Instant Creamy Marinara Sauce (Printable)

Velvety tomato sauce with butter and herbs, ready in minutes for pasta or pizza bases.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Sauce Base

01 - 2 cups tomato sauce, plain and unsalted if possible

→ Dairy

02 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

→ Seasoning

03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - ½ teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
05 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Additions

06 - 1 tablespoon heavy cream
07 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano)

# Preparation Steps:

01 - Heat tomato sauce, butter, and garlic powder in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
02 - Stir until butter melts and sauce begins to simmer, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Add salt and black pepper, stirring thoroughly.
04 - Incorporate heavy cream and dried Italian herbs for enhanced richness, if desired.
05 - Simmer the mixture for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve warm over pasta, as a dipping sauce, or on pizza.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in the time it takes to boil water, yet tastes like you simmered it for an hour.
  • Your pantry staples suddenly feel fancy when butter and heat work their quiet magic on tomato sauce.
  • No special ingredients or long lists—just a handful of things that already live in most kitchens.
02 -
  • Never let the sauce boil hard—a gentle simmer keeps the butter from separating and keeps the sauce silky instead of greasy.
  • The sauce thickens slightly as it cools, so if it seems thin while hot, give it a moment before deciding you need to adjust it.
03 -
  • Keep your tomato sauce at room temperature before adding it to warm butter—cold sauce lowers the temperature and lengthens cooking time unnecessarily.
  • Taste as you build the sauce; a sauce that's underseasoned can be fixed, but oversalted is harder to rescue, so go slow with seasoning adjustments.
Go Back