Smoky Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce
A Quick and Flavorful Marinara
This will be a short and sweet blog post because making this marinara is just that, simple and quick. The only real time involved is roasting the garlic, and even that’s a breeze. But don’t let the simplicity fool you, this is no boring marinara. This Smoky Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce will take even the plainest food and make it sing. And I mean that literally, I’ve been humming happy tunes all day!
This Smoky Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce is something special. The roasted garlic gives it a deep, rich flavor, and the smoked paprika adds a little something extra. It’s great on pasta, but my favorite way to use it is for dipping, pizza, fries, breadsticks, you name it. I’ve got another way I love to use it, but you’ll have to keep reading to find out. Trust me, it’s a good one!
What You’ll Need for This Smoky Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce
This simple list of ingredients will create a rich, smoky marinara sauce with deep flavors. Roasted garlic is the star of the show, and a mix of spices will take it to the next level!
- • Garlic: Fresh garlic, roasted to bring out a deep, caramelized flavor that enhances the marinara.
- • Olive oil: Used for roasting the garlic and adding richness to the sauce.
- • Fire-roasted crushed tomatoes: Adds a smoky, slightly sweet flavor that complements the garlic perfectly.
- • Salt: Enhances all the flavors, especially the roasted garlic and tomatoes.
- • Black pepper: Adds warmth and balances out the smoky richness of the sauce.
- • Smoked paprika: Brings a subtle smokiness to the sauce, enhancing the roasted garlic.
- • Italian seasoning: A blend of herbs that adds depth and complexity to the sauce.
- • Garlic powder: Layers more garlic flavor throughout the sauce for a deeper taste.
- • Onion powder: A savory base flavor that enhances the richness of the sauce.
- • Sugar: Balances the acidity of the tomatoes and rounds out the flavor profile.
- • Red pepper flakes (optional): Adds a touch of heat for those who enjoy a little spice in their marinara.
- • Grated Parmesan (optional): Adds a rich, savory finish to the marinara sauce.
- • Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional): Fresh herbs bring a burst of brightness and a nice contrast to the rich, smoky sauce.
The Secret to That Smoky Flavor
Garlic brings a lot of flavor to the pot, but the real key to that smoky depth is the fire-roasted tomatoes. Depending on where you live, you might not be able to find crushed or saucy fire-roasted tomatoes. No worries, I just toss mine in a chopper or blender to get the texture I want. Now, I’m a chunky girl (literally, LOL!), so I like my sauce on the rustic side with some texture. But if you prefer a smoother sauce, just blend it down more. And if you can’t find fire-roasted tomatoes at all, don’t stress, we’ve got another way to bring in that smoky flavor!
Bringing the Smoky Flavor (Without Overdoing It!)
There are two ways to add that smoky depth to this marinara, smoked paprika and fire-roasted tomatoes. But let me tell you, not all smoked paprika is created equal. I have a go-to brand that I love, but I decided to try a different one, and I was highly disappointed. The smoke flavor tasted way too artificial. If you run into that issue, try cutting back on the smoked paprika so it doesn’t overpower the sauce. We’re not going for a full-on barbecue pit flavor here, just a subtle hint of smokiness to add complexity.
And if you’re not a fan of smoky flavors at all? No problem! Skip the smoked paprika, and the roasted garlic alone will still take your marinara to the next level.
Roasting the Garlic for Maximum Flavor
This marinara is perfect for a night with friends, family pizza night, or whenever you want to add a little extra something to your appetizer. While the recipe uses dried spices and herbs, the true star is garlic—lots of fresh, roasted garlic. That’s where all the deep, rich flavor comes from!
Simple Steps to Roasting Garlic
Start by cutting the top off a whole bulb of garlic and drizzling it with olive oil for extra flavor. You can choose to cover it with foil, which steams the garlic into a smooth paste. I prefer leaving mine uncovered to allow for more caramelization, which adds an even deeper flavor. Just keep in mind, the garlic will be a bit trickier to mash, as the outer layers dry out. Simply remove the dry bits, press the roasted garlic out with a spoon, and leave a few bits of skin for extra flavor.
Once that’s done, the hardest part is just stirring everything together in the pot!
Smoky Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 head of garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 14.5 oz can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika adds a subtle smokiness
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, for heat
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan optional, for richness
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil or parsley chopped (optional)
Instructions
Roast the Garlic:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Slice the top off a whole head of garlic, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil, and wrap in foil.
- Roast for 30-40 minutes until soft and golden. Let cool, then squeeze out the roasted garlic cloves.
Sauté & Build the Sauce:
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Add the roasted garlic, mashing it with a spoon.
- Stir in fire-roasted tomatoes, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, and red pepper flakes.
Simmer:
- Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Stir occasionally to blend flavors.
Finish & Serve:
- Stir in grated Parmesan and fresh basil for extra depth.
Notes
A Quick and Easy Marinara That Gets Better With Time
This is one of those sauces that comes together fast but tastes like it took all day. It’s perfect when you need a good marinara in a short time, and the best part? It keeps well and actually gets better as the flavors meld. Plus, it’s super versatile, you can use it as a dip, a pasta sauce, a pizza base, or even as a topper for a juicy burger.
And if you love a good smoky flavor, you’ve got to try my s’mores bars with a fluffy marshmallow meringue, toasted to smoky perfection! Check it out [here] and get ready for your next favorite dessert.
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Hey, if you tried this recipe, leave a comment below and let me know what you think! A quick rating helps others out too, and if you added your own twist, let’s talk about it!