30 Minute Pasta Sauce
Transform weeknight dinners with this flavorful and easy 30-Minute Pasta Sauce, a quick homemade alternative to store-bought options that doesn’t skimp on taste. Made with pantry staples like crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and aromatic herbs, this sauce achieves a rich, robust flavor in just half an hour. A quick sauté of onions and garlic in olive oil forms the aromatic base, while hints of dried oregano, basil, and a touch of sweetness from sugar elevate the sauce to restaurant-quality perfection. Customize it with a kick of red pepper flakes or a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a personal touch. Ideal for draping over al dente pasta or doubling as a base for your favorite Italian-inspired dishes, this versatile sauce is a game-changer for busy nights. Perfectly balanced and ready in a flash—your weeknight dinners just got a delicious upgrade!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium, finely diced yellow onion
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 0.25 teaspoon (optional) red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons, chopped (optional) fresh parsley
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat.
Add the finely diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, being careful not to burn it.
Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, sugar, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the saucepan. Stir well to combine.
Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Add more salt, pepper, or sugar to balance the flavors to your liking.
If desired, stir in chopped fresh parsley just before serving for added freshness.
Serve the pasta sauce over your favorite cooked pasta or use it as a base for other recipes.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
529 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 30.2 g | 39% | |
| Saturated Fat | 4.5 g | 22% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1277 mg | 56% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 62.1 g | 23% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 14.4 g | 51% | |
| Total Sugars | 36.2 g | ||
| Protein | 10.4 g | 21% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 216 mg | 17% | |
| Iron | 7.5 mg | 42% | |
| Potassium | 2281 mg | 49% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
