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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Sauces

Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce

Updated: Mar 11, 2025 · Published: Sep 16, 2013 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 85 Comments

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Diet: Gluten Free / Low Fat / Vegan
Jump to Recipe

When you want something quick and simple for dinner, this Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce stirred through some spaghetti is about as simple (and delicious) as it gets. No need for any extra ingredients, although a little parmesan and black pepper on top goes a long way. A herby passata pasta sauce with a splash of balsamic vinegar that freezes well too.

A plate of tagliatelle in an easy tomato pasta sauce.

I think that many of us are guilty of over complicating Italian food. In Italy, their food tends to be much more simple, and I think it is tastier because of it. We have kept this pasta sauce really simple with just a good quality passata, some fresh and dried herbs, garlic and a splash of balsamic vinegar.

There are plenty of other ingredients you could add to it, like vegetables, or meat, but if you want something quick and simple then this is a great base.

If you are looking for some other pasta recipes to try, then why not try our Leftover Chicken Pasta, Vegetable Pasta Bake, Sausage Pasta Bake or Smoked Salmon Pasta?

Jump to:
  • Why You Will Love It
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • What is Passata?
  • How to Make Tomato Pasta Sauce - Step by Step
  • Healthy Pasta Sauce
  • Top Tip
  • Storage
  • Extra Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Sauce Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Why You Will Love It

  • Super simple sauce with very few ingredient - You can make this passata pasta sauce with ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
  • Low in calories - There are just 70 calories a portion
  • Healthier than a jar of pasta sauce - Jarred sauce has so many added ingredients. This is a simple sauce, without loads of added sugar and salt.
  • Easy to adapt - We have given options for other ingredients to add.
  • Freezable - Make extra and freeze for a quick and easy dinner.

Ingredients and Substitutions

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

  • Passata - A good quality passata is definitely required for this recipe. Cheaper ones can be a bit watery and tasteless. As this is a tomato sauce, you really want to taste the tomatoes.
  • Onion and garlic - The base of the sauce. Use shallots if you would like a little sweeter taste.
  • Basil and oregano - For that authentic Italian flavour.
  • Balsamic Vinegar - Gives a lovely sweetness to the sauce and brings all the flavours together.

What is Passata?

Passata (or tomato puree as it is called in the US), is strained tomatoes (liquid tomato puree). It will come in a carton or tall glass jar and it is a store cupboard essential in our opinion, as it is the base of so many sauces that we make.

Passata is an uncooked tomato purée that has been strained of seeds and skins. If you can't find any passata, then an alternative would be to blend up a tin of tomatoes and then pass it through a sieve.

How to Make Tomato Pasta Sauce - Step by Step

One: Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the onion and garlic. Gently cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.

A saucepan with chopped onions and minced garlic.

Two: Add the passata, herbs and balsamic vinegar and season.

A saucepan containing chopped onions, minced garlic, passata and herbs.

Three: Stir and simmer for 10 minutes.

A saucepan with a cooked tomato sauce in it.

Four: Stir through cooked spaghetti and add Parmesan.

a saucepan containing cooked tagliatelle and tomato pasta sauce.

Healthy Pasta Sauce

This is an easy recipe, but of course it would be easier to just open a jar of store bought sauce. But, next time you are in the supermarket, take a look at the ingredients of some of those pasta sauces.

Some (not all - there are some great options out there now) contain so much salt, sugar and unnecessary ingredients.

Making your own pasta sauce means you can control exactly what goes into it and you can use just a pinch of salt to season it. The splash of balsamic gives it a little sweetness too.

Parmesan shavings on top of pasta in a tomato sauce.

Top Tip

If you want to add something else to this tomato pasta sauce, then you could stir some spinach in just before serving. Also, some red chilli flakes is an easy way to add a kick of heat to it. If you wanted to hide some vegetables into it, then you could blend some cooked carrots into the sauce.

Storage

Store: You can store leftovers in an air tight container for up to 3 days.

Freeze: This freezes really well, but make sure it has fully cooled first. Put in freezer bags and lay them flat in the freezer and they will keep for up to 3 months.

Defrost: You can defrost the bags of tomato pasta sauce in the fridge overnight.

Reheat: Add the sauce to a saucepan and heat on low until piping hot.

Extra Tips

  • You can use this simply stirred through pasta, as a spaghetti bolognese sauce or as a pizza base sauce.
  • It freezes really well, so feel free to triple the recipe and batch cook it.
  • This is a simple sauce, but you can use it as a base and add vegetables or meat to it. Cooking times will vary though.
  • This is a vegan sauce, but some Parmesan or vegan alternative, is really nice sprinkled on top after cooking.
  • If you like a smoother sauce, then you can blend it until smooth.
A plate of pasta in a tomato sauce next to a bowl of salad and a block of parmesan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is tomato pasta sauce vegan?

Yes, this pasta sauce is vegan.

Is tomato pasta sauce gluten free?

As long as you make sure there is no cross contamination, then this can be gluten free.

Can I make double?

Yes, you can double the batch and it won't change the cooking time. Just make sure that you have a saucepan big enough for everything.

Can I make it in advance?

Yes, you can and then you can keep it in the fridge until you are ready to use it.

How to make a creamy tomato pasta sauce?

If you wanted a creamy version of this, then you could stir in a heaped tablespoon of cream cheese before serving.

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If you’ve tried this easy tomato pasta sauce, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Easy tomato pasta sauce coating tagliatelle on a white plate.

Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce

By: Dannii Martin
Sometimes you just want something simple for dinner, and this Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce stirred through some spaghetti is about as simple as it gets.
A circular logo saying GF.
Gluten Free
the words low fat in a white circle.
Low Fat
An illustration of a v-shaped plant in a pot.
Vegan
4.82 from 132 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Sauce/Spread
Cuisine: Italian
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 15 minutes mins
Total: 20 minutes mins
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 70kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of a wine glass.
Sulphites

Ingredients

  • 0.5 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 0.5 Onion - diced
  • 2  Garlic clove - crushed
  • 2  tablespoon Fresh basil - chopped
  • 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
  • 250 g  (9 oz) Passata
  • 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
  • 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Heat 0.5 tablespoon Olive oil and cook 0.5 Onion and 2  Garlic clove until softened.
  • Add 250 g  Passata, 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar2  tablespoon Fresh basil and 1 teaspoon Dried oregano.
  • Season with 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper, stir and simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Stir through cooked spaghetti.

Recipe Tips

  • You can use this simply stirred through pasta, as a spaghetti bolognese sauce or as a pizza base sauce.
  • It freezes really well, so feel free to triple the recipe and batch cook it.
  • This is a simple sauce, but you can use it as a base and add vegetables or meat to it. Cooking times will vary though.
  • This is a vegan sauce, but some parmesan or vegan alternative, is really nice sprinkled on top after cooking.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 59mg | Potassium: 639mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1012IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 3mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Kacie says

    February 16, 2016 at 10:32 am

    5 stars
    I made my own sundried tomato pasta sauce the other day and it made such a difference - so much nicer than shop-bought varieties!

    Reply
  2. Stella Kashmoney says

    February 16, 2016 at 10:09 am

    This looks very yummy. Would love to taste this.

    Reply
  3. Camilla says

    February 16, 2016 at 9:24 am

    5 stars
    We are going to Italy in the summer and I am most looking forward to the food. This has gotten me in the mood for it even more now.
    We buy Cirio products too. Congrats on being an ambassador for them, I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

    Reply
  4. Oliver says

    February 16, 2016 at 9:22 am

    5 stars
    I am a terrible cook, but I think I could even manage this. I would have to add some chicken or something to it though.

    Reply
  5. Bec says

    February 16, 2016 at 7:51 am

    I make my pasta sauces from scratch too and tend to use cirio too. It's much cheaper and I know exactly what's gone in it too. Love bec xx

    Reply
  6. mira says

    February 16, 2016 at 4:02 am

    5 stars
    I love Cirio tomato sauce! But not many stores around me have it! This pasta look amazing!

    Reply
  7. Liz Mays says

    February 15, 2016 at 11:14 pm

    This certainly looks great. I'd love to try that healthy sauce with this recipe.

    Reply
  8. Ana De- Jesus says

    February 15, 2016 at 10:20 pm

    5 stars
    I actually had something similar earlier it was pomodoro with a similar sauce!

    Reply
  9. Kelly says

    February 15, 2016 at 9:45 pm

    5 stars
    Yay, congrats on the ambassadorship, Dannii! My husband and I always dream about the amazing food we had in Italy. Love how simple this sauce is, homemade is always best especially with good quality ingredients!

    Reply
  10. Martin @ The Why Chef says

    February 15, 2016 at 8:39 pm

    5 stars
    Just had these delivered on my weekly shop! What good timing! I'm glad they come recommended - not bought these before!

    Reply
  11. StressedMum says

    February 15, 2016 at 8:26 pm

    5 stars
    Homemade is always nicer, I usually use passata when making tomato based sauces x

    Reply
  12. Alida @My Little Italian Kitchen says

    February 15, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    I completely agree, much better to make your own sauce. I usually buy plain passata which has nothing added to it and I make delicious sauces or I use it in casseroles and other dishes. I use so much of it that I usually emtpy the shelf at the supermarket! People think I have got a restaurant! (Not talking about the weekly shop though!).
    Love your recipe!

    Reply
  13. Mayuri Patel says

    February 15, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    5 stars
    Cirio is a very old brand. I remember their concentrated tomato paste was used by most households here in Kenya. It was never known as tomato paste... it was just known as cirio. If mum asked my dad to buy cirio he knew it was the tomato paste she required. If a recipe called for cirio we knew it is tomato paste. Unfortunately we don't see Cirio brand nowadays on our shelves in the Kenyan supermarkets.

    Reply
  14. Emma White says

    February 15, 2016 at 7:33 pm

    5 stars
    oh wow I always buy my sauce out of a jar but this sounds so much nicer

    Reply
  15. Emily says

    February 15, 2016 at 6:52 pm

    This brand is a new one to me, but quality is very important to us, as is organic products.

    Reply
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