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    The Best Marinara Sauce with Red Wine Recipe

    Dec 30, 2020 · 12 Comments

    441 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Having a go-to tomato sauce recipe is essential for anyone who cooks. There are many ways to make marinara sauce from scratch but this is the best recipe because it's rich, flavorful and versatile because it is marinara sauce with red wine as a base. Whether you use it as a homemade pasta sauce or or spaghetti sauce or even use it as a pizza sauce, it's all the same. Delicious.

    If you want to learn how to make spaghetti sauce and don't want to add the red wine we have substitution options you may prefer. But if you do have red wine in your pantry you'll want to try this version first! It does not disappoint!

    marinara sauce collage - marinara being made in a pot then served on a bed of spaghetti noodles
    Jump to:
    • Uses for Marinara
    • Ingredients
    • Recipe Variations
    • Instructions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Best Marinara Sauce

    Marinara sauce with red wine is versatile and can be served with pasta, pizza, lasagna, meatballs, chicken parmigiana, sub sandwiches and much more. I love to keep homemade pasta sauce on hand in the freezer to pair with our favorite pasta on busy nights.

    Make it a Meal!

    Turn this recipe into a whole meal! It pairs well with:

    Salad: Italian Salad – This classic side dish is colorful and full of flavor!

    Bread: Pizza Dough Garlic Knots – Dip these in your marinara! YUM!

    Drink: Red Wine Sangria – This is one of my all time favorite sangria recipes. Use the rest of the wine leftover from your marinara recipe.

    Dessert: Chocolate Lasagna – This needs no introduction!

    recommended spaghetti and meatballs. Image of dark background with white plate full of spaghetti topped with meatballs, marinara sauce and some parmesan cheese on top
    Use the marinara with Italian Meatball Recipe
    Use the marinara in this Lasagna Recipe
    plate full of italian meal with salad, spaghetti, garlic knots and sangria.
    Serve the marinara sauce with Italian salad, garlic knots and red wine sangria.

    What is Marinara Sauce?

    Marinara is a traditional tomato sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and onions. It can also include wine, capers, olives or sardines. It is widely used in American cuisine and often called spaghetti sauce or pasta sauce.

    There are a few different stories about how it originated. The most popular idea is that mariners, returning from the Americas with the newly discovered tomato fruit, created the sauce.

    This is not to be confused with spaghetti marinara, a popular dish in Australia, New Zealand, Spain and South Africa, which includes fish.

    Savory looking marinara sauce with red wine in a white dutch oven pot garnished with fresh herbs.
    Garnish with fresh herbs.
    recommended recipe pizza dough garlic knots. Image of wood basket with red and white check plaid cloth inside. Basket is full of seasoned garlic knots
    Dip these garlic knots made with pre-made pizza dough in marinara.
    recommended recipe italian salad. Image of clear glass bowl with salad and croutons, red onion, olives. small tomatoes with wood salad tongs
    Italian Salad

    Uses for Marinara

    • Pasta: Spoon marinara onto your favorite pasta noodles. Or use it in a baked tortellini, baked ziti or lasagna.
    • Meat or seafood: Chicken, meatballs or shrimp all taste great with marinara.
    • Parmigiana: The classic chicken parmigiana or eggplant parmigiana both have marinara in them.
    • Pizza: You can use this recipe as a pizza sauce as well. Add it to a grilled pizza and you won't be sorry!
    • Dipping sauce: Dip your garlic knots or parmesan french bread in this tomato sauce as a dipping sauce. YUM.
    • Sandwiches: A meatball sub or a chicken parmigiana sub are favorites around here. Keep some marinara on hand so you can whip these up on a weeknight!
    • Hand lifting spaghetti with marinara sauce up with tongs.
      Serve spaghetti with marinara sauce family style.
    • table set with family style spaghetti with spaghetti sauce on top, italian salad and garlic knots.
      Serve spaghetti sauce with Italian salad and garlic knots.

    Ingredients

    • Herbs: Using dried basil and oregano in the sauce and topping with fresh basil, oregano and/or parsley will add so much flavor to your sauce.
    • Vegetables: Shallots and garlic are a must in a good marinara sauce.
    • Oil + Wine: Use a good olive oil and red wine for your sauce for better results.
    • Tomatoes: For this marinara sauce with red wine you'll use canned crushed tomatoes, canned petite diced tomatoes as well as tomato paste.
    • Cheese: Parmesan cheese makes a great garnish.
    best marinara sauce with red wine ingredients on a white counter
    Classic marinara sauce ingredients.

    Recipe Variations

    • Make it spicy: Add 1-2 tablespoon of red pepper flakes to your sauce when you add your other dried seasonings. Add more if you like it spicier.
    • Make it cheesy: Stir in ½ cup of freshly-grated Parmesan into the sauce.
    • Add Capers or Olives: Traditional Italian marinara can include capers or olives.
    • Make it creamy: Make it a creamier sauce by adding ½ cup of heavy cream before serving. Heat on medium low to warm.
    • Make it smoother: Don't love any tomato chunks? Puree the sauce before serving.
    Gold ladle scooping up marinara sauce from white large dutch oven pot.
    Serve the marinara sauce with a ladle.

    Instructions

    Step 1: Begin the homemade pasta sauce in a large skillet or Dutch oven, sauté shallots and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until shallots have softened and become translucent.

    Step 2: Add dried basil and oregano and sauté one minute longer. You will be able to smell the aroma of the herbs.

    Step 3: Add red wine to the pan, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the wine to a simmer until reduced in half - about 3-4 minutes.

    Step 4: Add tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer for about 30 minutes.

    Step 5: Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper as needed. Add 1-2 teaspoons of sugar and simmer a couple minutes longer to take some of the acidity out of the tomatoes if desired.

    Turn the heat down to low and cover until you are ready to serve to keep it hot. Scroll down to get tips for storing or freezing sauce for later.

    Round plate with spaghetti with marinara sauce and italian salad and garlic knots
    Serve the marinara sauce with Italian salad, garlic knots and red wine sangria.

    Pictured above: Italian Salad, Pizza Dough Garlic Knots, Red Wine Sangria

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How long can you store marinara sauce in the refrigerator?

    To store this marinara sauce, let it cool until it reaches room temperature.  Then store it in a sealed jar or other food container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.

    How long can you freeze marinara sauce?

    To store this marinara sauce, let it cool until it reaches room temperature.  Then store it in a sealed freezer proof jar or other food container (I prefer freezer zip top bags) and freeze for up to 3 months. I lay the zip top bag flat to freeze then stack bags together in the freezer for easy storage. Make sure you label your container with what you are freezing and the date you made it.

    Can you omit the wine from the marinara sauce recipe?

    Absolutely! Feel free to omit the wine, if you prefer.

    What can I substitute for the red wine in the marinara sauce recipe?

    There are a few good options for red wine substitutions.
    Option 1: Replace with ¼ cup brewed coffee and ¼ cup stock. This is a bold flavor that will help bring out the richness of the tomatoes.
    Option 2: Replace with ⅛ cup balsamic vinegar and ⅜ cup of tomato juice or stock.
    Option 3: Use ½ cup vegetable or beef stock.

    wine pouring into pot for spaghetti marinara sauce recipe

    Best Marinara Sauce

    Learn how to make spaghetti sauce. This is the best marinara sauce with red wine whether you call it pasta sauce or marinara sauce.
    5 from 19 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Course: Main Dish
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: marinara, tomato
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 109kcal
    Author: Stef
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    Tried this recipe?Mention @FamilyDinnersOfficial or tag #familydinnersofficial!

    Equipment

    Dutch Oven

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1-2 shallots - thinly sliced (may substitute yellow onion)
    • 3-4 cloves garlic - minced
    • 1 tablespoon dried basil
    • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
    • ½ cup red wine - such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
    • 6 oz. tomato paste
    • 14.5 oz. petite diced tomatoes
    • 22 oz. crushed tomatoes
    • fresh basil, oregano, and/or parsley for garnish
    • parmesan cheese for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • In a large skillet or Dutch oven, saute shallots and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until shallots have softened and become translucent.
    • Add dried basil and oregano and saute one minute longer.
    • Add red wine to the pan, scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the wine to a simmer until reduced in half - about 3-4 minutes.
    • Add tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer for about 30 minutes.
    • Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper as needed. Add 1-2 teaspoons of sugar and simmer a couple minutes longer to take some of the acidity out of the tomatoes if desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 340mg | Potassium: 650mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 613IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 3mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. sarah says

      February 03, 2021 at 12:45 am

      5 stars
      pinning this recipe for later! My garden always has lot of tomatoes that I need to use up. Thank you!

      Reply
    2. Lydia says

      February 03, 2021 at 12:19 pm

      5 stars
      I love a good homemade marinara sauce! And I love the addition of red wine...bet it gives great flavor!

      Reply
    3. Paula says

      February 03, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      This tomato sauce was on point! Very tasty and even my kids commented on it!

      Reply
    4. Samantha says

      February 03, 2021 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      This looks crazy easy and something I would really enjoy! We are so over trying the bottled kinds because they aren't that great. Looking forward to trying this one!

      Reply
    5. Sandra says

      March 01, 2021 at 6:54 am

      5 stars
      This is soooo delicious and makes the house smell so good!

      Reply
    6. Diana Reis says

      May 25, 2022 at 7:25 pm

      5 stars
      This is such good sauce and the red wine makes all the difference. That is where the depth of flavor comes from.

      Reply
    7. Sara Welch says

      May 25, 2022 at 8:04 pm

      5 stars
      This was such a rich and robust sauce; added so much flavor to last night's dinner! Easily, a new favorite marinara and way better than the store bought version!

      Reply
    8. Carrie Robinson says

      May 25, 2022 at 8:10 pm

      5 stars
      Homemade pasta sauce is always the best! Love that you added red wine to this recipe. 🙂

      Reply
    9. Tavo says

      May 25, 2022 at 8:13 pm

      5 stars
      loved this sauce with the red wine addition! So good!

      Reply
    10. Ieva says

      May 25, 2022 at 8:49 pm

      5 stars
      After making this sauce a handful of times, it has become my go to recipe! Very flavoursome, highly recommend trying it if you have some red wine going spare 🙂

      Reply

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    441 shares
    441 shares