Instant Creamy Marinara Hack (Printable Copy)

A smooth tomato sauce combining butter and garlic powder for a rich, creamy finish.

# What You Need:

→ Sauce Base

01 - 2 cups tomato sauce (plain, unsalted if possible)

→ Dairy

02 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

→ Seasoning

03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
05 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Additions

06 - 1 tablespoon heavy cream
07 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano)

# How to Make:

01 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine tomato sauce, butter, and garlic powder.
02 - Stir until the butter has melted completely and the sauce begins to simmer, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Add salt and black pepper; stir to incorporate evenly.
04 - For a richer texture, stir in heavy cream and dried Italian herbs if desired.
05 - Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve warm over pasta, as a dipping sauce, or on pizza.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you simmered sauce for hours, but you'll be eating in under fifteen minutes.
  • The butter transforms plain tomato sauce into something velvety and restaurant-quality without cream or complicated technique.
  • It's foolproof enough for weeknight chaos but impressive enough to serve without apology.
02 -
  • Don't let the sauce boil hard—a gentle simmer keeps the tomato flavor fresh and bright instead of cooked down and flat.
  • The sauce will thicken slightly as it cools, so taste it while it's hot when seasoning is clearest.
03 -
  • Make a double batch and freeze half in ice cube trays for future weeknights when you need dinner in minutes.
  • San Marzano or fire-roasted tomato sauce elevates this from simple to special with almost no extra effort on your part.
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