Want to eat pasta with marinara sauce and cheese after a long hattrick day? Trust me, after trying this simple, quick, and easy recipe, you’ll always prefer to cook pasta at home instead of picking up something pre-baked from the bakery or going through the drive-thru. Well, it is not an ordinary recipe; it involves the common pasta ingredients but in a twisted way, along with adding chicken and hot dogs. Stay with us to get the perfect solution for busy weeknights.
Pasta is generally served with some sauce; as for itself, it is unwelcoming as a dish. Sauces pair well with pasta, especially spaghetti, marinara, or cheese.
How to make good marinara sauce?
The science behind making good marinara sauce is to balance the acidity of the tomatoes and the sauce’s sweetness. But it is a lost cause to try making a sauce that everybody will love. And the reason behind this is everybody’s taste is a bit different. Some people want it thin; others like to eat thicker or sweet sauces, like chunks of tomatoes with an acidic taste. I like a slightly thicker version of marinara sauce, yet it is smooth and a bit on the sweet side.
Marinara Sauce is super-fast, flavorful, absolutely delicious, and cost-effective compared to store-bought sugar-free pasta sauce. Stay with me and try this pasta with marinara sauce and cheese recipe, and let me know what you think or how you changed the recipe to your liking.
Ingredients for marinara sauce:
| Ingredients | Quantity |
| Olive oil/Butter | 4 tablespoons |
| Garlic | 3 cloves (fresh and finely minced) |
| Tomatoes | freshly chopped/ 1 can(28 ounces) whole San Marzano tomatoes |
| Onion(Sweet/white) | 1 medium size diced chopped |
| kosher salt | one teaspoon |
| Black pepper | ½ teaspoon |
| Red pepper flakes | one little pinch( add more or less according to your spice level) |
| Basil leaves | one tablespoon freshly chopped |
Recipe for marinara sauce:
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add diced chopped onions to oil and sauté’ for 3 minutes until transcalent. Add the garlic and sauté gently for a few minutes till the garlic is fragrant but not browned. Add tomatoes, salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper, and basil leaves, and stir all ingredients together. Let cook the mixture for 30 minutes over medium to low heat, and don’t cover.
Be sure it doesn’t stick to the pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. After 30 minutes, blend this mixture to make the puree and simmer for 10-15 minutes on medium to low heat or until the sauce is thickened. Enjoy marinara sauce!
You can double this recipe and freeze it for an ever-quicker weeknight meal.
How do you make pasta with marinara Sauce and cheese?
After making fresh marinara sauce at home, making pasta with cheesy marinara sauce couldn’t be more difficult. In the next few minutes, you can enjoy delicious homemade pasta.
Ingredients for pasta:
| Ingredients | Quantity |
| Pasta | 1 lB (Penne/spaghetti) |
| Cheese | mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano |
| Sauce | marinara sauce |
Pasta recipe:
- Cook your pasta (I opt for spaghetti) in the salted water according to the directions on the box until it is all ready. Drain and set aside.
You can seek help from our step-by-step guide about how to cook al-dante pasta.
- Now, put the pasta back into the pot over low heat.
- Dress pasta with sauce and toss it into the sauce to coat evenly.
- Stir the pasta well so the whole pasta is lightly coated with the sauce.
- Transfer the pasta and sauce into a serving dish and top with grated cheese and chopped parsley. Serve and enjoy yum-yum pasta with marinara sauce and cheese.
Chef expert tips:
1. Use a garlic press to quickly and efficiently press the garlic into smithereens.
2. Leave your sugar-free pasta sauce chunky if you prefer, though I highly recommend it nice and smooth!
3. Don’t have an immersion blender but want a smooth sauce? Cool it to room temperature and blend into a food processor or blender. After it is processed smooth, it can be returned to the saucepan to be reheated.
4. Use this marinara sauce immediately or cool it to room temperature; pour it into an air-tight container or jar, store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or freeze it, which will last 3-4 months!
Frequently asked questions:
What pasta goes best with marinara sauce?
Pasta is durum wheat semolina kneaded with water, shaped, and dried. All different shapes of pasta taste the same. We recommend these Pasta shapes: Capellini, Cut Ziti, Penne Ziti, Spaghetti, Spaghettini. Marinara sauce is simmered and more concentrated, making a bold and flavorful presence.
Is marinara sauce good for pasta?
Marinara goes well on pasta sauce and dipping sauce and can be used as a spaghetti sauce or with any other type of pasta. Marinara and spaghetti sauce are made up of the same essential ingredients. In the US, most spaghetti is sauced with a basic marinara or a Bolognese, with added beef, pork, and vegetables.
Can I add cheese to my pasta sauce?
For Pasta lovers, pasta is only complete with cheese. It’s always safe to add cheese directly to the thicker and well-blended sauce and put it over heat. But adding cheese to thinner or runny sauce can cause it to clump and stick to the pan.
