This delicious homemade gluten-free tomato sauce is tasty, flavorful and incredibly easy to make. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s perfect as a pasta sauce, spread as a pizza base, or to go with your main courses. This healthy tomato sauce is totally dairy-free, vegan, and free of additives or preservatives too. Go make a big batch today!
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I Love Everything Homemade
There’s just something amazing about making something from scratch, and I love making homemade breads, homemade nut flours, homemade nut milks, and homemade jams and marmalades.
So of course, I had to make my own homemade tomato sauce as well!
Make Your Own Tomato Sauce
While you can easily buy a jar of tomato sauce from the store, there are a few benefits to making your own.
Homemade tomato sauce tastes so much better, it’s more flavorful, and it also doesn’t come with all the additives and preservatives that the store-bought one includes. The whole family is gonna love it!
Why This Recipe Works:
- Simple Ingredients: The key ingredients needed for this delicious homemade tomato sauce are easily accessible at the local grocery stores (no long ingredient list nor anything fancy required – in fact you might already have all of them on hand!).
- Super Easy to Make: If you thought making your own sauce is difficult, think again! This delicious but basic tomato sauce comes together in just 30 minutes, and while it does require hands-on time, literally anyone can make it!
- Totally Gluten-Free and Vegan: The good news is that this easy tomato sauce recipe is 100% gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, which means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten or lactose intolerances, or those simply on a gluten-free diet can enjoy it as well.
Ingredients You’ll Need + Notes/Substitutions:
Here’s an overview of the ingredients required for this gluten-free tomato sauce recipe.
(For exact measurements and quantities, please scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.)
- Olive Oil: I like using extra virgin olive oil for its delicious flavor, but feel free to use another vegetable oil if you prefer (sunflower oil, avocado oil, corn oil, coconut oil).
- Garlic: Fresh garlic will work best as it will really amp up the flavor of this homemade tomato sauce. If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can also use minced dried garlic instead.
- Onion: I recommend using fresh onions because as they cook, the flavor from the caramelized onions is just incredibly beautiful and tasty. I used yellow onion, but you can also use white onions or red onion. For a chunkier tomato sauce, you can chop them roughly, but for a less chunky sauce, dice the onions as finely as possible.
- Tomato puree: You can either make your own tomato puree (by blending strained tomatoes) or use store-bought tomato puree directly.
- Italian Seasoning: I like the flavors in the Italian seasoning blend. (Alternatively, you can always make your own by using a mix of dried basil, dried oregano, dried rosemary, dried parsley and dried thyme).
- Salt: I used normal table salt, but you can also use Himalayan pink salt as well.
- Water: I use filtered water, but feel free to use vegetable broth if you prefer.
- Sweeter Sauce: If you prefer a sweeter homemade pasta sauce, you can add a tablespoon of granulated sugar in the last 10 minutes and stir well as the sauce simmers to reduce the acidity of the tomatoes. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend using granulated monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 sugar substitute that is zero glycemic index and will not raise your blood sugar).
How to Make Gluten-Free Tomato Sauce (Step by Step):
1. Heat Oil
Heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Sauté Onions
Add the diced onions and sauté in the hot oil until translucent.
3. Add Garlic
Add the minced garlic to the saucepan and stir until fragrant.
4. Add Tomato Puree
To the same saucepan, add the tomato puree.
5. Add dried Italian seasoning and salt.
Mix in the dried Italian seasoning and the salt.
6. Allow Sauce to Simmer
Cover the saucepan with a lid and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Add 1 cup of filtered water and simmer until it has thickened again (approximately 20 minutes).
7. Use or Store
Use the sauce straightaway, or store it for future recipes (such as pasta, pizza or chicken parmesan!)
Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
- Let Sauce Simmer: Longer simmering will result in better flavor as it reduces the acidity provided by tomato puree, so make sure to let the sauce simmer!
- Optional Seasonings: I’ve used Italian seasoning to flavor this gluten-free sauce, but feel free to add your own favorite spices (such as black pepper, cumin, or red pepper flakes).
- Fresh Herbs: If you prefer to use fresh herbs instead, some options would be fresh basil, fresh rosemary, or fresh oregano.
- For Ultra Smooth Sauce: If you like the sauce to have a very smooth texture, you can either use an immersion blender, food processor or high-speed blender to process it until it reaches the consistency you enjoy.
- Double or Triple the Recipe as Needed: If you need to double or triple the amount of this recipe, make sure to use a large pot when cooking the sauce.
- How to Use This Sauce: This makes an excellent gluten-free spaghetti sauce (with our favorite brand of gluten-free pasta or gluten-free lasagna). You can also use it as a pizza sauce (such as this delicious caprese pizza that’s made with our favorite gluten-free pizza crust), use it as a base for this creamy tomato soup, or eat as part of chicken parmesan. Or serve it as a dip together with these homemade gluten-free breadsticks or zucchini fries!
- Make Bolognese Sauce: If you enjoy bolognese, simply add some ground beef while the sauce is simmering in the pan.
Recipe FAQs:
To store, pour the cooled gluten free tomato sauce into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To freeze, place the tomato sauce in freezer-safe airtight containers or freezer bags and freeze for up to 2 months. To thaw the sauce, place the containers or freezer bags under running water for a few minutes and then remove sauce from container.
While the majority of pasta sauces sold do not use gluten ingredients, not all pasta sauce brands are labeled gluten-free. In fact, some brands are processed in facilities that also process products made with wheat, so unless the sauces are certified gluten-free, there may be traces of gluten from cross contamination or gluten-containing additives.
P.S. If you try this recipe, I’d love for you to leave a star rating below, and/or a review in the comment section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to check out my entire Recipe Index for all the recipes on the blog. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram! Sign up for my Email List to get fresh recipes in your inbox each week!
PrintEasy Homemade Gluten-Free Tomato Sauce (Vegan)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This delicious homemade gluten-free tomato sauce is tasty, flavorful and incredibly easy to make. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s perfect as a pasta sauce, spread as a pizza base, or to go with your main courses. This healthy tomato sauce is totally dairy-free, vegan, and free of additives or preservatives too. Go make a big batch today!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 15 oz can tomato puree
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup filtered water
Instructions
- Heat Oil: Heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Sauté Onions: Add the diced onions and sauté in the hot oil until translucent.
- Add Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the saucepan and stir until fragrant.
- Add Tomato Puree: To the same saucepan, add the tomato puree, dried Italian seaoning, and salt.
- Allow Sauce to Simmer: Cover the saucepan with a lid and simmer for 5 minutes. Add 1 cup of filtered water and simmer until it has thickened again (approximately 20 minutes). (Pro Tip: Longer simmering will result in better flavor as it reduces the acidity provided by tomato puree, so make sure to let the sauce simmer!).
- Use or Store: Use the sauce straightaway, or pour it into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
Olive Oil: I like using extra virgin olive oil for its delicious flavor, but feel free to use another vegetable oil if you prefer (sunflower oil, avocado oil, corn oil, coconut oil).
Garlic: Fresh garlic will work best as it will really amp up the flavor of this homemade tomato sauce. If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can also use minced dried garlic instead.
Onion: I recommend using fresh onions because as they cook, the flavor from the caramelized onions is just incredibly beautiful and tasty. I used yellow onion, but you can also use white onions or red onion. For a chunkier tomato sauce, you can chop them roughly, but for a less chunky sauce, dice the onions as finely as possible.
Tomato puree: You can either make your own tomato puree (by blending strained tomatoes) or use store-bought tomato puree directly.
Italian Seasoning: I like the flavors in the Italian seasoning blend. (Alternatively, you can always make your own by using a mix of dried basil, dried oregano, dried rosemary, dried parsley and dried thyme).
Salt: I used normal table salt, but you can also use Himalayan pink salt as well.
Water: I use filtered water, but feel free to use vegetable broth if you prefer.
Sweeter Sauce: If you prefer a sweeter sauce, you can add a tablespoon of granulated sugar in the last 10 minutes and stir well as the sauce simmers to reduce the acidity of the tomatoes. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend using granulated monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 sugar substitute that is zero glycemic index and will not raise your blood sugar).
Storing: To store, pour the cooled gluten-free tomato sauce into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This is an excellent sauce for the base of any pizza as well, such as this delicious caprese pizza (made with our favorite gluten-free pizza crust).
Freezing: To freeze, place the tomato sauce in freezer-safe airtight containers or freezer bags and freeze for up to 2 months. To thaw the sauce, place the containers or freezer bags under running water for a few minutes and then remove sauce from container.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Sauces
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Grace Lim says
Thanks Felicia for this homemade recipe.
I really love making my own homemade sauces as I would know exactly what ingredients went into the sauce compared to store-bought sauces.
I am happy making a big batch for my subsequent use in many other food dishes !
Love you,
Mum
Felicia Lim says
Yes! Homemade is the best 🙂