This Marinara Dipping sauce is so incredibly simple to make. Use it for dipping breadsticks, calamari, fried cheese or even just plonk it on top of some garlic bread!
Homemade Marinara Dipping Sauce
Everybody needs one of these up their sleeves, in the most non-literal way. My love for breadsticks and marinara is how this recipe came about and since then the low has only grown. Side note – if you’re not dunking breadsticks into a marinara dip are you truly living your best life?
Here’s a quick look at what you’ll need:
- Tomatoes – A can of chopped or skinned plum tomatoes (chopped in the can) will do the trick!
- Onion & Garlic – Finely diced and lightly fried in oil.
- Oregano & Basil – Both dried as you won’t need much.
- Balsamic Vinegar – Balsamic vinegar and tomato is a match made in heaven! Adds a gorgeous punch of flavour.
- Sugar – To balance out the tomatoes and vinegar.
Tips for making Marinara Dip
1. Thickening
It’s important to simmer the sauce until it’s nice and thick, or at least until the tomatoes aren’t watery. This will ensure the flavours fully marry together and offer a better texture when serving. Because nobody likes watery dips 😳
2. Sugar
This is important to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes and vinegar, so don’t be scared to add a good few pinches. It’s what really makes the difference between marinara sauce and marinara dip. Dips tend to be slightly sweeter.
3. Quality Tomatoes
These are the star of the show so I recommend investing in a good quality can of tomatoes to allow them to shine!
Marinara Dipping Sauce FAQ
Chunky versus smooth?
I tend to keep it chunky, just for a more rustic feel. However, you can blitz it until smooth if you wish!
Do I serve this hot or cold?
Either! I tend to serve it soon after it’s cooked, so room temp. But feel free to make in advance, cool, cover and store in the fridge until needed.
What can I do with leftovers?
Stirred through some pasta with copious amounts of parmesan of course!
What can I serve with this?
- Halloumi Fries
- Fried Cheese Balls
- Garlic Bread (or Cheesy Garlic Bread)
- Crispy Chicken Tenders
- Fried Ravioli
- Calamari
- Breadsticks
If you like the sound of this dip then be sure to check out my Baked Feta (in marinara dip)!
For more easy and delicious dips check out these beauties too:
How to make Marinara Dipping Sauce (Full Recipe & Video)
Marinara Dipping Sauce
Equipment
- Small Pot
- Wooden Spoon
- Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 1x 14oz/400g can of Quality Chopped Tomatoes
- 1/4 medium Onion, finely diced
- 1 clove of Garlic, finely diced
- 1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/2 tsp Dried Basil
- 1/2 tsp Dried Oregano
- 1/2 tsp Sugar, or to taste
- Salt & Pepper, to taste
- Olive Oil, for frying
- Chilli Flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Heat up a little oil in a suitably sized pot or pan, and fry your onions over medium heat until they just begin to brown. Add your garlic and fry for couple more minutes until it begins to brown.
- Pour in your tomatoes, alongside a splash of water to swill out the can. Add balsamic vinegar and bring to a simmer.
- Add in your basil, oregano, sugar, chilli flakes (optional) and salt & pepper (to taste) and stir to combine.
- Simmer for a good 10-15 mins until the sauce has thickened and is no longer watery, stirring occasionally.
Video
Notes
Your Private Notes:
Nutrition
Looking for more?
You’ll find plenty more delicious comfort food like this in my Debut Cookbook ‘Comfy’
If you loved this Homemade Marinara Dip recipe then be sure to pin it for later! Already made it or got a question? Give me a shout in the comments and pick up your free ecookbook along the way!
Swoon-worthy sauce! I was a bit rushed so I didn’t chop as finely or simmer as slowly as I should have. No problem however: a quick swirl with the immersion blender and the sauce was just the right consistency for dipping. Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
So happy to hear this went down well, Andrew! Thanks so much for the review 🙂 C.
Made it last night for dipping pepperoni rolls. Great small batch recipe.
Great to hear, Melanie! Thanks for the review 🙂 C.
Really good! I followed the recipe exactly to serve with calamari and will definitely make it again.I had about a cup left over and used it as a base with olive oil, garlic and cherry peppers. Once it was all heated through I added scallops and shrimp and served it as a side with a Rib Eye. My husband was very happy!
Great to hear it went down well, Marlene! Thanks for popping back for a review! C.
yummy, love ❤️ it
it is gr8 and yummy
On board with all of it – pinch of sugar is a must 🙂 Now I’m waiting for those crispy halloumi fries – way to throw in a teaser!
Haha, recipe coming reaaaaal soon!!!
Marinara sauce can be hard to master but you appear to have done it! The marinara sauce is so important when it comes to a dipping sauce! Cannot wait to try it!
Thanks, Hayley! Enjoy 🙂
Love this! And homemade marinara sauce always has so much more flavor than anything store bought.
I so agree with you, Lisa!! 🙂
Love how easy it is to make this marinara! Perfect for dipping, on pasta, or pizza! So versatile!
Yep, sure is easy! 🙂
I love how this is so simple to make and so versatile! It looks very tasty!
Super versatile! Thanks Hope 🙂