Spicy Sweet Marinara Sauce Recipe

Elevate your dishes with this versatile Spicy Sweet Marinara Sauce! Perfect as a pizza sauce, pasta base for stuffed shells or parmesan chicken, or any recipe you can imagine. This recipe balances the heat of red pepper flakes with the sweetness of sugar, creating a flavor explosion. Feel free to add fresh herbs (you'll need more than the dried amounts listed). Double the batch and freeze for later use – the possibilities are endless!

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 65 mins
Calories 172.8 kcal
Protein 9g
Rating 4.5 (20 Reviews)
Spicy Sweet Marinara Sauce 21

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Spicy Sweet Marinara Sauce

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How to Make Spicy Sweet Marinara Sauce

  1. Sauté 1 medium onion, chopped, and 4 cloves garlic, minced, in 2 tablespoons olive oil until softened (about 5 minutes).
  2. Add 2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes, breaking them up with a spoon into smaller chunks.
  3. Let the tomato liquid simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly reduced.
  4. Stir in 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon dried basil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to your spice preference). Simmer on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Add more sugar for sweetness, red pepper flakes for heat, salt for saltiness, or herbs for a more herbaceous flavor.
  6. This sauce can be doubled and frozen for later use. Let cool completely before freezing in airtight containers.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

37 g

Sugar

104g

Fat

2g

Carbs

11g

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Cuisine Preparation Occasion Low Protein Healthy Sauces Condiments Etc Vegetables Easy European Beginner Cook Dinner Party Kid Friendly Low Fat Vegan Vegetarian Dietary Low Cholesterol Low Saturated Fat Low Calorie Comfort Food Oamc Freezer Make Ahead Low Carb Inexpensive Savory Sauces Healthy 2 Low In Something Onions Tomatoes Taste Mood Savory Number Of Servings 4 Hours Or Less