22 Easy and Delicious Meals Made with a Jar of Marinara Sauce
Marinara sauce is an amazing pantry staple AND cooking shortcut that can go far beyond spaghetti and meatballs! Not only is it easy, delicious and nutritious, but it’s also a fantastic way to add major flavor to meals in minimal time. Once I started adding marinara instead of diced tomatoes to my soups and chilis (I know! It sounds a bit weird), I’ve never looked back – you might not either!
Healthy Turkey Chili
This deliciously smoky ground turkey chili has mild heat and has amazing depth of flavor (thanks to my secret soup ingredient) that tastes like it’s been simmering all day, but in reality, it’s ready in just 30 minutes, making it a great weeknight dinner.
Get the recipe: Healthy Turkey Chili
Easy Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Everyone loves spaghetti night! This easy meat sauce recipe is on the table in just fifteen minutes, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights. Pair it with a quick salad or some garlic bread and dinner is done.
Get the recipe: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Cheesy Chicken Parmesan Sliders
These chicken Parm sliders feature layers of Hawaiian sweet rolls, crispy chicken tenders, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese for the cheesiest chicken sandwiches that the whole family will love. Better make enough for seconds!
Get the recipe: Cheesy Chicken Parmesan Sliders
Cheesy Lasagna Dip
This delicious cheesy lasagna is a hot appetizer that is sure to please any crowd. Ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, marinara, and sausage all come together for an incredibly yummy appetizer. Serve it with garlic bread crostinis for dipping.
Get the recipe: Cheesy Lasagna Dip
Easy Chicken Parmesan Pasta
This amazing easy dinner has all the flavors of your favorite chicken parmigiana with a lot less effort. Al dente pasta is topped with cheesy chicken and marinara for a comfort food dinner the whole family will love. Top it with some crispy bread crumbs and whip up a salad and dinner is done!
Get the recipe: Easy Chicken Parmesan Pasta
Chili Con Carne
Chili con Carne is the best meal to have simmering on your stove on a cold winter weekend, or any time you are looking forward to some hearty comfort food. It’s made with simple ingredients and spices that turn into a thick and rich stew with insane smoky flavor and super tender beef.
Get the recipe: Chili Con Carne
Easy Homemade Chili
Everyone needs an easy, basic chili recipe that they can pull out when they need. This chili has a deep flavor thanks to the addition of marinara sauce and doesn’t require hours on the stove to taste like it. Don’t forget your favorite chili toppings.
Get the recipe: Easy Homemade Chili
Chicken Taco Soup
Taco soup may be the last place you expect to find a jar of marinara sauce on the ingredient list but it really works! This soup is flavorful and healthy and uses simple ingredients to make a hearty dinner that’s perfect even for the busiest of weeknight dinners.
Get the recipe: Easy Chicken Taco Soup
Baked Ravioli Lasagna
When you are looking for a comfort food dinner the whole family will enjoy, but don’t have a lot of time to cook then this baked ravioli lasagna is for you. Ready for the oven in just ten minutes, and dinner will be on the table 30 minutes later.
Get the recipe: Baked Ravioli Lasagna
Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers
Sheet pan sausage and peppers is an incredibly easy and delicious meal that’s perfect for weeknights. Once they are cooked you can use them on top of pasta or make some delicious subs out of them.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers
Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders
Meatball sliders are always a hit with everyone, and they are so easy to make too. Meatballs, marinara sauce, melty cheese, and Hawaiian rolls are a combo that just can’t be beat!
Get the recipe: Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders
Easy Sausage and Lentil Soup
This sausage and lentil soup is made with pantry staples which means you always have what you need to make it on hand. Delicious, comforting, and healthy the whole family will love this tasty soup!
Get the recipe: Easy Sausage and Lentil Soup
Vegetarian Minestrone Soup
This minestrone soup is loaded with veggies and rich broth that gives it such a comforting flavor. This soup is healthy comfort food at it’s absolute best, try it and see for yourself!
Get the recipe: Vegetarian Minestrone Soup
Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Chili
If you are looking for a protein packed meal that will keep your family full, then this is the chili for you. It’s full of turkey, black beans, and quinoa for a whopping 25 grams of protein per serving, plus half of your daily fiber requirements, and it’s delicious!
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Chili
Pasta Fagioli Soup
This pasta fagioli soup has everything that you want in a hearty comforting soup. Pasta, Italian sausage, garbanzo beans, and of course marinara sauce to give it the rich, deep flavor you crave.
Get the recipe: Pasta Fagioli Soup
Gluten Free Meatballs
These gluten free meatballs are a delicious dump and go meal that the whole family will look forward to. These gluten free meatballs are made with almond meal, ground turkey, and marinara sauce and your slow cooker does most of the work for you!
Get the recipe: Gluten Free Meatballs
Creamy Spinach Noodles
Your family is going to LOVE this creamy pasta dish. This quick and easy recipe uses fresh spinach, spaghetti sauce, cheese, butter, and garlic to make the best simple dinner!
Get the recipe: Creamy Spinach Noodles
Super Deluxe Low FODMAP Baked Ziti
If you are looking for leftovers or just need a meal that will feed a crowd then this baked ziti recipe is for you. Pasta, sausage, ground meat, lots of cheese, and of course marinara sauce make for a rich and hearty dinner that you are going to love.
Get the recipe: Super Deluxe Low FODMAP Baked Ziti
Low FODMAP Sheet Pan Lasagna with Spicy Sausage & Spinach
If you are looking for lasagna flavor without all of those pesky time consuming layers this is the perfect lasagna recipe for you. Spinach, Italian sausage, pasta, marinara sauce, and of course plenty of cheese are all assembled on a sheet pan for an easy delicious lasagna you will love.
Get the recipe: Low FODMAP Sheet Pan Lasagna with Spicy Sausage & Spinach
Meatball Sub Casserole
If you like meatball subs, you are going to love this meatball sub casserole. Meatballs, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese are all combined together and baked until delicious. Once they are ready just put them in your sub rolls and serve!
Get the recipe: Meatball Sub Casserole
Italian Dunkers
This is a perfect, comfort food recipe when you are looking for something delicious but easy for dinner. Buttered garlic bread is toasted and then “dunked” into a meaty marinara sauce that you will love!
Get the recipe: Italian Dunkers
Gnocchi Marinara with Sausage and Peppers
Your family is going to love this tasty dish with flavorful sausage and peppers, and gnocchi. You will love that it is healthy, delicious, and can be on the dinner table in under 20 minutes!
Get the recipe: Gnocchi Marinara with Sausage and Peppers
Easy Pasta al Forno
This classic Italian dish is sure to impress, and quickly become a family favorite. This is a one pot meal, outside of cooking the pasta, and when it comes out of the oven with its bubbling cheese and al dente pasta the whole family will be running to the table.
Get the recipe: Easy Pasta al Forno
