This Keto Marinara Sauce recipe is one you will turn to again and again. It is perfectly balanced with sweetness and acidity. The hands-on time is minimal here, and you will be richly rewarded for your efforts. I especially like this with my Keto Chicken Parmesan. Try it once and, like me, you'll be hooked!
I know a lot of people resist the idea of making things that they can easily buy, and I get it. This Keto Marinara is so worth it.
It is is so simple to throw together on the weekend, and it tastes A-MA-ZING!
This recipe makes a chunky marinara sauce. If you want it smoother, process it with an immersion blender until it reaches the desired consistency.
This recipe is great for making meatball casserole, pizza with fathead dough, and my super-popular chicken parmesan casserole.
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Variations for This Recipe:
- You can use 3 ½ pounds of fresh ripe tomatoes in place of the canned tomatoes.
- If desired, stir in fresh basil and/or oregano in the last 10 minutes of cooking.
- If you are low carb and not keto, a grated carrot added in when you add the onion adds a nice hint of sweetness.
- Stir in 3 ounces of Parmesan cheese at the end.
- If you find the sauce to be too acidic, you can add a pinch of baking soda.
- For a super-creamy tomato sauce, add 2 tablespoons of butter to it at the end.
Keto Marinara Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup diced onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 56 ounces canned whole peeled tomatoes 2- 28 oz cans crushed by hand (make sure you use a no-sugar added brand)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat butter and olive oil in a large stock pan to medium heat.
- Add onion and cook for 4 minutes, until tender. Add garlic and cook for one minute longer.
- Stir in tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and crushed pepper flakes.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and cook for 40 minutes.
Notes
Variations:
- You can use 3 ½ pounds of fresh ripe tomatoes in place of the canned tomatoes.
- If desired, stir in fresh basil and/or oregano in the last 10 minutes of cooking.
- If you are low carb and not keto, a grated carrot added in when you add the onion adds a nice hint of sweetness.
- Stir in 3 ounces of Parmesan cheese at the end.
Slow Cooker Keto Marinara Sauce
- Complete steps one and two on the saute' function of your slow cooker, or on the stovetop.
- Add all the ingredients to your slow cooker, and cook on low for 8 hours.
Instant Pot Keto Marinara Sauce
- Turn your Instant Pot to saute, and add the butter and olive oil to the pot.
- When the butter melts, add onion and cook for 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Stir in tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and crushed pepper flakes.
- Close the lid, and make sure it is set to seal.
- Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- Release the pressure using the quick-release method.
- Carefully unlock and remove the lid.
Steph Social says
Love this! I love marinara sauce and this is a great recipe! I add basil and a little parmigiana and so so good!
L. J. Warren says
Recipe for marinara sauce looks good. However, it appears the Instant Pot directions left off the amount of time to cook. I've enjoyed your recipes and blog through the years. Thanks
Wendy Polisi says
Thanks so much for letting me know! Fortunately it was an easy fix - I had it were I wrote the recipe the end just got cut off when I copied and pasted it to the blog. Sorry about that!
Julie says
If you use ripe tomatoes, do you peel them and approximately how many cups is that?
Lisa Cowan says
1/4 what on the olive oil? Cup?
Wendy Polisi says
Yes, it is 1/4 cup!
Jayde Matheson says
What would the serving size be to create 16 servings?
Robert Charles says
How much is a serving size? This looks good and want to make to night for my stuffed peppers but need to know the serving size.
Staci says
Hi, This looks amazing!
Forgive me if you listed it somewhere, but I cant find how much a serving is. ½ cup? ¼ cup?
Thank you in advance.
Staci
Wendy Polisi says
I have never actually measured it - when I am freezing in individual portions I just divide it into approx. 16 portions. Next time I make this I will measure.
Joan says
Hi! Any update since on serving size?
Wendy Laundree says
I just found your marinara sauce recipe. I can’t wait to try it. Do you now know if you get 16 1/2 cups or 16 1/4 cups.
Wendy Polisi says
It varies a little each time depending on how much it cooks down. (This can vary slightly due to the pot, eye of my stove I use, etc.). So I just weigh it and divide it.
Wendy Laundree says
Did you figure out what a serving size is? I would like to know also
Bev Johnstone says
This sauce is amazing! We'll use this even if we're no longer on Keto. Delicious and so easy. I made it as written except I left out the red pepper, and added a little Parmesan at the end. Yum!
Wendy Polisi says
So glad that you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time with all that is going on right now to let me know - made my night.
Tina says
Is the Parmesan put into the sauce to coolk or a tipping fir when finished ??
Clint says
Is this 56 oz of whole peeled in addition to 2-28 oz crushed tomatoes?
Susan Malley says
When you give the nutrition breakdown in your recipes, is that for one serving or for the whole recipe? Especially interested in the carb count.
Jen says
I just wanted to thank you for you excellent recipes. Today I pulled your Marinara sauce and also stumbled upon the customizable printing options.. I love that I was able to add the thumbnail picture of the recipe and adjust the servings... that is more interactive than I've ever noticed for any printing option from the internet before. Thank you for the time and effort I know it takes to do this stuff well. Cheers to you!
Wendy Polisi says
Thanks so much for your kind words! It is my pleasure - I have so much fun with this website.
Robyn says
Just a quick question: you use a total of 56 oz. of tomatoes, whole or crushed, right? Not 56 oz. of whole PLUS 2-28 oz. cans crushed.
Just double checking before I make this. Can’t wait!
Wendy Polisi says
Exactly!
Natalia camara says
My 11 year old son, was commenting on the good smell as I was sautéing, it’s now in the slow cooker. I am sure it’s going to taste delicious. Thank you!
Megan Rose says
We’re not Keto, but we were looking for a recipe with no added sugar. We cooked it in the slow cooker, doubled the red pepper flakes, and used an immersion blender at the end. Delicious.
Marion Merritt says
I am also curious about how much a serving is. I have been on keto for a week and many recipes leave out what a serving equals. Could you let me know when you update the recipe. Many thanks for the recipe. Going to make it now!
Sarah says
Hi! I want to use tomatoes from my garden. Do I need to do anything to them first (roast/peel) or can I just dice them up and throw them in?
Thanks in advance!