In this Simple Roasted Tomato Sauce recipe, you’ll learn why roasting tomatoes produces the best tasting sauce that you can enjoy tonight, can or freeze for later.
Why you’ll love this Simple Roasted Tomato Sauce recipe:
- You’ll love this recipe if you don’t care for too-sour, too-tangy tomato sauce.
- You can make this sauce with just 2 ingredients: (fresh tomatoes and olive oil) and 2 steps (roasting and blending)
- Add sliced garlic and fresh herbs you have on hand, I love oregano, basil and thyme.
- Roasting the tomatoes produces a mellow tomato sauce that brings out the natural sugars in the tomatoes.
How to Roast Tomatoes for Sauce
Roasting tomatoes intensifies the flavor, brings out its natural sweetness. When pureed into a sauce (or mashed with a potato masher), the perfect sauce is created for pasta, chicken parmesan or even as a dip for bread.
- Cut each tomato in half, drizzle on olive oil. Roast for 25 minutes.
- Mash or blend
That’s it! TWO steps! No babysitting at the stove.
Roasting Tomatoes for Sauce
You can use any type of tomatoes – roma, heirloom or just regular ‘ol tomatoes! You can also use cherry or grape tomatoes too, but they aren’t my first choice for a sauce.
Slice all the tomatoes in half (leave whole if using cherry or grape tomatoes). Drizzle on loads of olive oil. Scatter fresh herbs like oregano, basil and thyme. Throw in garlic cloves or slices.
Roast at 425F for 25 minutes.
Puree in a blender, stick blender or a potato masher.
The result is a light, mellow, tomato-sweet sauce that you can freeze for a rainy day.
Another recipe: Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce with Onion and Butter
Here’s another tomato sauce recipe for you – possibly the world’s most famous sauce from America’s most respected Italian chef, Marcella Hazan. Her recipe is also simple: canned tomatoes + onion + butter. Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce recipe.
What else can you do with roasted tomatoes?
- Turn the puree into roasted tomato soup! Stir in 1/4 cup heavy cream and 2 tablespoons butter. Melt shredded cheese on top, serve with chunky croutons and a turn of freshly ground black pepper.
- Make Roasted Vegetable Buddha Bowls
- Serve a roasted tomato half alongside a hearty steak.
- Roasted Tomatoes with Shrimp and Feta from The Kitchn
- Spaghettini with Roasted Tomatoes, Basil and Toasted Garlic Breadcrumbs (yum!) from A Beautiful Plate
Simple Roasted Tomato Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 8-12 large or roma tomatoes halved
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic sliced
- handful of fresh herbs like basil, oregano, thyme
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425F. Place tomato halves on baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Scatter garlic and herbs. Roast 25-30 minutes, until tomatoes softened.
- 2. Puree in blender or use a potato masher. To thicken, simmer for 5 minutes on stovetop. Season with salt to taste.
Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comment section! I always appreciate your feedback and I know other readers do, too!
Stay in touch with me in our 
I like to use fresh mint instead of oregano even if they are in the same family mint gives it a nice fresh flavor I also sprinkle in some black pepper
I like to use fresh mint instead of oregano even if they are in the same family mint gives it a nice fresh flavor
sounds delicious
I have used the Marcella Hazan recipes for years…nay…decades. It’s a family favourite. I look forward to trying yours.
I love tomato sauce pretty much and I have to try your recipe at home soon. thanks for sharing your cooking experience.
I can’t thank you enough for this recipe! It was the perfect solution for the abundance of tomatoes from my garden and so simple since, after years of canning, I had no desire to keep doing it and needed an alternative. The result was a delicious sauce that I’ve put in several containers and frozen.
This is so simple to do. I’m using all the tomatoes from my garden for this recipe and freezing for the fall and winter season.
Very nice infometion
I made this the other day using organic Roma tomatoes. It was off the charts amazing!
Thanks so much Helen! Jaden
I love roasted tomatoes as their flavor is so intensified by the roasting. They never make it to the point of being a pasta sauce! I use them in salsas, topping for grilled salmon, and in an open-faced broiled tomato and cheese sandwich with shreds of fresh basil.
I made your roasted tomatoes they were delicious. I stuffed chicken breasts with the tomato’s blended in cream cheese and fresh  dill. They were fantastic and moist!Â
Thank you for the recipe
Wow! I wouldn’t have thought of using dill with tomato. Will have to try that.