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)

Taco Seasoning
Bowl of seasoning.

Taco Seasoning

A 5-minute make-ahead recipe filled with the perfect spices for taco night.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
1 cup
Roasted Onions
Caramelized onion quarters on a baking sheet.

Roasted Onions

Tender roasted onions with a mild sweet flavor.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
2 Cups
Frozen Fruit Yogurt
Footed glasses filled with a creamy fruit dessert.

Frozen Fruit Yogurt

A kid-approved, 3-ingredient treat that only takes a few minutes to make and uses your favorite fruit.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
3 ½ cups
Smashed Garbanzo Bean Salad
Bread topped with Smashed Garbanzo Bean Salad

Smashed Garbanzo Bean Salad

Garbanzo beans and crunchy vegetables make a delicious sandwich filling or chunky dip.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Makes:
3 cups
Kale Dip
Cottage cheese and kale-based dip served with celery, carrot sticks and crackers.

Kale Dip

This recipe combines greens and cottage cheese for a dip that is perfect for veggies!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
5 minutes
Makes:
1 ½ cups
Celery Stir-Fry
Photo of Celery Stir-Fry

Celery Stir-Fry

This flavorful side dish of tender celery is a quick and simple addition to any meal.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
4 cups