How to Make Homemade Roasted Tomato Marinara

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Homemade Roasted Tomato Marinara is a staple in our home as it is so versatile and so good. And it’s an excellent use of garden tomatoes.

Homemade Roasted Tomato Marinara

My grandkids love my homemade pizzas. And one of the things that make them so special is the marinara. While a good marinara is essential in creating a good pizza, but it’s also makes an excellent dipping sauce. Here are some of our favorite foods that we like to use for dipping:

  • Grilled cheese sandwich
  • Mozzarella sticks
  • Focaccia

and more.

bag of cored tomatoes that had been previously frozen sitting on the counter
How to Make Roasted Tomato Marinara

Fresh, Frozen, or Canned Tomatoes

Believe it or not you can use fresh, frozen, or canned tomatoes in this Marinara recipe. But in this post, I am using frozen San Marzano‘s that I grew last fall and stuck away in the freezer for a day such as this. I do recommend a paste tomato because they are very meaty which is what you want for a sauce. Canned San Marzano tomatoes should be easy to find in your local grocery store.

previously frozen, cored tomatoes being poured out of a freezer bag and onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
How to Make Roasted Tomato Marinara

Getting Started

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pour the thawed or canned tomatoes onto the parchment paper. Spread evenly out across the pan.

NOTE:

If you are using fresh tomatoes, cut them lengthwise in half and place cut side up.

olive oil being drizzled over cut up tomatoes on a baking sheet that has been seasoned with spices and chopped garlic
How to Make Roast Tomato Marinara

Ingredients:

When it comes to garlic, everyone has their preference so use yours here. We love garlic so I chop up 4 to 6 garlic cloves depending on size. As far as I’m concerned, you can’t have too much garlic. But if don’t like a lot of garlic, you can chop 1 to 2 cloves instead. Whatever amount you choose, sprinkle chopped garlic over the tomatoes.

Sprinkle 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or fresh herbs of your choice) 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper over the tomatoes as well. Then, drizzle 2 tablespoons of a good Olive Oil and 2 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar over everything. Place in the preheated oven and roast for 30 minutes.

NOTE:

You can substitute garlic powder for the fresh garlic if you need to. Sometimes I do it just because I don’t feel like chopping up garlic, and that’s okay. But remember, fresh is better.

stirring up the tomato mixture on the baking sheet halfway through the baking process
How to Make Roasted Tomato Marinara

Homemade Roasted Tomato Marinara Smells Divine

Once the tomatoes have been roasting for 30 minutes, remove from the oven CAREFULLY, and stir everything around again. Remember, Carefully, because it is all very hot.

Return to the oven for an additional 30 minutes.

final stir of the roasted tomato showing that the water has evaporated and they are ready to be removed from the oven
How to make Roasted Tomato Marinara

The Water is Gone

Once the second 30 minutes of roasting time has ended, remove the pan from the oven and allow the tomatoes to cool until everything isn’t too hot to handle. Most, if not all, of the water will be gone and that’s what we want. If there’s a little left in the pan no worries. It will absorb back into the tomatoes during the next step.

spoonful of roasted tomato marinara held above a bowl of marinara showing the thick, smooth texture of the sauce.

Time for the Magic

When the mixture has cooled but is still warm, transfer it to a bowl with high sides. The high sides will help to keep the splatter down if you chose to puree with a submersion blender which is my preferred method. A food processor or blender works great too.

Blend until it is completely smooth or you can leave small chunks if that’s what you prefer. Once again, the choice is yours. Isn’t this great!

stirring out the air bubbles in the marinara that has been place into a 16 oz. deli container for storage
How to Make Roasted Tomato Marinara

Homemade Marinara

At this point I like to taste my Marinara and adjust the seasonings if I need to. Then, add to a freezer container and remove any air in the mixture with a chopstick before placing the lid on top. Label, date, and place in the freezer.

I wish I could tell you how long this Roasted Tomato Marinara will last in the freezer but it never last long around here. And it probably won’t at your house either. Enjoy!

Find More Recipes:

If you try this recipe and love it, please give it 5 stars and add a photo of your Roasted Tomato Marinara to Instagram and tag me @simplymadehomestead.

Happy Cooking!

Marian
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At Simply Made Homestead, we embrace the joy of self-sufficiency and creating from scratch. What began as a small dream has grown into a thriving five-acre homestead with goats, chickens, bees, and more.
We’re passionate about traditional skills—handcrafting, gardening, and building—and share handmade goods to bring the homestead spirit to your home.
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