Easy tomato sauce with cherry tomatoes for pasta is here. How to roast cherry tomatoes for a bold deep flavor to your Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce with Leftover Beef, or make in a Dutch Oven on the stove top this way too.
Roasted pasta sauce is to die for. With cherry tomato confit blended into your homemade sauce with meat or left vegetarian will make your pasta dish pop for dinner tonight. (affiliate links present)
How to Roast Cherry Tomatoes for Pasta
This is the MOST important step to any homemade pasta sauce to create a rich deep flavor that is a bit smoky almost. With a bit of olive oil, basil and garlic in the oven you can then chop or puree them to add into your sauce from scratch or even jar sauce to make it taste more homemade for your Lazy One Pot Spaghetti.
How Long to Roast Cherry Tomatoes at 350
We typically use a little bit higher temp but either way you are looking at about 1 hour depending on how large yours are. You don’t want to rush this. It is best for them to be roasted in the oven so they shrivel and dry up a bit but not as much as sun-dried tomatoes. Our Tomato Confit Recipe is the best way to start.
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Cherry Tomato Sauce Recipe
You could make this using a pressure cooker too. All in one pot it is like our Homemade Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce but in this case I begin with roasting the veggies on a sheet pan. This is optional but highly recommended for a deeper richer flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds cherry tomatoes that are roasted (for best results I highly recommend doing this first but you could cut in half and use as is simmering for longer to break them down)
- This is a simple ground beef recipe but you could use half spicy ground sausage to add some heat.
- Olive oil will help when you saute the meat and onions to begin with
- Small onion diced is optional but adds flavor and texture in a cheap way
- Tomato sauce will add depth while the whole pieces above will make it chunky
- Tomato paste amount will vary depending on how thick you want it to become
- Oregano and basil work well in Italian sauces
- 1/4 tsp thyme we like too
- Salt and pepper to taste really so I don’t measure that much
Should you blend tomato pasta sauce?
I mean that depends on whom you ask. If you want a smooth texture to it you can use an immersion blender right in your Dutch Oven for as long as you want. This way I would wait and add your meat after this is done so that doesn’t get broken up a lot too but up to you. You can pour into a blende
How to Freeze Homemade Tomato Sauce
Allow the Spaghetti Sauce with Vegetables to cool completely after cooking. This prevents condensation and ice crystals from forming in the container. Decide whether you want to freeze in large batches or in smaller portions for quick meals. Pour into the containers or bags, leaving some space at the top for expansion as it freezes. Squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing.
Can you freeze cherry tomatoes for sauce?
Yes!! Spread the cherry tomatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet. This prevents them from sticking together as they freeze. Place in the freezer and freeze until they are solid, usually for a few hours or overnight. Transfer them to airtight freezer bags or containers.
What are the best things to serve with spaghetti?
- We have shared how to bake frozen broccoli in the oven too. A great choice that can be made year round.
- This is How Long to Roast Zucchini at 400 which will add to more veggies overall.
Tomato Sauce with Cherry Tomatoes
Equipment
- 1 9×13 pan
- 1 dutch oven or large pot
Ingredients
Roasted cherry tomatoes
- 1.5-2 lbs. cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 tsp salt and pepper
- 1/4 tsp basil
- 1/4 tsp oregano
- 2 shallots, diced
- 2 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 c olive oil
Spaghetti sauce
- 1 lb. ground beef, or half spicy ground sausage, half beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion , diced
- 3/4-1 c tomato sauce
- 1/2 c tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp basil
- 1/4 tsp thyme
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Roast tomatoes – Preheat the oven to 380 F. Place halved tomatoes in a bowl with minced garlic and diced shallots. Pour in olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper and dried herbs. Pour into 9×13 pan spread out in a single layer. Cover the baking dish with foil. Bake for 40 minutes. Then remove the foil, reduce the temperature to 340 and bake for another 15 minutes until lightly browned, roasted.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, then add 1 ea. minced carrot, and celery (optional). Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the vegetables soften. Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook until browned and no longer pink.
- On a cutting board, chop roasted cherry tomatoes (as much as you desire, or leave as is for larger pieces). OR put into a blender if you want your sauce to be smooth but with the roasted flavor.
- Add chopped or pureed tomatoes into your pot with tomato sauce, tomato paste, dried oregano, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper. Adjust consistency with more tomato sauce for thinner or more paste for thicker.
- Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid and let the sauce simmer for 15-25 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Delicious and easy to make. I have so many tomatoes to use up and It was so good to help use them up.
Love this tomato sauce with cherry tomatoes recipe, is easy and delicious!!! My family loves it. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Wow – this freshly roasted tomato sauce is amazing. It’s so much deeper in flavor than the store bought kind!