After learning about all the added sugar in jarred pasta sauce a long while back, I really wanted to make the change to homemade sauces. Even though everyone seemed to rave that they were so easy to make, I couldn’t find one that I really liked or that was easy enough for me.
Moving to Brazil really threw my quest into overdrive because the canned pasta sauces here are not to my liking. They leave an aftertaste that is not appetizing at all. I finally gave up on them a few weeks ago.
The main problem I was having was that canned tomatoes were no where to be found. Seriously, I couldn’t find them anywhere. People kept telling me they had them in larger cities, but our stores here only had those not-so-tasty sauces.
To my delight about a month ago I spotted some on the bottom shelf. Grocery shopping here is like that. Something non-existent will randomly show up. Then you better stock up because it is sure to be gone again in a month. Quite frustrating when you are trying to plan meals ahead of time.
So I started throwing my own sauce together with canned tomatoes that I diced up myself. I’m really happy with the results.
Last weekend my husband said he had a craving for chicken parmesan so I decided to try an easy skillet version. I was surprised that it turned out so well. Not that this dish is incredibly hard to make, but it had been a really long while since I’d put it together. With my new sauce I find it to be even better.
Easy Pasta Sauce
One can of whole tomatoes, diced with juice
2 tbsp tomato sauce or paste (what I get here is like a mix between the two)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
¼ tsp crushed red pepper
Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
Skillet Chicken Parmesan
About 6 very thinly sliced chicken breast pieces, or chicken cutlets 
1 egg
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
½ tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Tomato Sauce
¾ cup shredded cheese (I used a combo of parmesan and smoked provolone)
In a bowl beat the egg a bit. In another bowl add the bread crumbs and mix in the oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Dip each piece of chicken in the egg and then the bread crumbs. Place into a skillet coated with olive oil until nicely browned and cooked through.
Top chicken with pasta sauce and let simmer 2 to 3 minutes. Top with cheese while still hot and allow it to melt before serving. Makes 3 servings without pasta and 4 servings with pasta.
Do you have a favorite pasta sauce recipe? If so, I’d love to have the link or hear about it. My next step will be putting in the time to make it with fresh tomatoes.
thank you for this. I have never made homemade sauce but would love to! Josh doesn’t like tomato chunks, so I will have to wait until we move into the house and have our blender/magic bullet again. I def book marking this!
I love your sauce recipe and the chicken looks amazing!
NOTHING beats homemade pasta sauce – yum! :0)
My mouth is drooling at your chicken parm picture! I’m always on the look out for good pasta sauce recipes. I’ll give yours a try!
Sounds good! I use a Giada recipe that calls for a massive can of crushed tomatoes (kind of sweet on their own) plus sauteed ground turkey, onions, carrots and celery. Add a little olive oil, spices, S&P and a splash of basalmic vinegar, and you’re good to go!
I LOVE chicken parm and yours looks great.
Oh, I’m glad you found canned tomatoes, who knew they would be hard to find. I made a sauce recently & added roasted peppers too it, yum was it good.
Homemade sauce can be sooo easy to make (provided canned tomatoes are available!). Probably the simplest recipe? Saute chopped onions and garlic. Add can of crushed tomatoes (I like Eden brand). That’s it! It’s too easy NOT to make 🙂
wow that chicken looks amazing. I’m for sure gonna try that!
Don’t hate me. Whole Foods Roasted Vegetable Pasta Sauce is FABULOUS! Even as a base! I am TOTALLY simple with mine when it’s homemade though! TONS of Basil and Roasted Garlic is a MUST… Obvi Carrots, Onions, Celery, Tomatoes… RED WINE makes Amazing things happen in Tomato Sauce, as does Balsamic Vinegar. REAL, PURE, AGED. PERF. I do it “verbatim”… NAMEAN?
Making your own pasta sauce is always fun. That meal looks really tasty!
Thanks for all the great ideas!
The additions of balsamic, roasted red peppers and/or wine sound very tasty. I may give that a try.
blake – Thanks for stopping by with your comment. Got your follow on twitter and hit you back. Like your blog.
This looks simple and easy – and I’m allll about making my own sauces.
-DTW
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