• Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Never Not Hungry logo

  • Recipes
  • Wanderlust
    • Europe
  • Inspiration
    • The Magic of Books
      • Monthly Book Bag
      • Cookbook Clique
  • Shop
  • Crumbs, Nibbles, Sips & Sprinkles
    • Obsessed
      • Gift & Lifestyle Guides
    • Resources
    • On Sundays We Brunch
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
    • Le Bon Fond Cooking School
  • Newsletter Subscription

Tomato Sauce with Butter, Onion and Garlic

[heart_this] · Mar 5, 2018 · 6 Comments

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click on any Amazon links on my website and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. It’s a great way to support my blog, so I can keep sharing delicious recipes with you!

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Tomato Sauce with Butter, Onion and Garlic-2.jpg

This is the sauce that makes me literally stand over the pot, eating spoonfuls as it cooks (and barely tasting it because it is so hot, but it’s such a sweet burn).  You need to make this because we’re going to make some meatballs on Wednesday and they must be paired with this sauce.  No exceptions.

Okay, okay.  In the nature of the Ina memes we’ve all seen, if you can’t make it yourself, store-bought is fine.  But I highly encourage you to give this a try when you have a little extra time.  This is very hands-off, you barely have to chop anything and the sauce cooks away on the stove with little intervention from you.

This recipe is inspired by the rightly famous and classic Marcella Hazan recipe for Tomato Sauce with Butter and Onion (a quick search of the Internet should find you many sources for the original).  It is so perfect in its simplicity and flavor and is my go-to tomato sauce recipe.  Any recipe I make that requires tomato sauce is sure to get this one.  I must always add garlic to anything I possibly can and a pinch of red pepper flakes never hurt anyone.  I know the ENTIRE STICK of butter may scare you, but hey, if Marcella Hazan says to do it, you do it.

Tomato Sauce with Butter, Onion and Garlic.jpg

Print

clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Tomato Sauce with Butter, Onion and Garlic


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Amanda
  • Yield: about 4 cups of sauce 1x
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Just a perfect tomato sauce!


Ingredients

Scale
  • Two 28-ounce cans whole San Marzano tomatoes
  • 2 small onions, halved
  • 5 to 6 cloves garlic, peeled and left whole
  • 1 stick high-quality butter
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes, to taste
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat.  Using your fingers, crush the tomatoes into a chunky sauce.  Add the onion halves, whole garlic cloves, butter and a pinch of red pepper flakes, to taste.  Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook until the flavors have melded and the sauce has reduced and thickened, 45 minutes to one hour.  Taste throughout the cooking process and season with salt and pepper as needed.

  • Category: Sauces

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @iamnevernothungry on Instagram and hashtag it #nevernothungry

Related

Share
Pin34
Tweet
Yum
Email
34 Shares

Recipe Basics & Staples

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dianna says

    February 19, 2019 at 11:29 pm

    I’ve seen this recipe by Marcella Hazen on the internet many times but have yet to try it. However, I have some fresh (now frozen raviolis) in the freezer that I need a good sauce for. Hopefully, this will fit the bill and give me a chance to try this well-reknown sauce. Thanks for posting it!

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      February 20, 2019 at 9:06 am

      Of course! It’s my go-to tomato sauce recipe-just perfect the way it is!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Spicy Smoked Mozzarella Meatballs | Eat Like Amanda says:
    March 7, 2018 at 9:33 pm

    […] these on their own with a little tomato sauce, serve over spaghetti or put in a delicious meatball sandwich the next day if you have any […]

    Reply
  2. Soft Breadsticks | Eat Like Amanda says:
    March 9, 2018 at 5:14 pm

    […] them in some tomato sauce and pretend you’re sitting in the food court at Target or the World’s Largest Truck […]

    Reply
  3. Short Rib Lasagna Rolls | Eat Like Amanda says:
    April 3, 2018 at 3:34 pm

    […] to braise your short ribs.  If you’re going to go all out, you might as well make your own tomato sauce […]

    Reply
  4. Short Rib Ragu with Pappardelle and Ricotta | Eat Like Amanda says:
    July 24, 2018 at 9:24 am

    […] I saw this on Pinch of Yum and knew I had to make my own version.  The pictures alone were enough to make me dash to the store to get all the ingredients.  I’m so glad I did because I was literally eating spoonfuls of the sauce out of the pot when it was done…that’s how you know it’s good.  More about my affinity for doing that over on this post. […]

    Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Primary Sidebar

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

ABOUT ME

Hi. I’m Amanda. I love food, cooking, sharing it with others and documenting it. I’m a little of this and little of that-taste while you go type of cook.  I found a true passion over the years when I really began to understand how deeply connected food and love are.

Learn More

FAVORITE BLOGS

Pinch of Yum

How Sweet Eats

Smitten Kitchen

Broma Bakery

FoodieCrush

Spoon Fork Bacon

A Cozy Kitchen

What’s Gaby Cooking

Wood & Spoon

Footer

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Receive New Posts in Your E-mail!

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of all new content by email.

What’s happening on Instagram

iamnevernothungry

I love good food.

If you think stuffed mushrooms are a relic of 1970 If you think stuffed mushrooms are a relic of 1970s dinner parties, let me introduce you to the glow-up you didn’t know you needed. These Manchego-Stuffed Mushrooms with Chorizo Breadcrumbs are rich, crispy, and dangerously poppable—so much so that you might accidentally eat an entire tray while “taste-testing.” (Not speaking from experience. Definitely not.)

They’re easy enough for a casual get-together but fancy enough to pretend you have your life together. Perfect for parties, holidays, or a Tuesday night when you need a snack that’s extra.

Get the full recipe on the blog! Link in bio.

#StuffedMushrooms #EasyEntertaining #SavorySnacks #Appetizers#nevernothungry
Sunday Funday anyone? Enter: the Paper Plane. Bour Sunday Funday anyone? Enter: the Paper Plane. Bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon—equal parts, no fuss, all reward. 🍹✈️ #SundayFunday #Cocktails
This Roasted Cipollini Onion Torta with Pecorino F This Roasted Cipollini Onion Torta with Pecorino Fonduta is a showstopper that combines rich, caramelized cipollini onions with a buttery, Pecorino-infused crust and creamy fonduta made with Pecorino and Taleggio. Perfect for a special dinner or impressing guests, this dish is packed with layers of deep, savory flavors and satisfying textures. While it’s not quick or cheap, the effort is absolutely worth it—each bite is a melt-in-your-mouth experience of sweet onions, creamy cheese, and a flaky crust. Perfect for food lovers who appreciate the magic of slow-roasted onions and decadent, cheesy indulgence.

#Food #Recipe #DinnerParty #ImpressYourGuests #Foodstagram #ItalianFood #RusticCooking #SavoryPie #IndulgentEats #FromScratch #NeverNotHungry
Elevate your Valentine’s Day with this stunning Elevate your Valentine’s Day with this stunning Red Wine-Poached Pear and Blue Cheese Salad—no prix fixe menu required. Sweet, salty, crunchy, and creamy—it’s a showstopping salad that’s easy to prep ahead!

Sweet, tender pears, creamy blue cheese, crispy pancetta, and crunchy walnuts come together in the perfect balance of flavors and textures. It’s elegant but easy, special but not fussy—just how a great meal (and date) should be.

Pour a glass of wine, plate up something delicious, and enjoy. ❤️

Recipe linked in bio!

 #ValentinesDayDinner #RedWineAndDine #WeeknightGourmet
January salads are all about ‘new year, new me,’ but let’s be real—no one said that ‘me’ had to skip crispy potatoes or steak. 

This Crispy Potato & Balsamic Steak Salad with Creamy Boursin Dressing is the perfect balance of ‘I’m trying’ and ‘treat yourself.’ Because life’s too short for sad salads—and bad food in general. Link in bio for the recipe! 

#NeverNotHungry #SaladGoals #DinnerSalad #Recipe #Healthyish
Looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing recipe that fe Looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing recipe that feels fresh and light despite being a massive sandwich? Enter the Green Goddess Turkey Party Sandwich—a layered masterpiece that’s as simple to make as it is impressive to serve. With a zesty, herb-packed green goddess sauce, marinated zucchini ribbons, and fresh, crunchy, mostly green veggies, every bite bursts with flavor and texture. 

Don’t let its size fool you—this sandwich tastes incredibly fresh, thanks to bright, seasonal ingredients that keep things light while still delivering on all the comforting, hearty vibes we love in a good sandwich. Perfect for a quick lunch or to serve a crowd for game day!

#GreenGoddess #PartySandwich #EasyRecipes #FreshAndLight #CrowdPleaser #LunchIdeas #GameDayFood #QuickMeals # #Foodstagram #InstaFood #FoodInspiration #FoodPhotography #HomeCookedMeals #ComfortFood
I know what you’re thinking: squash blossoms in I know what you’re thinking: squash blossoms in late September? Am I out of my mind? Maybe. But hear me out. I found the best-looking squash blossoms I’ve ever come across at the farmer’s market on Saturday, and they were $5 for 3 big bunches and the sweet corn stand was still going on the corner, so you can’t expect me to pass that up. I’ve been waiting to recreate a dish I had at @monteverdechi in Chicago last month, so here we are…with a recipe…for squash blossoms…with sweet corn…in almost October.

I get it—it’s technically the end of squash blossom season, but if you’re lucky, you might still find a stash at your local farmers’ market or, dare I say it, a friendly neighbor’s garden (or your own?). Either way, if you can track some down, these Crab and Ricotta-Stuffed Squash Blossoms are worth the hunt. Trust me, you’ll want to savor every last bite of this seasonal gem. I can easily take down five or six of these.

#Food #Recipe #Seafood #SquashBlossoms #SummerRecipes #SummerFood #Seasonal #Crab #Instafood #Foodstagram #NeverNotHungry
Lettuce wraps are one of those dishes that sound s Lettuce wraps are one of those dishes that sound simple, but when done right, they pack a punch of flavor that’ll leave you wondering why you don’t make them more often. These Spicy Coconut Chicken Lettuce Wraps are no exception. Sure, they’ve got a few more ingredients than the quick weeknight dinner you might be looking for, but trust me, the payoff is huge. With layers of spicy green curry, creamy coconut, tangy pickled veggies, and two ridiculously good sauces, these wraps are a sensory experience in every bite. Whether you’re a fan of the lettuce wraps at P.F. Chang’s or you’ve fallen in love with the spicy, herb-packed flavors of Thai larb, this recipe is going to blow your mind (in the best way possible). 

Plus, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the ingredient list, I’ve got tips on how to split this into a two-day cooking adventure—because let’s be real, no one wants to spend five hours in the kitchen on a weekday.

#Food #Recipe #NeverNotHungry #Chicken #Foodstagram #Instafood
Let’s talk s’mores—the ultimate campfire tre Let’s talk s’mores—the ultimate campfire treat: graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows, perfectly toasted over an open flame, leaving your fingers sticky and your soul satisfied. But, sometimes, the outdoors isn’t calling or you want to make them on a larger scale, and making a bonfire in your kitchen is frowned upon. That’s where these S’mores Bars with Toasted Marshmallow Meringue come in. They’re a modern twist on a campfire classic. They’re a perfect make-ahead dessert for parties, tailgates, and bake sales.

We’re taking all the nostalgic flavors of your childhood camping trips and leveling them up—big time. These bars start with a buttery graham cracker crust, are layered with fudgy brownie goodness, topped with rich chocolate ganache, and finished with a cloud of toasted marshmallow meringue. And the best part? You can enjoy these babies without having to swat away a single mosquito. No joke—last time I had a bonfire and made s’mores, my cousin and I came away with over 50 mosquito bites collectively.

#Food #Recipe #Smores #CampfireTreats #DessertLovers #SweetTooth #ChocolateLovers #TailgateSnacks #BakeSaleFavorites #DessertInspo #Foodstagram #BakersOfInstagram #SmorePlease #GooeyGoodness #NostalgicFlavors #PartyDesserts #CampingVibes #SweetTreats #HomeBaking #BakingGoals #nevernothungry
Looking to take your burger game to the next level Looking to take your burger game to the next level? The Monterey Melt Smash Burger is about to blow your taste buds away. This isn’t just your average burger—it’s a flavor-packed experience with crispy, caramelized beef, beer-braised vegetables, and a smoky jalapeño-cilantro ranch that you’ll want to put on everything. We’re talking double layers of melty cheese, a rich beer-mustard glaze, and that perfect smash burger texture. Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or treating yourself to a next-level meal, this burger brings big flavors and textures with every bite. This is the best burger I’ve ever made.

#Food #Recipe #Burgers #BurgerNight #Grilling #Smashburgers #SummerRecipes #NeverNotHungry #Instafood #Foodstagram
Have guests coming over and need to impress withou Have guests coming over and need to impress without resorting to the old standby recipes? Spicy Lobster Pasta with Sungold Tomato Sauce is the kind of dish that says, “I went all out for you”—because, let’s be real, lobster isn’t exactly a budget-friendly ingredient. But when company’s coming, it’s time to pull out the stops. This pasta is decadent, rich, and bursting with fresh summer flavors, thanks to sweet Sungold tomatoes and a luxurious mascarpone-laden sauce. It’s a little spicy, a lot indulgent, and just the thing to make your guests feel like they’re dining at a five-star restaurant—without anyone realizing you’re secretly glad to have an excuse to splurge.

It’s rich, flavorful, and just the right amount of spicy. Plus, there’s a Sungold tomato sauce so smooth it’s like silk wrapped around every strand of pasta. Forget reservations—this is dinner with a serious wow factor, and you didn’t even have to leave your house.

#Tomatoes #PastaLovers #GourmetAtHome #LobsterPasta #DecadentDishes #ImpressYourGuests #SummerFlavors #FoodieInspo #FiveStarMeals #DinnerPartyIdeas #PastaPerfection #SeafoodLovers #ComfortFood #FancyFood #Lobster #Recipe #nevernothungry
When it comes to dessert, I think that combining f When it comes to dessert, I think that combining fruit with a crispy, buttery topping and serving with vanilla ice cream is one of the most satisfying ways to enjoy the season’s best produce. But let’s be real, there’s always room for improvement. Enter: Salted Caramel Peach Crisp. The salty-sweet, slightly bitter caramel plays off the peaches so well. This dish is the perfect marriage of sweet, juicy peaches and a rich, salty caramel sauce, all crowned with a crisp topping that’s just begging to be devoured.

#Food #Recipe #Desserts #SummerDesserts #Peaches #FeedFeed #Foodstagram #NeverNotHungry
Follow on Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Copyright © 2025 Never Not Hungry on the Seasoned Pro Theme
Terms & Privacy Policy