The BEST Classic Italian Tomato Sauce! This is a go-to, easy, authentic, and flavorful tomato sauce recipe you will love! It comes together in less than 30 minutes with only 4 ingredients.
This delicious and simple sauce is the base for Nonna's Famous Traditional Italian Meatballs (Polpette) and Classic Italian Ragu Recipe (Meat Sauce), and Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna with Tomato Sauce.
This recipe for Classic Italian Tomato Sauce is my Nonna Laura's recipe. I grew up eating this sauce and now make it in my home for our family.
Ingredients
- Onion
- Good quality olive oil
- Good quality canned tomatoes
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
The process for this sauce is nostalgic for me as I saw my nonna and mother do it many times my entire life.
Start by slicing, or dicing, your onion. Add good quality olive oil to pan and place the onions in the pan to cook until translucent.
Then, add the canned tomatoes and stir occasionally as the sauce cooks for 20-25 minutes.
Right after turning off the heat, add the fresh basil and stir to combine. This will add a depth of fresh flavor to the sauce.
Why Make Homemade Pasta Sauce?
Most canned tomato pasta sauces are filled with a dozen ingredients and spices. The overdone sauce complicates the pure sweet flavor of the tomato itself.
The key is using the right kind of canned tomatoes and good quality olive oil as a base.
Italian recipes are mostly simple- a few fresh ingredients and spices create a balanced combination of flavors that complement one another perfectly. This is the true and classic Italian way!
What canned tomatoes should I use?
For this recipe we use canned tomatoes. Picked at the peak of ripeness and properly packaged the right canned tomatoes are perfect for this classic Italian sauce recipe.
Don't use a brand that uses a lot of citric acid to preserve freshness- or it can make the sauce acidic. In case you do end up with a sauce that is a little acidic add a teaspoon of sugar.
These are a few of the top brands I recommend:
You can use whole peeled, crushed, petite diced, or a mix!
- Bianco DiNapoli Organic Whole Peeled Tomatoes
- Cento Italian Style Peeled Tomatoes
- Dellalo San Marzano (DOP) Whole Peeled Tomatoes
- Muir Glen Organic
If you are interested in read more in depth about canned tomatoes the NY Times publish a great article.
STORY
I wrote this story, Saturday Story: Sweet Summer Mornings for a high school English class and it sums up my memories of this Classic Sugo al Pomodoro that my Nonna Laura made multiple times a week.
Serving Suggestions
This delicious and sweet tomato sauce pairs perfectly with long or short pasta to create a simple meal on its own.
You can also serve it over Easy Polenta Recipe Authentic Italian Style, BEST Pillowy Soft Potato Gnocchi, or Authentic Homemade Pappardelle Pasta Recipe.
Don't forget to make a batch of easy homemade bread to soak up the extra sauce! Fast Italian No Knead Ciabatta Bread, No Knead Italian Focaccia Bread, or Softest No Knead Bread Italian Recipe.
Storing
This sauce is perfect for making ahead and storing in the refrigerator or freezer so you can have it on hand at any time!
Fridge- store prepared tomato sauce in Mason jars or tightly sealed containers in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Freezer - as long as the cooked sauce is sealed in a proper container or in a proper freezer bag it will last several months in the freezer.
I always have this sauce on hand as we eat it weekly and I use it as a base for several other Italian recipes!
Can I double this sauce recipe?
Yes! Absolutely. I often double or triple it and make extra to freeze.
Other Recipes for YOU:
- Best Italian Style Stuffed Peppers
- Authentic Italian Pasta Carbonara (no cream)
- Pasta e Ceci (Italian Pasta with Chickpea Soup)
- Authentic Italian Pasta Puttanesca Sauce
- BEST Italian Beef Short Rib Ragu
An authentic and delicious Italian Tomato Sauce that has been passed down through generations! This will become a staple in your home too.
Print
Sugo al Pomodoro (Classic Tomato Sauce)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6
- Category: Sauces
- Method: Italian
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
Fresh, flavorful and light taste, a simple authentic recipe for classic Italian tomato sauce (Sugo al Pomodoro). Great for any pasta dish! Add chicken or fresh mozzarella and make it a meal!
Ingredients
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped or cut into thin slices (depending on preference)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (good quality such as Colavita)
- 1 28 oz can of good quality canned tomatoes
- 5-6 leaves of fresh basil, whole and washed
Instructions
- In a large sauce pan, medium heat, add olive oil and sauté onion about 6 minutes, until translucent.
- Add canned tomatoes. Cover and let simmer on low-medium heat (the sauce should bubble, but not boil) for 20-25 minutes until liquid reduces slightly.
- Stir occasionally during cooking.
- Turn off heat and add the basil to the sauce.
- Store in the fridge or freezer and use as sauce for pasta, polenta, gnocchi, and more!
Notes
Storing Fridge- store prepared tomato sauce in Mason jars or tightly sealed containers in the refrigerator for up to one week. Freezer - as long as the cooked sauce is sealed in a proper container or in a proper freezer bag it will last several months in the freezer.
I always have this sauce on hand as we eat it weekly and I use it as a base for several other Italian recipes!
Keywords: tomato sauce recipe, italian tomato sauce, classic tomato sauce
Blaire says
This recipe was so simple and easy to make and ended up tasting fantastic. The only thing that threw me was when buying the canned tomatoes I didn’t know what kind to get. I had no idea there were so many options (diced, crushed, stewed, with herbs or without)!
Elena says
Happy you loved it! There are so many. I like any San Marzano variety or other high quality canned. For this recipe I typically used a crushed variety.
Elena
Paige says
This sugo sauce recipe is my go-to for dinner. I don't buy pre-made pasta sauce at all anymore because making this is just as easy as heating a jar of the pre-made stuff. But, it's so much more delicious and the ingredients and simple and, of course, don't have all the added sugar and preservatives. I love Elena's tip to make extra and then store it in the fridge in a quart jar—all ready for dinner through the week.
★★★★★
Paige says
Erm. That was meant to say sugo sauce! Silly autocorrect. SMH.
Kelly Webster says
A simple but tasty sauce. I never thought to use a yellow onion vs a white onion. The fresh mozzarella was a great finishing touch
★★★★★
Elena says
It is a classic we love!
Elena says
Favorite family recipe we've made for generations
★★★★★
ED says
This sauce is easy and absolutely delicious! Fresh and classic the way sugo al pomodoro should be!
★★★★★
Elena says
Family favorite!