Instant Creamy Marinara Sauce (Printable)

Quick, creamy tomato sauce made with butter and garlic powder, perfect for pasta or pizza.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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 ground black pepper

→ Optional Additions

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

# How to Make It:

01 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine tomato sauce, butter, and garlic powder.
02 - Stir until butter melts completely and sauce begins to simmer, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Incorporate salt and black pepper, stirring thoroughly.
04 - Optionally stir in heavy cream and dried Italian herbs for richer flavor.
05 - Simmer gently 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 pizza base.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It takes less time than boiling water, which means you can make fresh sauce while pasta cooks.
  • Butter melts into tomato sauce like it was always meant to be together, creating this velvety texture that tastes like you've been simmering all day.
  • Works as a pizza base, pasta sauce, or dipping sauce—one recipe, endless uses.
02 -
  • Don't skip tasting before serving—every tomato sauce brand is different, and some are saltier than others, so you really do need to adjust by palate.
  • The butter won't fully melt if your heat is too low, and it'll splatter if your heat is too high, so medium is genuinely the sweet spot.
03 -
  • Stir the sauce frequently while it simmers so the butter stays evenly distributed instead of pooling on top.
  • If you have San Marzano tomato sauce, use it—the flavor difference is noticeable and worth seeking out.
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