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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Sauces

    Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce

    Published: Jan 8, 2020 · Modified: Mar 26, 2022 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 84 Comments

    959 shares
    • 446
    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free / Low Fat / Vegan

    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:
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make tomato pasta sauce - Step by step
    • Why should you try it?
    • Health benefits
    • What is passata?
    • Top tip
    • Storage
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More sauce recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Ingredients needed

    • 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.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    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.

    Watch our web story for a quick how-to of making this Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce.

    Why should you try 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.

    Health benefits

    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 in to 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.

    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.

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    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 in to it, then you could blend some cooked carrots in to 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.

    A plate of pasta in a tomato sauce next to a bowl of salad and a block of parmesan.

    FAQs

    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.

    heart icon

    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.

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      Healthy Tomato Ketchup Recipe
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      How To Make Tzatziki
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      Marinara
    • A bowl of Jalapeno Sauce surrounded by tortilla chips.
      Jalapeno Sauce

    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
    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
    4.61 from 135 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe 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
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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 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 black pepper, stir and simmer for 10 minutes.
    • Stir through cooked spaghetti.

    Notes

    • 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
    DisclaimerThe 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.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nicole @ The Granola Diaries

      January 09, 2020 at 7:38 pm

      5 stars
      Love this!!! Looks so fresh and delicious!

      Reply
    2. Tonje

      January 09, 2020 at 7:29 pm

      5 stars
      This tasted so good! With such simple recipes, this will definitely become a staple for us!

      Reply
    3. Elizabeth

      February 20, 2016 at 7:23 am

      5 stars
      Mmm sounds like a great midweek meal idea! Love pasta, me!

      Reply
    4. Mandi

      February 18, 2016 at 9:01 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for this simple recipe, my boys love pasta but they always complain about what's in the jars, this will make a nice change.

      Reply
    5. rachel

      February 17, 2016 at 12:59 pm

      5 stars
      Sometimes having just pasta and a sauce is so comforting to sit and eat x

      Reply
    6. Tanya Brannan

      February 17, 2016 at 11:27 am

      I don't think you can beat a freshly made tomato sauce. I love making pasta sauces so will give it a try!

      Reply
    7. Idaintyit

      February 17, 2016 at 9:17 am

      5 stars
      looks yummy. I am always after a new pasta sauce so will give this a try

      Reply
    8. Jenny - Monkey and Mouse

      February 17, 2016 at 8:17 am

      It looks delicious! I love pasta and so do the kids, it's always a hit! :) x

      Reply
    9. Rebecca Smith

      February 16, 2016 at 7:54 pm

      5 stars
      What a fabulously simple recipe, thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    10. Leanne

      February 16, 2016 at 7:37 pm

      I would never have thought of using those products. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    11. [email protected]

      February 16, 2016 at 5:35 pm

      5 stars
      I'm a big fan of Cirio products and will go out of my way if necessary to get them when making something that requires something tomatoey - tinned, passata, paste. Congratulations on being their blogger ambassador - what a great gig!

      Reply
    12. Ickle Pickle

      February 16, 2016 at 5:25 pm

      5 stars
      I love the look of this - I really want to have a go, we have a lot of pasta. I am going to pin this, thank you. Kaz x

      Reply
    13. Catstello

      February 16, 2016 at 5:11 pm

      This looks so tasty! Thanks for sharing

      Reply
    14. Camilla

      February 16, 2016 at 2:36 pm

      5 stars
      You can't beat Cirio as they make cooking a meal so effortless and delicious, my cupboards are bursting with their products:-)

      Reply
    15. Kavey

      February 16, 2016 at 10:55 am

      Completely agree that non-Italians often overcomplicate Italian food. Everything is either too muddled by too many ingredients or the flavours are overly concentrated. This looks like you're really paring back to the essential flavours.

      Reply
    16. Kacie

      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
    17. Stella Kashmoney

      February 16, 2016 at 10:09 am

      This looks very yummy. Would love to taste this.

      Reply
    18. Camilla

      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
    19. Oliver

      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
    20. Bec

      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
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