Skip to main content

Quick Tomato Pasta Sauce

A simple and delicious pasta sauce that comes together in less than 30 minutes.
Tomato sauce served over spaghetti noodles.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Makes: 2 cups
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic minced or ½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced or crushed tomatoes
¼ teaspoon each salt and black pepper
1 Tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse fresh garlic under running water before preparing.
  3. In a medium saucepan, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. (If using garlic powder, omit oil and skip this step).
  4. Add tomatoes, salt and black pepper. Add lemon juice and red pepper flakes, if desired. Cook until heated through, stirring occasionally. For a thicker sauce, cook an extra 10 to 20 minutes to allow more liquid to evaporate.
  5. Serve over pasta, or use in any recipe that calls for pasta sauce.
  6. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

Comments

WOW!!!   This is for sure one of my fav Food Hero recipes because it tastes amazing (my family continues to say its a better sauce than anything from a jar/can) and it saves money and is soooooo quick!!  Try it!!  I have not ever used the lemon juice called for.  And i have used it as a pasta sauce with noodles, but also used it when a recipe calls for tomato sauce.  I always keep canned tomatoes in my pantry (stocking up when they are on sale) and boxed pasta so this recipe gets used a lot when I am in a hurry and need a quick dinner idea.

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Greens with Carrots
Plate of kale and carrot strips with dressing.

Greens with Carrots

A fresh and crunchy salad using your favorite greens.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Tofu "Egg" Salad
Creamy tofu mix served on bread with lettuce.

Tofu "Egg" Salad

A great make-ahead tofu lunch recipe with crunchy celery and a creamy dressing.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Makes:
1 Cup
Mix and Match Grain Bowl
Two versions of a grain bowl with vegetables and chicken or tofu.

Mix and Match Grain Bowl

Make a simple, delicious and healthy meal for any time of day with ingredients you have on hand and these mix and match ideas.
Prepare:
varies
Cook:
varies
Makes:
4 servings
Cucumber Yogurt Dip
Yogurt dip served with a plate of sliced vegetables.

Cucumber Yogurt Dip

Quick and flavorful dip with Greek yogurt, mint and garlic. Perfect for snacks and party appetizers!
Prepare:
15 minutes
Makes:
1 ¼ cup
Whole-Wheat Spiced Pear Bread
Platter with slices of golden brown pear bread.

Whole-Wheat Spiced Pear Bread

The delicate taste of pear shines through in this lightly spiced and moist quick bread. Enjoy with breakfast or as a snack.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
50 minutes
Makes:
1 loaf (16 slices)
Cheesy Polenta Pie
Photo of Cheesy Polenta Pie

Cheesy Polenta Pie

Dinner in an hour! This quick recipe can be easily customized to meet everyone's taste preferences.
Prepare:
30 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
12 Cups
Was this page helpful to you?
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.