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)

One-Pan Chicken Alfredo
Creamy pasta and broccoli in a skillet.

One-Pan Chicken Alfredo

A delicious one-pan pasta dish with the perfect blend of creamy cheese sauce, veggies and chicken.
Prepare:
30 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
7 Cups
Chicken Pepper Bake
Bowl filled to the brim with baked bite-size potatoes, chicken and bell peppers.

Chicken Pepper Bake

An easy-to-make chicken recipe with potatoes, peppers and Cajun spices!
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
45 minutes
Makes:
5 Cups
Quinoa Salad
Bowl of quinoa with a colorful vegetable mix.

Quinoa Salad

Quick and healthy quinoa salad made with fresh vegetables and a tangy garlic dressing.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
6 cups
Cream of Celery Soup
Bowls of textured celery with a smooth creamy soup base.

Cream of Celery Soup

This one-pot recipe is the perfect meal on a cold day or alongside a salad as a satisfying summer lunch.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Crunchy Baked Kale Chips
Baked, crisp kale in a bowl.

Crunchy Baked Kale Chips

This kid-approved, light and crunchy snack only uses 3 ingredients!
Prepare:
20 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
3 cups
Baked Tortilla Chips
A bowl of baked tortilla chips is shown with salsa for dipping.

Baked Tortilla Chips

Simple homemade tortilla chips. Great recipe to get the kids cooking!
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
16 Chips