Easy Homemade Marinara Dipping Sauce Recipe 

Revel in dipping magic with this easy homemade marinara dipping sauce recipe—seven simple, low-fat ingredients and no added oil using canned tomatoes for a flavorful vegan sauce in just 20 minutes. 

I made this sauce to accompany my newest favorite, vegan cauliflower parmesan recipe, but it's a great alternative sauce for breaded Buffalo air fryer tofu and makes a terrific sauce for a gluten-free quinoa pizza base or pizza crust with sweet potatoes. 

Let me show you how easy it is to make homemade marinara sauce and abandon the idea of buying expensive sauces filled with added oil and ingredients or preservatives you'll never miss. 

⭐ Why You'll Love This Recipe

• The short list of ingredients and easy prep means you can stick this sauce on the back burner and simmer it. It’s that easy!
• Naturally vegan and made without added olive oil, this healthy, low-fat recipe delivers flavor.
• Italian seasoning avoids finding or buying numerous dried herbs.

📋 Recipe Ingredients

Tomatoes. In a perfect world, we’d all use San Marzano tomatoes, but you can use any kind if they are packed in juice, not water. Diced or plum tomatoes work for a chunky sauce. For larger Roma tomatoes, break them up with the back of a spoon as they simmer. If using seasoned Italian tomatoes or fire-roasted, you may need seasoning adjustments.

Onions & Garlic. Dice the onion small and mince, or press the garlic. Substitute with shallots for a sweet flavor than yellow onions. Fresh garlic will have a better taste than garlic powder. Use ½ a teaspoon of garlic powder if you make this substitution.

Balsamic vinegar. Balsamic is an excellent addition to many red sauce recipes, like easy herbed arrabbiata, adding zesty sweetness. Surprisingly, the vinegar doesn’t contribute to the acidity of the tomatoes. Think balsamic next time you whip up a quick spaghetti arrabbiata. You won’t regret it.

Italian seasoning. Italian seasoning blends combine dried oregano, basil, garlic powder, rosemary, and onion powder.

Red chili flakes. A bit of heat brings a little dipping magic to this savory concoction. You can also use a pinch of cayenne pepper or paprika. This isn't necessarily a spicy sauce, and you can adjust accordingly.

Maple syrup. Rather than sugar, maple syrup balances out tomatoes and vinegar. You can also use date paste or granulated sugar like date sugar.

Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions.

📖 Recipe Variations

I've yet to try this recipe with tomato sauce or simple homemade tomato sauce, which is thicker and sweeter than canned tomatoes—taste it before adding maple syrup.

Fresh tomatoes will need a longer simmering time, but they work great for homemade tomato chutney. With a few flavor adjustments, it would work for marinara sauce, too. 

⏲️ Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Heat a small saucepan, then cook the onions. Stir the garlic for 30 seconds.

Step 2: Add the rest of the ingredients.

Step 3: Simmer for at least 10-15 minutes.

Step 4: Blend the ingredients smooth (optional)

🔪 Pro Tips

• The longer the sauce simmers, the more it reduces. 
• Resist the urge to add more maple syrup or spices until you have cooked the sauce. The intensifies as it simmers. 

🍴 Serving Suggestions

It's a dipping sauce, so anything goes, but sticking to a theme of marinara, you may want to go with traditional breadsticks or crusty garlic bread. We love this sauce with bready things like crispy zucchini fries, vegan mozzarella sticks, or cauliflower parmesan bites.

Spread marinara over warm bread, top it with tofu bacon, and sail through a sandwich with the wind at your back. And yep, it’s a great pizza sauce. Top that with vegan mozzarella for pizza bites you’ll adore.

💭 Frequently Asked Questions