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Garlic Roasted Tomato Sauce

Garlic roasted tomato sauce made with fresh ingredients from the garden! Roasted in the oven, then blended together to create a super flavorful and delicious tomato sauce.

Roasted garlic tomato sauce in skillet.
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Oven Roasted Tomato Sauce

One of my favorite things to make when my garden starts to bloom is roasted garlic tomato sauce. The tomatoes are so flavorful and have such a bright taste. They’re perfect for roasting and result in a sweet, yet caramelized flavor. Absolutely delicious and great for making tomato sauce.

This roasted tomato sauce recipe is pretty easy to make and tastes so fresh and delicious. Roasting both the tomatoes and garlic gives it a bolder flavor than a traditional marinara sauce and is the perfect way to showcase those juicy, ripe tomatoes during the summer time.

We like to serve this garlic tomato sauce over cooked pasta (which my kids request almost daily) or use it to make pizza, soup, this easy lasagna and many other delicious Italian dishes. It’s healthy, flavorful and can be used so many ways!

Ingredients

Less than 10 ingredients needed to make this easy oven roasted tomato sauce. Check them out below.

Roasted tomato sauce ingredients on counter.
  • Tomatoes: The star of the show! Look for tomatoes that smell fragrant and have a vibrant red color. They should be firm, yet have a slight give when pressed. Romas, plum, campari or even cherry or grape tomatoes all work great.
  • Basil: A bold herb that adds a boost of Italian flavor to the sauce. Using fresh basil will give you the best flavor, especially in the summer months when abundant.
  • Olive oil: For drizzling over the tomatoes so that they caramelize when roasting. A high quality olive oil tastes best.
  • Garlic: A small head of garlic gets roasted at the same time as the tomatoes, adding a caramelized, nutty flavor to the sauce. Learning how to roast garlic will become your new favorite kitchen trick!
  • Italian seasoning: An easy way to boost the Italian flavor even more. Use a premade blend, or make your own Italian seasoning mix at home.
  • Salt and pepper: To help balance out the flavors in the sauce. Add more or less to taste.

Why Do Roasted Tomatoes Taste Better?

It’s not that they taste better per say, however making roasted tomatoes in the oven is an easy way to let the natural flavors and juices shine through. They get nice and caramelized on the outside, with a sweeter and richer taste.

You can enjoy them as a simple side dish, or add to salads, pasta salads, soups, sauces and sandwiches. I also love to use them to make roasted salsa!

How to Make Roasted Garlic Tomato Sauce

Step by step collage making tomato sauce.
  • Wrap the garlic in foil. Slice off the top of the head of garlic and then wrap in foil. Place on the baking sheet.
  • Prepare your tomatoes. Remove the stems and quarter the tomatoes, then place on a baking sheet. Add fresh basil on top, then drizzle with olive oil. Finish them off with a sprinkle of Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
  • Roast in oven. Roast the tomatoes in the oven for about 45 minutes, or until the skins begin to shrivel and look a bit charred. Allow to cool slightly.
  • Blend. Pour the tomatoes and basil into a blender. Then remove the foil from the garlic and squeeze out the cloves into the blender. Pulse until desired consistency is met. I like a smooth sauce, but you can keep it chunky if preferred. Taste and add more basil, salt or pepper if needed.

Variations

This roasted tomato sauce is easy to customize to your preference! Give it a kick of heat by adding a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, or mix in some grated Parmesan cheese for a creamier sauce. If you aren’t crazy about garlic, only add a couple of cloves instead of the whole head.

Ways to Use Roasted Tomato Sauce

Roasted garlic tomato sauce in mason jar.

How to Store and Reheat

We love to store this sauce in a mason jar. It stays fresh the longest and is easy to pour into a big pot when you need it.

It will keep for one week if stored in the refrigerator or up to 4 months in the freezer. Sometimes I’ll make a big double batch and use half during the week, then store the other half in the freezer. It makes a great freezer meal and is a perfect option for a busy weeknight!

Let thaw in the fridge overnight before enjoying, then reheat in a pot on the stove over low heat until warm.

FAQs

Should tomatoes be peeled before roasting?

Nope! They’ll soften as they roast and then get blended into a smooth puree, so they won’t change the consistency of the sauce at all.

However if you would prefer to remove the skins, feel free! Just slip them off after roasting in the oven.

How do you know when roasted tomatoes are done?

The skins will begin to shrivel up and look a bit wrinkly. The exterior of the tomatoes will also be somewhat charred.

How do you thicken roasted tomato sauce?

If you would prefer your sauce even thicker, you can let it simmer on the stove for a bit once blended. This helps to boil out the excess liquid and will leave you with a thicker consistency.

Roasted garlic tomato sauce in skillet with spoon.

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Roasted garlic tomato sauce in skillet with spoon.

Garlic Roasted Tomato Sauce

5 from 8 votes
↑ Click stars to rate now!
Author: Jamielyn Nye
Garlic roasted tomato sauce made with fresh ingredients from the garden! Roasted in the oven, then blended together to create a super flavorful and delicious tomato sauce.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 6

Video

Ingredients 

  • 3 pounds tomatoes , stems removed and quartered
  • ¼ cup fresh basil , plus more to taste
  • 2-4 Tablespoons olive oil , plus more if needed
  • ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper , to taste
  • 1 small head garlic

Serve with cooked pasta

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil.
    • Place the tomatoes on the baking sheet. Top with basil and drizzle with olive oil. Season with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
    • Cut the top off the head of garlic, exposing the tops of the cloves, and wrap loosely in foil. Place on the baking sheet.
    • Roast 45 minutes, or until the skins start to shrivel. Let cool slightly.
    • Pour tomatoes and basil into a blender. Remove garlic from foil and squeeze cloves into the blender. Pulse until you reach your desired consistency. Taste and add more basil, salt, or pepper. Reheat, if needed, and serve over cooked pasta.

    Notes

    Storage: The sauce will keep in an airtight container for 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 4 months in the freezer. 
    Leftover garlic cloves: If you decide not to use all of the cloves for the sauce, save them and try spreading on toasted baguette, adding to eggs, putting on pizza, or mixing into mashed potatoes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 400mg | Potassium: 562mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1947IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.

    Course: Condiment
    Cuisine: Italian

    Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

    Plate of spaghetti with roasted tomato sauce on top.

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