Easy Keto Marinara Sauce

Even though there are a few great store-bought marinara sauce options, it is always best to make it at home. This keto marinara is insanely easy to make and requires just 30 minutes. Besides being low-carb, it's also sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan.

Just like any marinara, this one is pretty versatile and can be used practically everywhere: as pasta sauce, pizza sauce, dip, keto sandwiches, casseroles, etc. And what's best about it is that since you're the one making it, you'll be responsible for choosing the ingredients and will be sure that it is healthy.

One serving of this keto tomato sauce contains only 2 grams of carbs, making it perfectly compatible with the keto diet. So if you need a delicious and low-carb marinara sauce, let's get cooking.

Table of Contents

• Is It Okay to Add Marinara Sauce to Your Meals on Keto?
• Needed Ingredients
• Best Store-Bought Marinara Sauce Brands
• Where to Use Keto Marinara?
• Storing Instructions
• Recipe

Is It Okay to Add Marinara Sauce to Your Meals on Keto?

Yes! It is definitely OK to add marinara sauce to your keto diet. But just like with any slightly higher in carbs foods, you must remember that they should be taken in moderation.

This keto marinara contains only 2 g of carbs per serving. Therefore, it is perfectly suitable for a keto lifestyle and can be added to many dishes.

Needed Ingredients

To make this keto marinara sauce, you need to gather only a few simple ingredients. There are a few variations to this recipe, and I will list all of them below.

Here's what you should prepare to make this low-carb marinara sauce:

• Tomatoes. You can use whatever tomatoes you want, but personally, my favorite option is to use canned diced tomatoes since this way, it's faster and mess-free. But if you choose to use fresh tomatoes, remember to take off the skin. Or, if you want the sauce to be creamier, use canned tomato sauce instead of diced tomatoes.
• Garlic. Without a doubt, you must use only fresh garlic. There is a massive difference in taste if you use garlic powder or granulated garlic instead. So if you want to experience all of the flavors, it's best to use freshly diced garlic.
• Basil. The same applies here. If you choose to use fresh basil leaves just like I did, your marinara will have an insanely delicious aroma and aftertaste.
• Oregano. And it's totally up to you; you can use either fresh oregano or dried.
• Olive oil. You'll need just a few tablespoons of olive oil to sauté garlic and basil.
• Paprika powder. And this ingredient is totally optional, but I strongly advise you to add some paprika powder in your marinara sauce for that extra flavor boost. If you don't have any paprika or don't want to use it, you can definitely add one of these paprika powder substitutes.
• Salt. I used kosher salt this time, but you can use the regular salt if you want.
• Pepper. Freshly ground black pepper is the best option for this marinara sauce.

If you are not low carb, then you definitely must add some chopped onion and grated carrot. And here's one tip for you: don't be afraid to experiment with spices and herbs. Almost every time I make this keto marinara sauce, I try to use different spice and herb mixes, and it is unbelievably tasty each time.

Additionally, you can add some red pepper flakes to add some heat. And, of course, some onion powder won't hurt.

Best Store-Bought Marinara Sauce Brands

There are a few things that you must take into consideration when buying a marinara sauce in store. First of all, make a habit of checking out the list of ingredients before buying a new product. Many manufacturers add unnecessary sugar into their marinara sauce, so you would definitely want to avoid that.

Another thing that you should keep in mind is that the fewer ingredients used in the store-bought marinara, the better it is.

Even though there are a few great marinara sauce brands, it is still best to make it at home by yourself. This way, you'll know for sure what's in your keto marinara, and you know that it is fresh and healthy.

Here are some of my favorite keto marinara sauce brands:

• Rao's Homemade Marinara Sauce
• 365 Organic Marinara Sauce
• Paesana Marinara Pasta Sauce
• Yo Mama's Tomato Basil Sauce

Where to Use Keto Marinara?

There are lots of ways you can use this easy homemade marinara sauce in your keto cooking. The examples are endless. But here are my favorite ones that I strongly recommend you to try out:

• Replace tomato paste with marinara when making keto shakshuka
• Use it for this low carb pizza dip or for when making a keto pizza
• Add some to the cloud bread sandwich

You can also use this homemade keto marinara sauce when making casseroles. If you see ketchup, tomato paste, tomato sauce, or tomatoes in the recipes, you can substitute it with this keto marinara sauce to boost the flavor of the dish.

Tip: If you want to make spaghetti sauce with meat, then simply follow all of the instructions from the recipe card, cook some ground beef, and mix it all together. This sauce will go best with zucchini noodles or homemade keto noodles.

Storing Instructions

To store this low-carb marinara sauce, place it in a mason jar and into your refrigerator. This way, the sauce will last up to 3 days. If you plan on storing it for longer, then it's best to freeze the sauce.

To freeze the marinara, place it in a ziplock back or a freezer-friendly container. It will last up to 3 months. Then whenever you need marinara for cooking, simply thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or use your microwave for the job.

Recipe