Simple yet rich in flavor, this vegan tomato sauce is a classic condiment to have in your kitchen! It requires minimal prep, and all you need is a handful of simple ingredients. You can make this sauce with fresh tomatoes or canned tomatoes for convenience.
We love making sauces from scratch! In addition to tomato sauce, we also enjoy making chickpea pasta sauce, tofu pasta sauce, and vegan teriyaki sauce.
There’s nothing quite like a pot of homemade tomato sauce bubbling away on the stove that is rich, fragrant, and full of depth. This hearty, slightly chunky version is my go-to when I want something fresh-tasting and far superior to anything from a jar.
It makes the perfect base for pasta, meatballs, or even a quick tomato “chicken” skillet using my vegan chicken breast.
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💚Why you will love vegan tomato sauce
- Bright, vibrant, and bursting with flavors
- A quick one-pot recipe that requires fewer than 10 ingredients
- Super versatile – use it in pasta, on pizza, or in any dish that calls for tomato sauce!
- Freezer-friendly, making it great for meal prep
🥕What you will need
- Olive oil (for sauteing) – Good quality olive oil will enhance the flavors of this sauce.
- Crushed tomatoes - Can be substituted with whole peeled or diced tomatoes for a chunkier texture. If making using fresh tomatoes, check out the “Ingredients substitutions and variations” section below.
- Maple syrup – Balances the acidity of the tomatoes, resulting in a more well-rounded flavor. Can be substituted with other sweeteners, such as sugar or agave syrup.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
📃Ingredients substitutions and variations
- Instructions for fresh tomatoes – you will need around 2lb of fresh tomatoes.
- After rinsing and coring tomatoes, score an “x” at the bottom.
- Blanch them for 30-60 seconds in boiling water. Transfer immediately to a bowl of ice water.
- Peel the tomatoes, then finely dice them.
- Make it spicy – Add a generous pinch of chili flakes and fry them alongside garlic.
- Play around with the herbs - Feel free to add dried or fresh herbs of your choice. Fry the dried herbs with the garlic, and stir in the fresh ones after removing the sauce from the heat.
🔪How to make
Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a non-stick pan or small Dutch oven. Add onion, carrot, and celery, and saute for a few minutes until softened over medium heat.
Step 2: Add garlic, frying for a minute until fragrant.
Step 3: Pour in crushed tomatoes, oregano, and a generous pinch of salt. Simmer on low for at least 30 minutes (or up to an hour), stirring occasionally.
Step 4: Remove from heat, then stir in chopped basil and maple syrup. Season with more salt if needed, and your vegan tomato sauce is now ready to use.
✔Helpful tips
- Adjust the consistency of tomato sauce – Tomato sauce might thicken too much during cooking. You can add a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
- Adjust the seasoning – After cooking, taste the dish and add more salt or sugar as needed.
- For a smoother sauce - For a smoother texture, blend part or all of the sauce using a blender or immersion blender, adjusting it to your preferred consistency.
🍝How to serve
This versatile sauce pairs well with almost anything! Here are a few of my favorite ways to use it:
- Tossed with pasta – For a quick and satisfying meal, cook up your favorite pasta and toss it with this sauce. Add vegan Italian sausages or tofu chunks for an extra protein boost.
- As a pizza base – Spread it over pizza dough or flatbreads before layering on your toppings. It adds just the right amount of richness and flavor.
- With (vegan) meatballs – This sauce makes the perfect accompaniment for both classic and plant-based meatballs. Try it with my TVP meatballs for a hearty, comforting dish.
- In casseroles and bakes – Add depth and freshness to baked pastas, lasagna, or other casseroles by using this sauce as the base.
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❄Storing suggestions
Fridge – Vegan tomato sauce can be refrigerated for up to a week, and it’s best stored in a sealed mason jar.
Freezer – This sauce can be frozen for 3 months. Highly recommend using these souper cubes to portion tomato sauce before freezing. Or, you can freeze it using zip-top bags.
❔Commonly asked questions
While the tomato sauce and marinara sauce are often used interchangeably, they’re two different condiments.
Marinara is a quick-cooking sauce with a thinner consistency, typically simmered for 20–30 minutes. It’s made with simple ingredients like tomatoes, garlic, onions, and basil.
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📖 Recipe
Simple Vegan Tomato Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ yellow onion finely diced
- ½ carrot finely diced
- ½ stalk celery finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes *see notes if using fresh tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped basil
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup optional
Instructions
- Heat up a tablespoon of olive oil in a non-stick pan or small Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery. Saute until translucent, for about 2-3 minutes.½ yellow onion, ½ carrot, ½ stalk celery
- Add garlic next, and fry for a minute until fragrant.3 cloves garlic
- Now, pour in crushed tomatoes along with oregano and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, and let it cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes, or up to an hour.1 28oz can crushed tomatoes, salt and pepper, 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Remove from heat, and stir in chopped basil along with maple syrup. Give everything a good stir, and your vegan tomato sauce is ready to be used.2 tablespoons chopped basil, 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Notes
- Adjust the consistency of tomato sauce – Tomato sauce might thicken too much during cooking. You can add a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
- Adjust the seasoning – After cooking, taste the dish and add more salt or sugar as needed.
- For a smoother sauce - For a smoother texture, blend part or all of the sauce using a blender or immersion blender, adjusting it to your preferred consistency.
Save this recipe!
Email yourself a link to this page and come back later.
Also get a FREE high-protein vegan recipe eBook + weekly new recipes! Unsubscribe anytime.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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