• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Recipe Index
  • Privacy Policy
  • Web Stories
  • Blogging Resources
  • Carrie's Kitchen
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
Carrie's Kitchen

Carrie's Kitchen

Fast and Fuss Free Recipes

  • Home
  • Easy Dinners
  • Pasta Recipes
  • Salads & Sides
  • Street Food & Fakeaway
  • Comfort Food
  • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Fuss Free Entertaining
  • Snacks and Lunch
  • Drinks
Home » Pasta Recipes » Simple Tomato Pasta Sauce with Butter and Onion

Simple Tomato Pasta Sauce with Butter and Onion

Comfort Food, Easy Dinners, Pasta Recipes First Published: November 25, 2021 | Last Updated: November 25, 2021

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my disclosure policy here.
Pin9
Share
Tweet
Share
Yum
9 Shares
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Simple Tomato Pasta Sauce takes a little bit of time but minimal effort. Three basic pantry ingredients – tinned tomatoes, butter and an onion, make the most delicious and silky sauce that is perfect for pasta.

Simple Tomato Sauce

After you taste this tomato pasta sauce, you will never be able to believe its humble origin. This recipe, made famous by Marcella Hazan, is made up from pantry staples. Just three ingredients – tinned plum tomatoes, butter and an onion sliced in half (okay, four ingredients if you include salt).

White bowl containing spaghetti in a tomato sauce topped with grated parmesan cheese.

Tomato Butter Sauce

Butter is the magic ingredient in this tomato sauce – it cuts through the acidity of the tomatoes to create a rich, velvety sauce so good you won’t be able to stop licking the spoon. You can substitute the butter with some very good quality olive oil if you want to make this dairy free.

Close up of bucatini spaghetti in a red tomato sauce. The pasta is in a white bowl and topped with grated parmesan cheese.

Tomato Pasta Serving Suggestions

This sauce is made for pasta – toss freshly cooked bucatini and a little dash of pasta water in this simple tomato sauce for the most simple but delicious meal. Shavings of parmesan or a dollop of burrata are heavily encouraged toppings.

I also love this sauce with classic spaghetti and meatballs or as a Sugo alternative for homemade pizzas. Tomato butter sauce also makes an excellent dip for arancini or mozzarella sticks. You can jazz it up a little with some fresh herbs, though it really doesn’t need it.

Ingredients

  • Peeled Plum Tomatoes – get the best quality you can afford, since they are the star of the show. I like Cirio. You can use chopped tomatoes, but they are typically more watery.
  • Butter – again, use the best quality you can afford. I typically use salted butter for this recipe, as the salt really makes the flavour sing.
  • Onion – a basic white onion, peeled and sliced in half. You can also use a few whole peeled shallots.
  • Salt – a dash to taste.

This Simple Tomato Pasta Sauce will keep in the fridge for 2 days. You can also freeze it – I like to make a big batch and freeze single portions for quick and easy meals.

I use this 20cm/2.4l Round Casserole when cooking this tomato sauce.

I hope you like this recipe as much as I do! Please leave a comment or tag me on Instagram @carrieskitchen_ if you make it!

More easy and delicious pasta recipes:
  • Easy Pasta Alfredo
  • Prosecco Pasta
  • Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta
  • Pistachio Pesto Pasta

Recipe adapted from The Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan

Simple Tomato Pasta Sauce

Carrie Carvalho
Simple Tomato Pasta Sauce takes a little time but minimal effort. Three basic pantry ingredients make the most delicious and silky sauce.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Course Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 584 kcal

Equipment

  • Heavy Bottom Casserole Dish or Dutch Oven

Ingredients
  

  • 800 grams peeled plum tomatoes 2 regular sized tins
  • 75 grams salted butter
  • 1 white onion peeled and sliced in half
  • salt to taste

To Serve

  • 400 grams pasta of your choice cooked to packet instructions
  • grated parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • Add the onion, tomatoes and butter into a heavy bottomed pan (I use a 20cm/2.4l cast iron casserole).
  • On a medium heat, bring the pot to a simmer – you don't want to let it fully boil.
  • Turn the heat to the lowest setting and simmer for 40-45 minutes, stirring occasionally and lightly crushing the whole tomatoes as you stir.
  • Remove the onion and add salt to taste.
  • Toss with freshly cooked pasta and serve sprinkled with parmesan.

Notes

This Simple Tomato Pasta Sauce will keep in the fridge for 2 days. You can also freeze it – I like to make a big batch and freeze single portions for quick and easy meals.

Nutrition

Calories: 584kcalCarbohydrates: 93gProtein: 17gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 405mgPotassium: 868mgFiber: 8gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 899IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 102mgIron: 4mg
Keyword butter, pasta, tomato
Did you try this recipe?Follow me on instagram and tag me @carrieskitchen_

Subscribe for your FREE 15 Min Pasta Recipes

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.
    Built with ConvertKit
    Simple Tomato Pasta Sauce with Butter and OnionSimple Tomato Pasta Sauce with Butter and OnionSimple Tomato Pasta Sauce with Butter and OnionSimple Tomato Pasta Sauce with Butter and OnionSimple Tomato Pasta Sauce with Butter and OnionSimple Tomato Pasta Sauce with Butter and OnionSimple Tomato Pasta Sauce with Butter and OnionSimple Tomato Pasta Sauce with Butter and OnionSimple Tomato Pasta Sauce with Butter and OnionSimple Tomato Pasta Sauce with Butter and Onion
    Pin9
    Share
    Tweet
    Share
    Yum
    9 Shares

    Leave a Comment

    Previous Post: « Pork Meatballs with Soy Glaze and Quick Pickled Slaw
    Next Post: Festive Fizz Four Ways »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    NEVER MISS A POST

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Search by Category

    MOST POPULAR

    Amaretto Orange Margaritas – A Festive CocktailAmaretto Orange Margaritas – A Festive Cocktail
    Easy Eggs Benedict with Quick HollandaiseEasy Eggs Benedict with Quick Hollandaise
    Chilli Prawn Linguine with Tomatoes and White WineChilli Prawn Linguine with Tomatoes and White Wine
    Greek Chicken Tray Bake with Potato and VegetablesGreek Chicken Tray Bake with Potato and Vegetables
    Flamenco Eggs | Spanish Style Baked Eggs with ChorizoFlamenco Eggs | Spanish Style Baked Eggs with Chorizo
    Carrie's Kitchen

    Never miss a recipe

    Subscribe below

    Privacy Policy

    Footer

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Categories

    • Recipe Index
    • Disclosure Policy

    Copyright © 2023 · Thyme Theme by Restored 316

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT