Marinara Dipping Sauce
This marinara dipping sauce is super easy to make and only needs a few ingredients you will already have in the pantry! It makes a wonderful dipping sauce for many snacks, like mozzarella sticks, calamari, or bread sticks.
Why this works
- Quick - it only takes a few minutes from the start to serve.
- Make it ahead - this dipping sauce tastes great from frozen, so you can pull it out of the freezer and have it ready to go!
Ingredients you will need
Here is a quick snapshot of the ingredients you'll need. Scroll down to the recipe card where you'll find exact measurements.
Ingredient notes
- Canned tomato sauce - you can use tomato sauce for your marinara, but if you don't have that you can use diced or crushed tomatoes if you cook them a little longer.
- Hot red pepper flakes - you can use more or less depending on the amount of spice you like.
How to make this
Combine all ingredients into a medium-sized pot over medium heat.
Cook at a simmer for 10 minutes and that is all there is to Marinara dipping sauce!
Expert tips
If you want extra garlic flavor, smash whole garlic cloves and sauté them in a pan with a little bit of olive oil until fragrant.
For a chunky sauce, add a small can of diced tomatoes. You will need to cook the sauce a little longer for it to thicken up.
If it's extra spice you want, add more pepper and hot red pepper flakes to the marinara.
FAQs
The short answer is, no, they are somewhat different. Pasta sauce often includes meat and a more robust combination of spices, where as dipping sauce tends to be a thinner consistency.
Whichever you prefer! Both taste amazing.
"Marinara" comes from the word "mariner" which means "seafarer." In essence, it meant "sailor style" as marinara was a common dish for Intalian merchants on their long voyages at sea.
Serving suggestions
Try marinara dipping sauce with zucchini fries, cheese sticks, air fryer ravioli, or breadsticks!
Storage & reheating
Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to one week. It can be frozen in portions for up to three months and then thawed in the refrigerator before reheating.
How-to video
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Recipe
Marinara Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
- Pinch of sugar
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients into a medium-sized pot. over medium heat.
- Cook at a simmer for 10 minutes.
- Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to one week. Can be frozen in portions for up to three months then thawed in the refrigerator prior to reheating.
Video
Notes
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