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Make the best homemade marinara dipping sauce with just a few simple ingredients! Perfect for breadsticks, mozzarella sticks, and more. Quick, flavorful, and simple to make.
Table of Contents
- The Best Homemade Marinara Dipping Sauce
- Simple Ingredients for the Sauce
- How to Make Marinara Dipping Sauce
- Tips for Serving Marinara Dipping Sauce
- How to Store and Use Leftover Sauce
- Marinara Dipping Sauce Recipe
- Dipping Sauce vs Pasta Sauce
- Questions About Marinara Dip
- What to Serve with Marinara Dipping Sauce
- More Italian Sauce Recipes
The Best Homemade Marinara Dipping Sauce
If you’re craving a delicious, easy-to-make marinara dipping sauce, you’re in the right place. This recipe uses just a few simple ingredients, takes only minutes to whip up, and is absolutely bursting with flavor. Perfect for pairing with breadsticks, mozzarella sticks, garlic bread, pizza crust, and so much more—this sauce is a must-try!
Simple Ingredients for the Sauce
- Tomatoes – Fresh garden tomatoes or canned tomatoes work beautifully. For the best results, I recommend using D.O.P. tomatoes from Italy—they’re sweet, flavorful, and perfect for sauces. Whole canned tomatoes are my go-to, but crushed tomatoes work too. Avoid tomato sauce, it’s too processed and can give your dip an odd aftertaste.
- Olive Oil – A good olive oil makes all the difference. I love using garlic or basil infused extra virgin olive oil for added depth and richness.
- Onion, Garlic, and Basil – Fresh ingredients are always best. Add basil right at the end for the freshest, most vibrant flavor.
- Salt – A pinch of sea salt enhances the flavor and balances the acidity of the tomatoes. Add it gradually and taste as you go to get it just right.
How to Make Marinara Dipping Sauce
- Heat some olive oil in a heavy saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add chopped onion and garlic. Cook until the onions look soft and clear.
- Add the tomatoes, lower the heat, and let them cook for about 10 minutes until they soften. Sprinkle in some salt.
- Mash the tomatoes with a potato masher to release their juices. If you prefer a smoother sauce, blend them in a food processor or blender for a few pulses.
- Taste the sauce and add more salt if needed. Let it simmer until it thickens to your liking.
- Tear the basil leaves into small pieces and stir them into the sauce.
- Remove from heat and serve hot, or let it cool before serving.
Tips for Serving Marinara Dipping Sauce
- Serve it hot with warm breadsticks or mozzarella sticks for a cozy pairing.
- Serve it cooler to balance out super-hot appetizers, like fried ravioli or cheesy sticks.
Personally, I think room temperature or slightly warm brings out the best flavor. - If you like a thicker dipping sauce, just simmer it longer. The magic happens as the liquid reduces—no need for tomato paste or other thickeners. It’s simple and keeps the flavor pure.
- Make it a cheesy dip by pouring your marinara into a shallow, oven-safe dish. Top with fresh mozzarella slices. Bake at 400°F for 6-8 minutes until the cheese is perfectly melted.
How to Store and Use Leftover Sauce
- Got leftovers? Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- You can freeze the sauce for up to 6 months—just thaw it in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to use it.
- This marinara dipping sauce can easily double as pizza sauce, pasta sauce, or even a thickener for Italian soups.
Marinara Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes (D.O.P. tomatoes from Italy are best)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or more to taste, salt until acidity from tomatoes is mellowed out)
- 4-5 fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Place olive oil in a heavy sauce pan or Dutch oven over medium heat. When oil is hot, add chopped onion and garlic. Sauté until onions become transparent.
- Add tomatoes and reduce to low heat. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until tomatoes become softer. Add salt as needed.
- Mash tomatoes with a potato masher until juices are released. You can also add the tomatoes to a blender or food processor and pulse a few times until roughly blended.
- Add more salt if needed and continue to simmer until sauce has reduced to desired thickness.
- Tear basil leaves into smaller pieces and add to the sauce. Stir to combine.
- Remove from heat and serve hot or allow to cool before serving .
Nutrition Information
Dipping Sauce vs Pasta Sauce
While marinara dipping sauce and pasta sauce share many of the same ingredients, there’s a key difference: texture. Dipping sauce is thicker, smoother, and more concentrated, making it ideal for scooping up with your favorite snacks. Pasta marinara, on the other hand, tends to be thinner and chunkier to coat noodles perfectly.
Questions About Marinara Dip
Absolutely! Fresh tomatoes work beautifully in this recipe. Just blanch and peel them before using to remove the skins for a smoother sauce.
Adding a pinch of sugar or a small grated carrot while simmering the sauce helps balance out the acidity of the tomatoes without making it overly sweet.
This recipe is naturally vegan! Just ensure your olive oil and any added ingredients (like bread or crackers) are plant-based.
If your sauce becomes too thick, simply stir in a little water, vegetable broth, or reserved tomato juice until you reach your desired consistency.
Of course! This recipe is a great base, and you can customize it to your liking. Try adding oregano, red pepper flakes, or parsley for extra flavor.
Yes, you can! While it’s thicker than a traditional pasta sauce, it works wonderfully as a rich, flavorful topping for noodles.
What to Serve with Marinara Dipping Sauce
- breadsticks
- mozzarella sticks (homemade or store bought)
- garlic bread
- baguette slices
- pizza (for dipping crust)
- grilled cheese sandwiches
- fried or baked zucchini chips
- fried ravioli or tortellini
- appetizer meatballs
- meatball subs
- grilled or roasted vegetables
More Italian Sauce Recipes
I hope this recipe becomes a go-to in your kitchen like it is in mine. It’s quick, easy, and seriously delicious. Let me know in the comments what you’re planning to pair it with!
Happy dipping! 🍅✨
Would this recipe be enough sauce for a pound of pasta?
I would double it to be on the safe side!
This was the perfect dipping sauce for our Italian breadsticks. I can’t wait to try it with mozzarella sticks soon!
So glad I found this recipe! We make mozzarella sticks a ton and i’ve been looking for a good marinara sauce for them — thank you!