An easy no-cook keto marinara sauce that is loaded with flavor, not sugar! It’s the perfect low carb tomato sauce for pizza, zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash when you need a keto Italian fix!
I’m posting this really easy keto marinara sauce recipe because I’ll be including two recipes that call for it in next week’s 7 Day Keto Meal Plan.
Why make your own tomato sauce?
- Store bought jarred sauce is convenient, but almost always has added sugar and fillers that also add carbs.
- To get a good one like Rao’s that is tasty and healthy, it can cost as much $8 or more!
- Making homemade marinara sauce is easy and inexpensive!
Wanna know what else is crazy awesome about this Keto marinara sauce?
You don’t even need a pot to make this recipe!
I kid you not, I never cook this sauce before using it!
I do heat up this keto marinara sauce before eating it in a recipe, but I usually make it without simmering it at all beforehand. I find that the longer you cook a simple meatless tomato sauce like this one, the more flavor you lose.
I could literally drink this keto marinara sauce out of the container – that’s how flavorful it is!
My usual marinara sauce recipe contains a lot of onions and garlic, which can really bust your net carb budget for the day. So I’m giving you this super easy, and much lower in carbs, “no chop” keto marinara sauce that you can literally make in five minutes. Then freeze it in 1/2 cup portions for whenever you need it.
What are the best tomatoes to use in Marinara sauce?
The key to this delicious keto marinara sauce is to start with the best quality tomatoes. We always use certified San Marzano (the brand doesn’t matter) tomatoes, and it makes a world of difference. It costs a bit more per can, but since you don’t eat a ton of it on keto anyway, trust me it’s worth the price (and still cheaper than a decent store-bought marinara.)
Here’s an article that’s worth a read if you’re curious about What is So Special About San Marzano Tomatoes?
If you can’t find, or don’t want to pay for certified San Marzano tomatoes, then any no sugar added whole tomatoes will work in this keto marinara sauce – but the flavor won’t be as good.
Storage Information
This low carb tomato sauce will keep for a week in the fridge. I recommend making several batches and then freezing it in 1/2 cup portions for whenever you need it.
Recipes Using Keto Marinara Sauce:
Keto Meatballs – Italian Meatball Parmigiana
Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Skillet
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Easy Keto Marinara Sauce – Low Carb
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 cups 1x
- Diet: Diabetic
Description
An easy keto marinara sauce for low carb pasta or pizza sauce!
Ingredients
- 28 oz can Peeled San Marzano Tomatoes (no sugar added)
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (add more if necessary)
Instructions
- Puree the tomatoes, olive oil, and 1/2 cup of the liquid from the can in a small blender or magic bullet.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Notes
Tomatoes are a natural product and the flavor can vary. If you find your sauce isn’t naturally sweet enough, you can add 1 teaspoon of erythritol or another carb free sweetener of your choice if you aren’t on the Whole 30.
Don’t omit the juice from the tomatoes during pureeing or you’ll end up with less sauce – and your concentration of carbs will be higher per serving.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Keto sauce recipe
- Method: No cook
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 84
- Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 3g net
- Protein: 1g
Jodi Steger says
I just made your sauce and I used the specific tomatoes called for in the recipe. This is the best sauce! I increased my garlic and added a little sweetener just because I like my sauces a little on the sweet side. I can’t wait to put some on a low carb pizza crust I will be making later today!! Your recipe says it yields 4 cups but I portioned mine out into 1/2 c servings and I only got 3 cups. I used 1/2 c of the liquid from the can and followed the recipe exactly. Will this increase the net carbs per serving? I’m wondering if the tomatoes I got maybe weren’t packed full of tomatoes like the brand I see mentioned in the comments and maybe that’s why I didn’t get 4 cups when i made it.
Amber says
Love it about only thing is change is 1\2 teaspoon of garlic powder or less
Renee says
This sauce is fantastic! I used the rec tomatoes and the flavor is delicious. Thanks so much for posting this fast easy recipe! I used the sauce for chicken parmesan and thinking a zucchini lasagna is in my future ?!
Brenda says
I will never buy store bought sauce again. Simply delicious!
Melissa says
I have never made my own marinara sauce. Ever. I’m going to be 50 next month. Ever. I am a lazy cook. I just tried this recipe & I can’t stop eating it (this may be a problem) It was sooooo easy & soooo good I will never buy jar sauce again.
Thank you so much!
kc says
getting ready to harvest fresh tomatoes from my garden. how many average size tomatoes would you suggest? do I need to add water? alway have good results using your recipes. thanks so much for your contritubutions that are FREE to all of us!! really appreciate your website!!
Andrea says
I’m interested in knowing how to use fresh roma tomatoes as well.
C Krause says
Trying this out with zucchini noodles for the first time (Keto). Husband’s turn in the kitchen. He followed the recipe precisely, added 1 lb ground beef, and somehow we’ve ended up with less than 4 cups of meat sauce when the original marinara recipe yields 4 cups by itself! We are completely baffled. I had entered the recipe in my macro app expecting that, with the addition of meat to the sauce, the total yield to be around 6 cups. I cannot figure out how we ended up adding more and yielding less! We are going to add a little water and hope for the best. It smells amazing!
Mellissa Sevigny says
That IS strange?
Charlie says
Yeah. I only got a yield of 2 cups.
28oz cento san marzano. 1/2 cup liquid. Olive oil.
Melissa Vernon says
So I just found your website last week. I have literally spent every day reading over your blog for the twelve week meal plans. I haven’t had a chance to try and recipes yet, as I am still preparing myself mentally for the Keto journey, however I see that all of your recipes have rave reviews!
I really just commented to say how much of a blessing you are to everyone. I haven’t ran across anyone that so willingly makes such awesome meal plans complete with recipes without charging one cent. This is so awesome of you and I just wanted to thank you in advance.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks so much Melissa – you’ve got this!
Angela says
We love this recipe!! I was careful to read the can of tomatoes ingredients because my store did not have Cento brand. Sure enough, massive carb increase in some of the other brands because there is added sugar. I was relieved to find a brand with no added sugar and the recipe is fantastic. I simmer on the stove with organic chicken basil meatballs. It is a very versatile sauce and if reduced makes a great cauliflower pizza sauce. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us.
Rob Venable says
I’ve been looking for a recipe like this. Going to try it tonight. One question though…All of the canned tomatoes that I can find up here in Canada have 2 to 6 grams of sugar, although sugar is not listed as an ingredient. Is this what you mean by “no added sugar” or should be looking for a product with 0 grams of sugar?
Mellissa Sevigny says
As long as sugar isn’t listed in the ingredients then what you are seeing is just natural sugars found in tomatoes – that’s fine, it’s included in the carb totals!
Rob Venable says
Thanks Melissa!