heat at medium, not medium-high; a gentle simmer prevents the sauce from tasting cooked-down or bitter.
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