This San Marzano tomato sauce recipe is simple to make and simmers slowly, which makes it perfect for a big family dinner. Or make it and freeze it for meal planning & a quick and easy meal later on.
It’s hard to beat homemade tomato sauce, but it’s even harder to make it taste like the best of the best. And the star of this dish are the San Marzano tomatoes.
San Marzano tomatoes are considered among the best in the world for making sauce. Discover how this tomato is grown, and read about why you should use this tasty gem in all of your homemade tomato recipes!
This post is part of the I ❤️ San Marzano DOP campaign. Tomatoes were provided courtesy of the Consorzio di Tutela del Pomodoro San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP and ANICAV. As always, all opinions are my own.
San Marzano Tomatoes
Allow me to introduce you to the San Marzano tomato. This tomato is incredibly special and only grown in a particular region of Italy. It is not the same as the San Marzano style tomatoes we find in the grocery stores or the seeds we can grow in our home gardens.
I thought they were the same, but I was wrong! True San Marzano tomatoes are grown in the area of Agro Sarnese-Nocerino, in the province of Salerno. The Mediterranean climate and volcanic soil, rich in potassium and phosphorus, make this territory the ideal place for them to grow and thrive.
Aside from growing in this specific region of Italy, they are harvested completely by hand from July to September and immediately canned at the height of their ripeness and peak of flavor and texture to lock in its freshness.
The San Marzano tomato is known as the King of tomatoes or the the “Crown Jewel” of European canned tomatoes! And rightfully so, these canned tomatoes are superb!
Note: the above labels are for promotional purposes only and are not the the labels available in stores.
If you’re like me, quality ingredients are important to you. These canned tomatoes are amazing quality and you should give them a comparison test in your recipes. Using them in place of the standard canned tomatoes in my recipes, has truly elevated the dishes! They have the best fresh taste, are slightly sweet and are just bursting with flavor! Just give it a test yourself and notice the difference in quality and taste!
Where to find San Marzano D.O.P. Tomatoes
There are some important things to know when you’re shopping for authentic San Marzano D.O.P. tomatoes at the grocery store. Some of your local shops will carry them, but others will not. I live rurally and we don’t have them available in our local stores. So, I have to order them online, but rust me, it’s worth it!
Also, if you have an Italian market nearby, they will also carry them!
When shopping for them, you want to look for “San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP” on the label. What does this mean? D.O.P. = Denominazione d’ Origine Protetta (“protected designation of origin”). DOP certification means that a tomato is the San Marzano variety. But not all San Marzano tomatoes are DOP certified. So, this is why it’s important to read the labels when searching for these tomatoes.
If you need to order online, you can find them here:
Amazon – you can order them in bulk here. There are several brands that will carry these tomatoes. Just be sure to look for the DOP and this “San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP” on the label to know that they are authentic.
Supermarket Italy – this is where I order mine from. Plus, they also have great DOP olive oils and other Italian favorites. I order my pastas, coffee, and other quality Italian ingredients here!
Note: the above labels are for promotional purposes only and are not the the labels available in stores.
San Marzano Tomato Sauce
I grew up with Italian family tomato sauces simmering on the stove regularly during my childhood. And this is a version of one of the tomato sauce recipes that has been handed down from our family.
Of course, I’ve made some slight variations over time. And this is one that easy enough to make regularly, you won’t want to go back to jarred sauces.
Plus, even the pickiest of eaters will love it!
Ingredients
One of my top recommendations good quality recipes – use quality ingredients! I really do believe that using quality ingredients will make or break a recipe.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- extra virgin olive oil
- onion
- garlic cloves
- 28-ounce San Marzano D.O.P. tomatoes
- tomato paste
- dried oregano
- bay leaves
- salt
- bone broth chicken or beef are great in this recipe — but try homemade broth for the best flavor!
- Parmigiano cheese for topping
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
This sauce is incredibly flavorful and pairs well with any pasta, as a sauce for lasagna, over homemade pizza dough, or as meatball subs.
Here’s how you can make this homemade tomato sauce recipe at home.
Heat the olive oil to a large stock pot over medium heat until just warm. Add in chopped onion and garlic. Allow to cook until translucent, approximately 10 minutes, and stir periodically.
Reduce heat to low and add in remaining ingredients: bone broth, San Marzano tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, oregano, and bay leaf.
Allow to simmer for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking to bottom of pan.
Serve combined with your favorite pasta, gluten-free pasta, or for a low carb option, over spaghetti squash.
I like to make this sauce without meat so it can easily be used in any recipe. But you can add cooked ground beef, Italian sausage, or meatballs to the sauce if desired.
Sprinkle a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes and freshly grated parmigiano cheese (so much better than the canned parmesan cheese in the store) over top if desired.
🍅 Recipe tips
I wholeheartedly believe that good quality ingredients make for the best recipes! I don’t recommend any fake or overly processed ingredients and will usually recommend organic / non-gmo ingredients whenever possible.
Sourcing good quality ingredients can be difficult sometimes. Did you know that most of the olive oil in grocery stores aren’t truly authentic? Or that most seafood is farmed and sourced from China? These are just a couple of examples of confusing product labels.
How do we find the BEST ingredients? If you’re like me, then sourcing clean ingredients is important to you! So, I’ve created a favorite shop page with all of my recommendations. Here you can find all of the best places to source good quality ingredients!
How to store & reheat leftovers
This tomato sauce makes a large batch and stores really well in the refrigerator or freezer for a quick and easy weeknight meal. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days in an airtight container. To freeze: store inside of a freezer bag or other freezer safe container for up to 4 months.
To reheat, add to a large pot and heat on the stove top over medium heat until warmed through.
More pasta dishes
Here’s a few of our favorite pasta recipes that we think you’ll love too!
FAQ (frequently asked questions)
Yes, absolutely! I love to make this sauce without meat to use in various recipes. But feel free to add your family’s favorite meat like cooked ground beef, meatballs, or Italian sausages to the sauce.
These plum tomatoes are my new favorite to use in my recipes! San Marzanos are the best types of tomatoes to cook with because they have a deliciously sweet flavor, they are low in acid, and they have a fresh tomato flavor without being bitter.
Real San Marzano tomatoes are grown in the area of Agro Sarnese-Nocerino, in the province of Salerno. The Mediterranean climate and volcanic soil, rich in potassium and phosphorus, make this territory the ideal place for them to grow and thrive.
Aside from growing in this specific region of Italy, they are harvested completely by hand from July to September and immediately canned at the height of their ripeness and peak of flavor and texture to lock in its freshness.
Give them a try and see why they are simply the best and known as the “Crown Jewel” of European canned tomatoes! Be sure to look for When shopping for them, you want to look for “San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP” on the label.
want more recipes?
Check out the recipe index where you can discover more homemade recipes from my homestead!
San Marzano Tomato Sauce Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 medium chopped onion
- 3 cloves of minced garlic
- 28 oz San Marzano D.O.P. tomatoes
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup bone broth chicken or beef work great
- Parmigiano cheese for topping
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil to a large stock pot or Dutch Oven over medium heat until just warm. Add in chopped onion and garlic. Allow to cook until translucent, approximately 15 minutes, stirring periodically.
- Reduce heat to low and add in remaining ingredients — San Marzano tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, salt, oregano, and bay leaf. Allow simmer for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- Serve combined with your favorite pasta or for a low carb option, over spaghetti squash.
- Top with fresh grated parmigiano cheese, crushed red pepper, or fresh herbs if desired.
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