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A glass jar of homemade tomato sauce with butter and San Marzano tomatoes, with a spoon and spaghetti in the background.

Tomato Sauce with San Marzano Tomatoes

This classic tomato sauce with San Marzano tomatoes is rich, velvety, and full of flavor. Butter adds a silky depth, while onion gently seasons the sauce without overpowering the vibrant tomatoes. Use it as a simple tomato pasta sauce, a base for marinara sauce, or stir in ground beef for an easy bolognese. A versatile recipe that proves simple ingredients make the best meals.
*Quick Note Before You Dive In: This recipe card covers the basics, but if you want to learn how to batch cook and freeze this sauce, scroll back up - everything you need for foolproof results is in the post.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Dinner, Mains
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 (makes 5 1/2 cups)
Calories 32 kcal

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

Equipment

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

You may notice a wilted-looking green leaf in your can of San Marzano tomatoes; it is added during canning to add flavor. You can discard it, or just let it simmer in the tomato sauce as it cooks. Either way, it won’t affect the flavor of your tomato pasta sauce.
As the tomato sauce simmers, make sure the onions stay submerged so they soften evenly and release their flavor into the sauce.
If you want your sauce thicker than instructed in the recipe, keep it on a gentle simmer, stirring until you achieve the desired texture. (In a few of my photos, I let it simmer longer for a thicker sauce.)
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and provided as an estimate. It is not intended as a substitute for professional dietary advice

Nutrition

Serving: 184gCalories: 32kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 1gFat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 0.4mgSodium: 584mgPotassium: 284mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 165IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 1mg
Keyword butter tomato sauce, easy pasta sauce, easy tomato pasta sauce, marinara sauce, san marzano tomato sauce, san marzano tomatoes, tomato pasta sauce, tomato sauce
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