Marinara is a simple, yet flavorful, sauce made with tomatoes, herbs, and garlic. It’s wonderfully versatile and super tasty. There are so many scrumptious meals you can make with this miracle sauce. From luscious pasta dishes to slow-cooked bakes, every single one is delish. Of course, picking up a jar of pre-made sauce is great for saving time. But if you can, try making your own! The flavor is unmatched. So, get your marinara sauce prepped and ready. It’s time to whip up these recipes!
1. Baked Spaghetti
Cheesy and baked to perfection, this baked spaghetti is the ultimate comfort food. This recipe is a lifesaver when you need dinner on the table in a flash. It’s perfect for those busy weeknights and it’s absolutely delicious to boot. Whip up a classic spaghetti and add a little extra cheese to the top. Then, bake it until toasty perfection. Easy-peasy!
2. Seafood Spaghetti Marinara
Seafood lovers are going to fall in love with this mouthwatering spaghetti dish! It’s chock-full of shrimp, calamari, fish, and mussels. And the best part is, it only takes 20 minutes to make! With how delicious it tastes; you’d never believe it. This is definitely a dish that’ll impress. Pro tip: Sear your seafood in the pan before making your pasta sauce! That way, the marinara absorbs all those delicious seafood flavors. Yum!
3. Baked Chicken Parm Sliders
These baked chicken parm sliders are the perfect saucy finger food. Serve them at your next game night, they’re a guaranteed hit. Hawaiian sweet rolls, slathered with garlic butter, are stuffed with shredded chicken, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Bake them until they’re golden and gobble them up, fast! Cheesy, meaty, and jam-packed with an irresistible, sweet marinara sauce. Need I say more?
4. Meatball Poppers with Simple Marinara Sauce
If you’re on the hunt for the perfect appetizer, these meatball poppers always go down a treat! They’re perfect for the holidays and entertaining. Your guests can just pick one (or three) up with the stick and gobble them up as they hang by the Christmas tree. Portable, and covered in scrumptious marinara sauce, they’re a guaranteed hit.
5. Stuffed Shells
Love pasta? Be prepared to fall head over heels for these stuffed shells! They’re saucy, cheesy, and pretty much irresistible. Be sure to stuff your shells to the brim with as much of that ricotta, spinach, and parmesan filling as you can. It’s worth every bite. Smother the shells with plenty of marinara sauce and cover the top with tons of mozzarella. It’s cheese heaven.
6. Pulled Pork Stuffed Shells
These pulled pork stuffed shells make for the perfect comfort dish. They’re cheesy, meaty, and covered in delicious marinara sauce. There’s nothing like a cheesy, comforting pasta dish to satisfy your cozy cravings. These stuffed pasta shells are brimming with so much flavor. Serve them up with a fresh, green salad and some garlic bread for the perfect weeknight meal.
7. Amazing No-Noodle Zucchini Lasagna
Trying to cut back on carbs? This no-noodle zucchini lasagna is just the ticket. Cheesy, meaty, and super saucy, this dish is the perfect way to scratch your carb cravings. And you don’t have to break your diet! The baked zucchini has a similar texture to the pasta sheets normally used in lasagna. They also had a wonderful, fresh flavor to each bite. Delish!
8. Meatball Baked Ziti
This baked ziti dish is absolutely chock full of tasty goodness. It’s loaded with meatballs, burrata cheese, and a delicious marinara sauce made with red wine. Homemade meatballs truly take this dish to the next level. You can pack in so much more flavor with each meaty bite. If you’re short of time, you can absolutely substitute store-bought meatballs instead. Easy-to-make dishes always taste better, right?
9. Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
Make every night pizza night with these super easy-to-make air fryer pizza rolls! They can be ready in just 15 minutes. This makes them perfect for speedy weekdays or when you’re in the mood for a quick and easy snack. And the best part is, you can use any toppings you like! Throw on some pepperoni, ham, pineapple, or even some cooked veggies. Yum!
10. Eggplant Rollatini
If you love lasagna flavors, you’re going to adore this eggplant rollatini. Roasted eggplant sheets are stuffed with spinach filling, rolled up, and topped with marinara and cheese. Is anybody else drooling? Plus, it’s absolutely chock full of veggies. Making this dish healthy, gluten-free, and low-carb, too. Perfection!
11. Cheesy Manicotti
This cheesy manicotti dish makes for the perfect weeknight dinner. Manicotti noodles are stuffed with a cheesy mixture and smothered in marinara sauce. Filling the manicotti can be a little tricky. But once you get the hang of it, it’s a breeze and totally worth the extra effort. Bake them for 50 minutes and serve them with a fresh, garden salad. This dish is guaranteed to be a hit with the whole family.
12. Italian Sloppy Joes
The kids will absolutely love these Italian sloppy Joes. They’re the perfect family-friendly meal, and only take 30 minutes to make! These sandwiches are loaded with meaty and saucy goodness. That meaty mixture is to die for. And the sloppy, messiness is half the fun of gobbling them up! Top that meaty mixture with mozzarella cheese and pile it into some toasted garlic buns. Now, that’s the perfect sandwich.
13. Pizza Casserole
On the lookout for more kid-friendly recipes? This pizza casserole is guaranteed to be a treat for the whole family. This is a great recipe to sneak in some extra veggies. Just finely chop some zucchini or shred a little carrot and throw it into the marinara sauce. Load up this casserole with all your favorite pizza toppings. From pepperoni to bell peppers, it’s all delish!
14. Baked Ziti with Roasted Vegetables
If you’re looking to get more veggies into your diet, try out this baked ziti with roasted vegetables! This is such a tasty way to get in your five a day. Even carnivores will love meatless ziti when it tastes this good. Now, this recipe uses roasted cauliflower, red bell pepper, and yellow onion. But as long as they roast well, you can use whatever veggies you like!
15. Eggplant Parmesan
This eggplant parmesan is bound to become one of your new favorite baked dishes. To make this dish extra flavorful, try and make your own marinara sauce if you can! Also, throw in a generous pinch of oregano and thyme to the eggplant’s Parmesan and panko coating. Smother the crisp, sliced eggplant with lots of marinara sauce and fresh mozzarella. Has anything sounded more perfect?
16. Baked Ziti with Sausage and Bechamel
Looking to feed a crowd? This baked ziti with sausage and bechamel is the perfect dish to share! Making homemade bechamel is way easier than you might think. You just need four ingredients and 5 minutes. Make things easy on yourself and use a store-bought marinara sauce in this recipe. It really takes the pressure off and lets the bechamel shine!
17. Sausage & Pepper Sandwiches
These sausage and pepper sandwiches are comfort food in a roll. They’re portable, irresistible, and oh-so saucy! The flavor and texture combo in this sandwich is just chef’s kiss. The slight crunch of the peppers and the way the sauce soaks into the bread, is enough to make you drool. These saucy sandwiches make for the perfect game-night snack. The whole family will go nuts over them.
18. Mostaccioli
A baked pasta dish is always a safe bet for dinner. And this mostaccioli is sure to become one of your favorites! All you have to do is toss cooked pasta with a delicious, meaty, marinara sauce. Then, top everything with ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. Bake, and enjoy! Mostaccioli is cheesy, hearty, and super easy to whip up. What more could you possibly want?
19. Lasagna Fritta
Lasagna lovers, you need to give this lasagna fritta a try! This Olive Garden copycat dish is essentially a breaded and deep-fried lasagna! Who knew lasagna could be even tastier? The delicious blend of marinara and white sauce is almost too good to be true. And when that’s paired with the crispy texture of the lasagna fritta, this dish becomes a thing of beauty.
20. Breaded Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara Sauce
A party isn’t complete without a big plate of mozzarella sticks! Serve them with marinara sauce for the perfect appetizer. These breaded mozzarella sticks are crisp on the outside and ooey-gooey on the inside. It’s all about that cheese pull! Dip them into some warm marinara sauce for the perfect bite. Your guests won’t be able to resist them.
21. Italian Chicken Burgers
These Italian chicken burgers are like a cross between juicy burgers and chicken parm. Easy-to-make chicken patties are cooked in marinara sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese. They might be a little messy to eat but it’s totally worth it. Just don’t wear white while you gobble one up!
22. Italian Sausage Pizza
Planning a pizza night? Whip up this Italian sausage pizza! It’s saucy, meaty, cheesy, and downright delicious. You can load up this pizza with all kinds of amazing toppings. Try caramelized onions, fennel, roasted red peppers, and lots of fresh mozzarella cheese. But be warned! It’s so tasty, you might not want to share.
23. Pasta alla Norma
Take your tastebuds on a trip to Sicily! This pasta alla Norma tastes just like a dish you’d cook up in a true Italian kitchen. This is one of the most satisfying vegetarian dishes there is. The delicious marinara sauce is loaded with roasted eggplant and lots of fresh basil. Stir in your cooked rigatoni and top with a little extra basil. It’s perfect!
24. Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
Cheese fanatics are going to lose their minds over this five-cheese ziti al forno! It’s a true cheese feast. This Olive Garden copycat tastes just as good as the restaurant dish. It’s made with marinara, alfredo, mozzarella, fontina, Romano, and parmesan cheese. Bake everything together with a crispy panko topping, and boom! Dinner is served.
25. Easy Chicken Cacciatore
This chicken cacciatore may look fancy but it’s actually super easy to prepare. It only takes 45 minutes from start to finish. In Italian cuisine, alla cacciatora refers to a meal prepared “hunter-style.” That’s basically a mix of tomatoes, onions, herbs, bell pepper, and wine. Pretty cool, right? Have a date night coming up? Treat your special someone to this fabulous dish and impress them with your cacciatore knowledge! Click on a star to rate it!
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