The Best Homemade Red Wine Pasta Sauce
You’ll make this simple recipe for Red Wine Tomato Sauce over and over again! Simmer it on the stove top for date night, a dinner party or Sunday supper.
Picture this! You. A glass of red wine. A heaping plate of al dente pasta topped with slow simmered red wine pasta sauce and Parmesan cheese. And, a piece of garlic bread and green Italian salad on the side. Sounds perfect, right?
“Delicious! I added some sliced white button mushrooms to the sauce, and it came out really well. 🍝” – Bridget
I learned this great sauce recipe in culinary classes, and just knew I had to share it! Truly, this recipe goes beyond your traditional marinara sauce, pairing complex flavors and tons of depth that comes from slow simmering.
In this recipe, ingredients are added to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes and red wine, resulting in a red sauce that is decadent and perfect served over your favorite pasta!
“Made this for my ravioli, it was delicious” – Julie
Do I Need to Add Meat?
The flavor of this heart marinara sauce is robust and delicious without meat, making it a great option for a Meatless Monday!
But, I did add protein to make it a meat sauce. Why? Because I know that if I don’t, my husband and son will be starving right after dinner.
If you’d like to add protein, you can use ground beef, ground pork sausage, Italian sausage, or meatless crumbles.
This hearty marinara sauce recipe gets it’s flavor from red wine, onions, garlic, ample herbs and a LONG simmer on the stove! It’s wonderful over simple homemade pici pasta.
Serving Suggestions
It’s a versatile Sicilian sauce, and can be used for more than just Italian food! Here are some ideas:
- As a simple spaghetti sauce
- In lasagna or baked spaghetti
- On top of stuffed shells
- To flavor the rice and meat in stuffed peppers
- On top of chicken parmesan, Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan or Eggplant Casserole
- On Italian Baked Potatoes (top with broccoli, cheese and pasta sauce)
- As pizza sauce
- As a dipping sauce for Garlic Bread or Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
- Spoon over fish or chicken and bake in the oven with cheese and herbs
- As a dipping sauce for zucchini chips
My favorite way to enjoy this red sauce? Over the top of these Italian Chicken Cutlets or Chicken Parm Sliders with some melted cheese!
As a bonus, this sauce recipe is the perfect excuse to crack open a bottle of wine (or use leftover red wine)!
What Type of Wine Should I Use?
Speaking of wine, you’re probably wondering what kind you should use in this recipe.
For this recipe, I would not recommend white wine. Rather, use a dry red! I recommend a cabernet sauvignon, red zinfandel, pinot noir, or an Italian wine like a chianti.
Recipe Substitutions
Herbs: You can use either dried or fresh herbs in this hearty marinara sauce recipe, and I include the conversions for both in the marinara recipe below.
Generally, you will want to use three times the amount of fresh herbs than dry herbs.
Tomatoes: Also, using good quality canned tomatoes is a must! I use this brand. You can use fire-roasted tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, or whole tomatoes in juice (crush with your hands before adding).
If you would like, you can also use fresh tomatoes. You’ll need between 6-7 cups of fresh diced tomatoes.
Please note we do not add tomato paste to this dish, because the tomato mixture will thicken as it simmers. If the sauce gets too thick for your taste, just add a splash of pasta water or a pat of butter and stir! Repeat until it’s the right texture for YOU.
Storing Leftover Red Wine Pasta Sauce
My red wine pasta sauce will store in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 5 days. Also, this sauce freezes beautifully! Make sure to leave a bit of room in the container, as it will expand when it freezes.
It can keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. I love to make a double batch in a large pot, and freeze the extra sauce so you I have sauce for a quick weeknight meal.
I hope that you love this amazing homemade tomato sauce! If you end up making it, I’d love to hear how it went in the comments below.
Red Wine Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
Sauté:
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 6 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon oregano, dried (or 3 tablespoons fresh oregano, minced)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, dried
- 1 tablespoon basil, dried (or 3 tablespoons fresh basil, minced)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Reduce:
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Simmer:
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, canned
- 28 ounces Italian-style diced tomatoes, canned
- 1/2 cup water, can also use pasta water or chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- (Optional): If using meat, brown in skillet and drain on paper towel lined plate.
- Sauté: In a large skillet, heat olive oil on medium-high heat.
- Add onion. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until the onion begins to soften.
- Add garlic and oregano. Sauté for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring frequently to scrape the bottom of the pan to be sure the garlic does not burn.
- Add Italian seasoning, basil, pepper, salt and sauté for an additional 30 seconds or until fragrant. Reduce heat to low.
- Reduce: Add wine and sugar. Stir to combine and allow to simmer for 3-5 minutes to reduce.
- Simmer: Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, water, bay leaf and crushed red pepper. Stir to combine and simmer on low heat for at least an hour, until the sauce has reduced down to your desired thickness.
- Remove the bay leaves.
- Once the sauce reaches your desired thickness, you can add the sauce to a blender, or use an immersion blender if you like your sauce to be smooth. This is a personal thing and completely optional! Do not blend your sauce if you prefer a chunkier sauce.
- If using meat, add cooked meat and warm for 2-3 minutes before serving. Serve warm over pasta or zucchini noodles.
Hi Blackberry Babe! Great recipe and I made the vegetarian version today. My only questions are when to add the bay leaves (you say when to take them out!) and you mention tomato sauce. Is this a different ingredient from the tomatoes? Unclear on this, but since I had no tomato sauce I stuck with just the tomatoes and it was still delish.
Hi Virginia! This is perfect feedback, thank you for taking the time! I have the instructions updated for clarity. I did used to use tomato sauce and must have forgotten to swap that out. I think the crushed tomatoes have a much fresher taste! Glad you liked the recipe.
Delicious sauce!! My new go to. Thank you
Thank you, Linda! So glad you loved it.
It this safe for kids to eat?
Hi Anthony! Yes, it should be. After the hour of simmering there will only be trace amounts left. BUT, ultimately it’s your call!
I am growing my own sauce tomatoes for creating pasta sauce to freeze. Can I use just homegrown tomatoes to cook down the sauce to consistency desired? Will probably use an immersion blender to help break up cooked tomatoes. Thank you and I like this recipe!
Hi Mary! Yes, this would be so delicious! You’d need roughly 7 cups of peeled tomatoes. I think an immersion blender would work great, or you could hand crush once cooked/peeled! Best of luck to you!
Goof
This sauce was amazing! Perfect for the pasta dish I made last night
Delicious! I added some sliced white button mushrooms to the sauce and it came out really well. 🍝
I’m so glad it came out well for you Bridget! I love this sauce too. 🙂
This sauce is incredibly hearty and full of flavor! It took our pasta night to another level!