10+ Recipes with Marinara Sauce: Delicious Dishes You’ll Love

Marinara sauce is a versatile ingredient that can turn a simple meal into something special. Many kitchens love using marinara because you can create a variety of delicious dishes with it. Whether you’re in the mood for pasta, pizza, or something a little different, marinara sauce offers endless possibilities.

With just a jar of marinara, you can whip up quick weeknight dinners or impress guests with flavorful recipes. Discover how this classic sauce can enhance your cooking and bring comfort to your table.

1) Florentine Spaghetti Bake

Florentine Spaghetti Bake is a delicious and comforting dish. It combines pasta, marinara sauce, and spinach, making it a great option for a family meal. The flavors blend well together, and it’s easy to make.

Start by cooking the spaghetti according to the package instructions. While the pasta cooks, brown some Italian sausage in a pan. You can add chopped onions and garlic for extra flavor. Once everything is ready, mix it all together with marinara sauce and spinach.

Pour the mixture into a baking dish and top it with ricotta cheese. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces uncooked spaghetti
• 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
• 3 cups spinach
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook spaghetti as directed on the package.
2. In a pan, heat olive oil and add sausage, onions, and garlic. Cook until browned.
3. Mix cooked spaghetti, sausage, marinara sauce, and spinach.
4. Transfer to a baking dish and top with ricotta cheese.
5. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes. Enjoy!

2) Chicken Parm Sliders

Chicken parm sliders are a fun and tasty way to enjoy your favorite flavors. You can easily make this dish with crispy chicken, marinara sauce, and melted cheese. They’re perfect for parties or a cozy family dinner.

To start, gather your ingredients. You will need slider rolls, cooked chicken, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese. You can use rotisserie chicken to save time.

Ingredients

• Slider rolls
• Cooked chicken breast, shredded
• Marinara sauce
• Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Parmesan cheese, grated

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cut the slider rolls in half and place the bottom halves in a baking dish.
3. Layer the shredded chicken on the rolls.
4. Top with marinara sauce and sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.
5. Cover with the top halves of the rolls.
6. Bake for about 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

3) Cocktail Meatballs

Cocktail meatballs are a fun and easy dish to make. They are perfect for parties or a casual family dinner. You can serve them as a snack or an appetizer.

To prepare cocktail meatballs, you usually mix ground meat with breadcrumbs and spices. They cook in a flavorful tomato sauce, which adds a delicious touch. You don’t even need to brown the meat first, making this recipe quick and simple.

These meatballs are packed with flavor. You can enjoy them with toothpicks for easy serving.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef or turkey
• 1 cup (100 grams) breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon (5 grams) garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon (5 grams) onion powder
• 1 can (15 ounces) (425 grams) crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon (5 grams) dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. In a bowl, mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Form the mixture into small meatballs.
4. Place them on a baking sheet.
5. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
6. While baking, heat crushed tomatoes with oregano in a saucepan.
7. When meatballs are done, combine them with the sauce and serve warm.

4) Pepperoni Focaccia

Pepperoni focaccia is a delicious twist on traditional focaccia bread. It combines fluffy dough with tangy marinara sauce and pepperoni for a tasty snack or meal.

You can enjoy this bread warm, so it’s great for parties or family gatherings. The blend of melted cheese and crispy pepperoni makes it a crowd-pleaser.

To make this, you’ll need basic ingredients like flour, yeast, and of course, pepperoni. It’s easy to prepare, and you’ll love the aroma as it bakes.

Ingredients

• 600g white bread flour
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 400ml warm water
• 200ml marinara sauce
• 200g mozzarella cheese
• 100g pepperoni slices
• Olive oil for drizzling

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix flour, yeast, and salt in a bowl.
2. Add warm water and stir to form dough.
3. Knead until smooth, then let it rise for about an hour.
4. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
5. Roll out the dough onto a baking sheet.
6. Spread marinara sauce on top.
7. Add mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.
9. Allow to cool slightly before slicing. Enjoy!

5) Meatball Sandwiches

Meatball sandwiches are a delicious way to enjoy marinara sauce. You can use homemade meatballs or store-bought ones for convenience.

Start with a toasted sub roll or baguette. Add your cooked meatballs, then pour on plenty of marinara sauce.

Top it off with melted cheese, like provolone or mozzarella, for extra flavor. Bake in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until the cheese is bubbly.

Enjoy your tasty meatball sandwich with a side of chips or a salad!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground meat (beef, turkey, or chicken)
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 4 sub rolls
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella or provolone cheese

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix ground meat, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and egg in a bowl.
3. Form the mixture into meatballs and cook until browned.
4. Place meatballs in sub rolls and top with marinara sauce.
5. Add cheese on top and bake for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy!

6) Vegetable and Bean Soup with Marinara

This Vegetable and Bean Soup with marinara sauce is a quick and easy meal. It’s perfect for busy days when you want something healthy and satisfying. You can customize the vegetables based on what you have on hand.

Start by heating your favorite marinara sauce in a pot. Add chopped vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, and zucchini. You can also include canned beans for extra protein.

Let everything simmer until the veggies are tender. This usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Season with salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs for more flavor. Serve warm, and enjoy a delicious bowl of soup!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 cup chopped vegetables (carrots, bell peppers, zucchini)
• 1 can (15 oz) beans (like kidney or cannellini), rinsed
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh herbs (like basil or parsley) for garnish

Cooking Instructions:

1. Heat the marinara sauce in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add the chopped vegetables and beans.
3. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until veggies are tender.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Garnish with fresh herbs before serving.

7) Pizza Margherita

Pizza Margherita is a classic dish that is simple yet delicious. This pizza features a thin crust topped with marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil.

To make this pizza, start with your favorite pizza dough. Roll it out and place it on a baking sheet or pizza stone. Spread a layer of marinara sauce over the base.

Add slices of fresh mozzarella evenly on top. Sprinkle some salt and drizzle olive oil for extra flavor. Finally, add torn basil leaves for a fresh touch.

Bake in a preheated oven at 475°F (245°C) until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling.

Ingredients

• Pizza dough
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup marinara sauce
• 4 ounces fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
• Salt
• Olive oil
• Fresh basil leaves

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 475°F (245°C).
2. Roll out the pizza dough and place it on a baking sheet.
3. Spread marinara sauce over the dough.
4. Add slices of mozzarella.
5. Sprinkle salt and drizzle olive oil.
6. Top with torn basil leaves.
7. Bake for 10-15 minutes until golden.

8) Easy Eggplant Parmesan

Easy Eggplant Parmesan is a delicious way to enjoy this vegetable. You’ll love the crispy, breaded eggplant slices layered with rich marinara sauce and gooey cheese. It’s perfect for a comforting meal.

To make it, start by slicing the eggplant and breading each piece. Then, fry or bake them until they are golden. Layer the eggplant in a dish with marinara sauce and mozzarella or parmesan cheese.

Bake it in the oven at 375°F (190°C) until everything is bubbly and warm. This dish is great served with pasta or fresh salad.

Ingredients

• 1 large eggplant
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• Olive oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Slice the eggplant into rounds.
3. Dip eggplant slices in beaten eggs, then coat with breadcrumbs.
4. Fry or bake until golden brown.
5. In a baking dish, layer marinara, eggplant, and cheese.
6. Repeat layers and top with cheese.
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly.

9) Baked Ziti with Marinara

Baked ziti is a classic dish that combines pasta, marinara sauce, and cheese. It’s perfect for a comforting family meal. Plus, it’s easy to make!

Start by cooking your ziti pasta until it’s al dente. Then, drain the pasta and mix it with marinara sauce. You can find good marinara sauce recipes like this one from Love and Lemons.

Next, layer the pasta with ricotta and mozzarella cheese in a baking dish. You can also add Parmesan cheese for extra flavor. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 30 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces ziti pasta
• 4 cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook ziti pasta until al dente.
3. Drain and mix with marinara sauce.
4. Layer pasta, ricotta, and mozzarella in a baking dish.
5. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
6. Bake for 30 minutes until cheese is bubbly.

10) Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Parmesan is a delicious dish that combines crispy breaded chicken with marinara sauce and melted cheese. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.

To make this dish, start by preparing breaded chicken breasts. Pan-fry them until golden brown. Then, layer marinara sauce over the chicken, followed by mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

Bake the chicken at 425°F (220°C) for about 15 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the cheese is bubbly and golden.

Serve your Chicken Parmesan with pasta, a side salad, or some crusty bread for a complete meal. Enjoy the warm flavors and cheesy goodness!

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
3. Dip each chicken breast in egg, then coat with breadcrumbs.
4. Pan-fry the chicken in olive oil until golden brown.
5. Place chicken in a baking dish.
6. Spoon marinara sauce over each piece.
7. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
8. Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.