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
Margo says
No matter how I try to log this into myfitnesspal, the carbs are awful high…Any idea why? Not sure but the sauce comes up to 40 plus carbs!!!! I LOVE this sauce, but what in high acres am I doing wrong?
Meghan says
I had the same problem! I found out it’s the garlic powder that the app defaults too. When I did the bulk add it was over 1,200 calories JUST for garlic powder. Also, you have to change the tomatoes to “Italian peeled tomatoes (Cento).”
Once I made those changes my numbers came out the same as hers.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks Meghan!
Nicole M. Foster says
I love this sauce! I make it all the time and love how good it tastes and how easy it is to make. I actually started buying crushed tomatoes and just whisk in the rest of the ingredients so I don’t have to use the immersion blender.
Maria says
I used my NutriBullet to combine the EASY KETO MARINARA SAUCE – LOW CARB recipe. The only ingredient I did not have was the parsley so I ommited it. What a deliciously easy recipe. I used it for your Cheesy Spaghetti Squash Skillet – Keto & Low Carb recipe (another keeper) and it was fantastic! Thank you, thank you for this recipe.
Tamyra says
Wow! Just Wow!! I just started doing Keto. Some of the recipes I fail at. Not sure what I’m doing wrong. This was great and the whole family loved it. Thank you so much!!
Paulette says
Hi I just found this recipe and I would like to know where you buy your can of tomatoes? I live in Southern California and have not found any around me. I also have searched online with no luck. Please let me know. Thank u
Kathie Wilcox says
I just bought them at Stater Brothers. At my store, the San Mariano’s are not displayed with the other canned tomatoes and are a few feet down the aisle from the Hunts and Del Monte. Stater Brothers carries Cento brand in a yellow can.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Nothing about this recipe should be bitter – it’s likely that either your olive oil is rancid and bitter on its own (easy to test) or the tomatoes you used were of poor quality and bitter to start with. No ingredients added can fix either of those problems.
Sam says
So…non-bitter red wine vinegar, is that your position? Perhaps something by way of a fruity, sweet. mellifluous vinegar?
JoAnn & Chris Gomez says
I’m super grateful u shared this! We love it sooo much it’s the only way I make sauce now! A BIG no HUGE thank u from our family to yours! Thx again ?JoAnn Gomez
Rachel Prescott says
This was amazing!! Made it w/ your meatballs and loved loved loved it!!
Val M says
This sauce was fabulous! I used my favorite Muir Glen organic fire roasted tomatoes and it is so good that I could just eat it with a spoon. This will be my go to sauce from now on. Thanks for the recipe!
twagen says
Oh my goodness. I thought it was too simple to be that great, but I was in a hurry and made some. I too could drink this sauce. Delicious!!!!