Time to pop open your favorite jar! These recipes that use marinara sauce are easy to put together and oh-so comforting.
36 Recipes That Start with a Jar of Marinara Sauce
Updated on Sep. 17, 2024
Florentine Spaghetti Bake
This hearty sausage entree will appeal to just about everyone. My daughter serves it often to her hardworking family on their wheat ranch in Montana. —Lorraine Martin, Lincoln, California
Start this recipe (and the rest in this lineup) with our Test Kitchen’s favorite jarred pasta sauce.
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Chicken Parm Sliders
Total Time
45 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Sliders are the perfect finger food for any get-together, and this flavorful chicken Parmesan version won’t disappoint. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado
Nutrition Facts:
1 slider: 428 calories, 26g fat (12g saturated fat), 69mg cholesterol, 843mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 3g fiber), 18g protein.
Make your own marinara with our guide to making pasta sauce.
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Cocktail Meatballs
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These beefy meatballs are a perennial favorite at our holiday parties. You won't believe how easy these holiday appetizers are to make. —Pat Waymire, Yellow Springs, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
2 each: 84 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 29mg cholesterol, 245mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 0 fiber), 6g protein.
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Pepperoni Focaccia Bread
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This focaccia bread recipe is perfect to serve with a pasta dinner, either as an appetizer or sliced for sandwiches. You will love the smell of it baking—it’s hard to wait for it to be done! I like to add some thinly sliced plum tomatoes and fresh basil on top. — Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 339 calories, 18g fat (6g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 580mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 12g protein.
Want more flavor? Here’s how to upgrade jarred pasta sauce.
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Stuffed Pasta Shells
Total Time
45 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These savory shells never fail to make a big impression, even though the recipe is very easy. One or two of these shells makes a great individual serving at a potluck, so a single batch goes a long way.
—Jena Coffey, St. Louis, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 314 calories, 13g fat (7g saturated fat), 44mg cholesterol, 576mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 3g fiber), 18g protein.
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Pepperoni Calzone
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This calzone recipe takes the Italian favorite to the next level with Parmesan and herbs sprinkled on top. —Shannon Roum, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 calzone: 540 calories, 23g fat (8g saturated fat), 36mg cholesterol, 1573mg sodium, 59g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 5g fiber), 21g protein.
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Lasagna Casserole
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
While growing up, I always wanted this meal on my birthday. Mother made the sauce from scratch, but now I use store-bought spaghetti sauce to save time. Replace the ground beef with Italian sausage if you want more spice. —Deb Morrison, Skiatook, Oklahoma
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 667 calories, 30g fat (14g saturated fat), 157mg cholesterol, 1209mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 4g fiber), 44g protein.
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Air-Fryer Pizza Puffs
Total Time
30 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I love pizza in any form so it seemed only logical to turn my pizza love into an appetizer. These little bundles can be made ahead of time and chilled until you’re ready to pop them into the air fryer. —Vivi Taylor, Middleburg, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1 pizza puff: 120 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 189mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 5g protein.
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Manicotti
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
7 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the first meal I ever cooked for my husband and all these years later, he still enjoys every bite. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
2 stuffed manicotti: 361 calories, 13g fat (6g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 1124mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 4g fiber), 19g protein.
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Italian Sausage Sloppy Joes
Total Time
4 hours 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandma absolutely loves Italian food, so I decided to make a twist on classic sloppy joe sandwiches just for her. The mozzarella and tomato sauce are classic, and red peppers make it fun. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich: 661 calories, 35g fat (14g saturated fat), 121mg cholesterol, 1231mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 3g fiber), 42g protein.
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Fire-Roasted Ziti with Sausage
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We punch up our pasta with smoked sausage and fire-roasted tomato sauce. It's an easy recipe to switch up—use whatever noodles and spaghetti sauce are in your pantry. —Jean Komlos, Plymouth, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/4 cups (calculated without optional toppings): 463 calories, 23g fat (11g saturated fat), 66mg cholesterol, 1634mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 3g fiber), 23g protein.
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Italian Sausage Sandwich
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For a casual but hearty meal, try these saucy subs created by our Test Kitchen. Full of traditional Italian flavor, these sandwiches are a snap to make.
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 552 calories, 28g fat (8g saturated fat), 50mg cholesterol, 1532mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 4g fiber), 24g protein.
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Three-Cheese Meatball Mostaccioli
Total Time
50 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When my husband travels for work, I make a special dinner for my kids to keep their minds off missing Daddy. This tasty mostaccioli is meatball magic. —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups: 541 calories, 23g fat (11g saturated fat), 105mg cholesterol, 1335mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 5g fiber), 34g protein.
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Fried Lasagna
Total Time
55 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
One of my favorite dishes at Olive Garden is their fried lasagna. On a whim, I tried to recreate it at home. After a few tries, I think I got it pretty close to the original. —Jolene Martinelli, Fremont, New Hampshire
Nutrition Facts:
2 lasagna rolls: 876 calories, 54g fat (19g saturated fat), 195mg cholesterol, 1011mg sodium, 61g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 4g fiber), 37g protein.
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Chicken Parmesan Burgers
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A restaurant-quality burger that’s topped with marinara and loaded with cheese—what’s not to love? Fresh basil adds even more flavor if you'd like. —Brooke Petras, Alpine, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 burger: 603 calories, 33g fat (10g saturated fat), 108mg cholesterol, 1275mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 3g fiber), 38g protein.
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Chicken Pesto Meatballs
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These tender, pesto-stuffed meatballs get gobbled up in our house. They're short on ingredients, but packed with flavor. I always make a double batch, freezing the other half for a busy night. —Ally Billhorn, Wilton, Iowa
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup meatball mixture with 1 cup spaghetti: 422 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 85mg cholesterol, 706mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 7g fiber), 32g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 starch, 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat.
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Grilled Sausage-Basil Pizzas
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We love basil recipes, and these easy little pizzas are a wonderful change of pace from the classic cookout menu. Let everybody go crazy with the toppings. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1 pizza: 808 calories, 56g fat (19g saturated fat), 112mg cholesterol, 1996mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 3g fiber), 34g protein.
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Five-Cheese Ziti al Forno
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
After having the five-cheese ziti at Olive Garden, I tried to make my own homemade version—and I think I got pretty close. I always double this and freeze the second one for another meal. —Keri Whitney, Castro Valley, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 449 calories, 15g fat (8g saturated fat), 32mg cholesterol, 960mg sodium, 59g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 4g fiber), 21g protein.
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Muffin-Tin Lasagnas
Total Time
30 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a super fun way to serve lasagna for make-ahead lunches, potlucks or other fun get-togethers. My daughter took some of these to work and by noon was emailing me for the recipe. —Sally Kilkenny, Granger, Iowa
Nutrition Facts:
2 mini lasagnas: 414 calories, 19g fat (9g saturated fat), 83mg cholesterol, 970mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g fiber), 22g protein.
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Cheese-Stuffed Shells
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
2 casseroles (6 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
When I was living in California, I tasted this rich cheesy pasta dish at a neighborhood Italian restaurant. I got the recipe and made a few changes to it in my own kitchen. I'm happy to share it with you. —Lori Mecca, Grants Pass, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
2 stuffed shells: 397 calories, 23g fat (14g saturated fat), 94mg cholesterol, 1097mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 24g protein.
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Sicilian Nachos
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Crispy bread replaces the classic tortilla chips and savory meat sauce tops things off. This hearty appetizer easily doubles as a main dish. Add a salad and you have dinner. —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 212 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated fat), 28mg cholesterol, 455mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 10g protein.
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Melt-in-Your-Mouth Sausages
Total Time
4 hours 10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My family loves this recipe. It’s such a good all-around dish, either for sandwiches like these or served with hot spaghetti. —Ilean Schultheiss, Cohocton, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich: 557 calories, 29g fat (9g saturated fat), 62mg cholesterol, 1510mg sodium, 51g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 4g fiber), 24g protein.
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Healthy Meat Loaf
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Welcome your family in from the cold with this moist and delicious meat loaf with wonderful southwestern taco flavor. This is down-home comfort food at its healthy best! —Mary Relyea, Canastota, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 296 calories, 13g fat (5g saturated fat), 98mg cholesterol, 672mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch, 1/2 fat.
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Cheesy Pepperoni Buns
Total Time
25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A pizza version of the sloppy joe, this hot and melty open-faced sandwich is a surefire kid pleaser. Adults love it, too! —Tanya Belt, Newcomerstown, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
2 open-faced sandwiches: 280 calories, 14g fat (6g saturated fat), 46mg cholesterol, 612mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 18g protein.
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Manicotti Shells
Total Time
1 hour 50 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These tender manicotti are much easier to stuff than the purchased variety. People are always amazed when I say I make my own noodles. My son fixed this recipe for several of his friends, and they were extremely impressed with his cooking skills. —Sue Ann Bunt, Painted Post, New York
Nutrition Facts:
3 manicotti: 480 calories, 22g fat (11g saturated fat), 201mg cholesterol, 1128mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 3g fiber), 27g protein.
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Ravioli Appetizer Pops
Total Time
30 min
Servings
3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Ravioli on a stick is a tasty appetizer everyone talks about. They’re simple and fun to make and eat. Use packaged dipping sauces, or make your own. Get my recipes on my blog, thehopelesshousewife.com. —Erika Monroe-Williams, Scottsdale, Arizona
Nutrition Facts:
1 appetizer (calculated without marinara sauce and pesto): 32 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 9mg cholesterol, 97mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
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One-Skillet Lasagna
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is hands-down one of the best skillet lasagna recipes our testing panel has ever tasted. And with classic flavors and cheesy layers, it’s definitely kid-friendly. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 478 calories, 20g fat (8g saturated fat), 128mg cholesterol, 1552mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 4g fiber), 31g protein.
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Tortellini with Sausage and Mascarpone
Total Time
18 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When I crave Italian comfort food on a busy night and don’t have a lot of time to cook, this sausage tortellini skillet recipe is fast and yummy. You can have it on the table in less time than a takeout order. —Gerry Vance, Millbrae, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 637 calories, 37g fat (17g saturated fat), 113mg cholesterol, 1040mg sodium, 57g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 4g fiber), 24g protein.
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Spicy Shrimp & Penne Pasta
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I created this creamy pasta dish when I needed to use up some marinara. Red pepper flakes give it a little heat, which my family loves. It's super versatile, so try it with chicken, or simply stir in some fresh basil, too. —Lorri Stout, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Nutrition Facts:
1-2/3 cups: 396 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated fat), 206mg cholesterol, 723mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 4g fiber), 33g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
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Pizza Rolls
Total Time
40 min
Servings
8 appetizers
From the Recipe Creator:
The cast-iron skillet browns these delicious rolls to perfection. My family can't get enough. Use whatever pizza toppings your family likes best. —Dorothy Smith, El Dorado, Arkansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 appetizer: 290 calories, 14g fat (5g saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 685mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 13g protein.
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Zesty Chicken Marinara
Total Time
4 hours 15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend served this delicious slow-cooker chicken pasta before a church social, and I fell in love with it. My husband says it's restaurant quality. —Linda Baumann, Richfield, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 730 calories, 21g fat (5g saturated fat), 160mg cholesterol, 929mg sodium, 61g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 5g fiber), 69g protein.
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Lasagna Rolls
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My Italian lasagna roll-ups are not complicated; they require only basic ingredients to assemble. Prepared spaghetti sauce helps me save time and get dinner on the table sooner. —Mary Lee Thomas, Logansport, Indiana
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 375 calories, 17g fat (8g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 538mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 27g protein.
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Rich Baked Spaghetti
Total Time
50 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It takes a little longer to make baked spaghetti, but the difference in taste, texture and richness is well worth the time. I serve this lasagna-style dish with a tossed green salad and breadsticks for a hearty, healthy meal. —Betty Rabe, Mahtomedi, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 343 calories, 10g fat (3g saturated fat), 87mg cholesterol, 616mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 3g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 medium-fat meat, 1 vegetable.
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Slow-Cooker Meatball Sandwiches
Total Time
3 hours 5 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Our approach to meatball sandwiches is a simple one: Cook the meatballs low and slow, load them into hoagie buns, and top them with provolone and pepperoncini. —Stacie Nicholls, Spring Creek, Nevada
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich: 526 calories, 20g fat (7g saturated fat), 93mg cholesterol, 1674mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 4g fiber), 32g protein.
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Vegetable Lasagna
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I cooked up this fresh lasagna for vegetarian customers at a local grocery store, where I work part-time. It's absolutely packed with veggies. —Sam Hunsaker, Lawrence, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 432 calories, 19g fat (7g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 857mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 7g fiber), 20g protein.
36/36
Pizza Monkey Bread
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I cannot throw a party without making this recipe. It's fast and easy, and my kids love it. —Courtney Wilson, Fresno, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 288 calories, 17g fat (5g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 723mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 1g fiber), 8g protein.
