Tomato Sauce with San Marzano Tomatoes
Before you reach for that store-bought jar, try this 4-ingredient Tomato Sauce with San Marzano tomatoes. Simple, rich, and comforting, this butter tomato sauce outshines even the best store-bought brands.
This recipe is adapted from Marcella Hazan’s famous tomato sauce. Instead of removing the onion at the end, I blend it directly into the sauce for a full-flavored San Marzano tomato sauce like you’ve never tasted before. The result is lighter in color, velvety smooth, and full-bodied in flavor (and don’t worry, your sauce won’t end up tasting like onions).
What Are San Marzano Tomatoes?
San Marzano tomatoes get their name from the southern Italian town of San Marzano sul Sarno. They’re prized for making delicious tomato sauce thanks to their naturally low acidity, meaty texture, and fewer seeds compared to other tomato varieties. This San Marzano tomato sauce shines above other tomato sauces for its balanced flavor and rich velvety texture.
Just a note: Certified San Marzano tomatoes must meet strict standards (much like wines from certain regions in Europe). Always look for the word ‘certified’ or the official DOP seal on the can, which ensures authenticity.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Only 4 Ingredients: minimal ingredients, maximum flavor
- A great base with endless variations: turn it into a marinara sauce, add ground beef for a hearty bolognese, or use it as a flavorful layer in lasagna.
- Freezer-friendly: This San Marzano sauce recipe freezes beautifully. I like to buy canned San Marzano tomatoes in bulk, make a giant batch, and freeze jars to enjoy throughout the month (yes, we really do eat that much of it) !
Table of Contents
Ingredients for San Marzano Tomato Sauce
- San Marzano Tomatoes: whole peeled tomatoes, canned. Make sure they have a seal of authenticity.
- Unsalted Butter: adds to the velvety texture and helps in making the tomato sauce less acidic.
- Onion: cooking onion or a small white onion is fine.
- Salt
Refer to the printable recipe card below for ingredient quantities and detailed instructions.
How to Make Tomato Sauce with San Marzano Tomatoes
1. Peel and quarter the onion.
2. Add San Marzano tomatoes, butter, and onion to the pot.
3. Simmer until the onions are tender, then blend until smooth.
4. Stir in salt and simmer uncovered until the sauce thickens.
Substitutions & Variations
This simple-to-make sauce is a perfect base for an easy tomato pasta recipe. Enjoy as is or customize it how you wish:
- Turn it into a marinara sauce by adding garlic during the simmering process and finishing it with fresh herbs, such as basil.
- Stir in ground beef for a weeknight spaghetti bolognese.
- Enhance the spiciness of the San Marzano tomato recipe by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes during simmering.
Can I Use Regular Tomatoes?
If you can’t find San Marzano tomatoes, you can use regular canned tomatoes as an alternative. Be aware that other types of tomatoes contain more water, so you will need to adjust the cooking time to thicken the sauce or drain away some of the liquid before adding the tomatoes to the pot.
Look for cans that have whole tomato as opposed to diced or chopped. Most importantly, make sure you don’t purchase stewed tomatoes, as they often contain additional ingredients like celery and other spices.
★ Expert Tips
- Keep the onions submerged as the sauce simmers, so they cook evenly
- To thicken the sauce to your liking, set the pot over medium-low heat, uncovered, until the desired thickness is reached.
- When making homemade tomato sauce for freezing, always use heat-resistant glass jars. To avoid thermal shock (and the glass breaking), run them under hot water beforehand.
- If you don’t have an immersion blender, simply transfer the tomatoes and onions to a regular blender and blend until your San Marzano tomato sauce is silky and smooth.
Storage Info
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freezer: This sauce freezes well. Place the San Marzano pasta sauce into glass storage jars, making sure to leave room at the top as the sauce will expand as it freezes. This simple tomato pasta sauce can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQs
San Marzano tomatoes have lower acidity, fewer seeds, and a thicker, meatier texture compared to regular tomatoes. These qualities make them especially prized for creating a smooth, balanced tomato sauce for pasta.
Yes, this sauce is naturally gluten-free since it’s made with only tomatoes, onion, butter and salt.
Yes, this recipe can be made up to 5 days in advance. Keep the flavor fresh by storing it in an airtight container.
Tomato Sauce with San Marzano Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 2 (28-ounce) cans peeled whole San Marzano tomatoes (do not drain)
- 1 stick (113g) unsalted butter
- 1 small cooking onion (150g) peeled and cut into quarters
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add the San Marzano tomatoes (with their liquid), butter, and onion, to a large 5-quart pot.
- Set over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Cover, then reduce the heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer for approximately 45 minutes, or until the onions are tender and soft.
- Remove the lid and use an immersion blender to puree the tomatoes and onions directly in the pot until smooth. Stir in 1 teaspoon salt.
- Lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook, uncovered, for an additional 20–30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly.
Notes
Nutrition
This homemade San Marzano tomato sauce with butter proves that a simple recipe can be the most rewarding, and that you can create incredible flavor from canned tomatoes!
Whether you serve it over fresh pasta or use it as a base for marinara or bolognese, I think you’ll agree that this is the best tomato sauce recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
If you are looking for a delicious recipe featuring fresh tomatoes, try my Balsamic Roasted Tomatoes with Caramelized Garlic. This 1 recipe can create 8 different menu ideas!
