Learn how to make your own Cherry Tomato Sauce from scratch using roasted cherry tomatoes and a short list of aromatics. This mouthwatering red sauce is perfect for pasta, pizza, and so much more. It’s also freezer-friendly, meaning you can double the recipe and use it year-round! 

If your garden gifted you with a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes, you have a few options: enjoy them fresh off the vine, toss them in a healthy chicken cobb salad, or use them up in a homemade cherry tomato pasta sauce!

32oz jar of homemade cherry tomato sauce sitting on a wooden cutting board with fresh herbs on the table.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my Multi-Purpose Tomato Sauce and Roasted Tomato Sauce, but making tomato sauce from cherry tomatoes is one of the best ways to preserve an abundance of cherry tomatoes.

It’s quick, insanely easy, and stores for months at a time. No canning or special equipment needed! It’s all done in one big pot and a blender. That said, I recommend making extra because this cherry tomato sauce is useful in far more than just pasta.

You won’t be able to get enough of the fresh flavors. They’re complex, balanced, and full-bodied despite the minimal spices and seasonings. The tomatoes are roasted first, intensifying their natural flavors and adding a rich, caramelized element to the sauce. There’s truly no other tomato sauce like it!

A large bowl of cherry tomatoes.

Ingredient for fresh cherry tomato sauce

  • Cherry tomatoes – They may not be the traditional choice (Roma and San Marzano are considered the best tomatoes for red sauce) but cherry tomatoes make for a fantastic sauce! Roasting them beforehand is the best way to go, as it enhances their flavor.
  • Onion and garlic – Otherwise known as the aromatics. They provide a baseline of savory flavor, bring balance, and tone down the sweetness from the tomatoes.
  • Spices and seasonings – Keep it simple with oregano, bay leaves, and red pepper flakes for a touch of heat. Feel free to add even more if you’d like, such as basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme, or marjoram.
Cherry tomatoes on a baking sheet.

How to make tomato sauce from cherry tomatoes

Making sauce with cherry tomatoes requires minimal effort. These step-by-step instructions will guide you through the process:

Step 1: Spread the whole, unpeeled cherry tomatoes in a single layer on a large sheet pan. Drizzle olive oil over the top and season with salt and pepper. Place them in the oven and roast until the skins soften and begin to burst. 

Step 2: Heat more olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot on the stove. Add the onions and garlic and saute until they’re soft and fragrant. 

Step 3: Season the aromatics with oregano, red pepper flakes, and bay leaves. Take the tomatoes out of the oven and add them to the pot.

Step 4: Let the roasted cherry tomato sauce cook on low heat. Afterward, discard the bay leaves and adjust the seasonings to taste. 

Step 5: Transfer the sauce to a large blender or use an immersion blender. Blend the sauce until it’s smooth and voila! The sauce is ready to be used right away or stored for later.

Roasted cherry tomatoes in a sheet pan. Fresh herbs on the table.

Tips to make the best cherry tomato tomato sauce

  • Use extra tomatoes – You don’t have to stick to cherry tomatoes. Instead, add the extra Roma or Heirloom tomatoes you already have at home. Cut them into quarters and roast them along with the others.
  • For a creamy finish – Stir ricotta, burrata, mozzarella, or a splash of heavy cream into the batch of sauce after it’s blended.
  • Craving more heat or a spicy arrabbiata sauce? Add up to 4 teaspoons of red pepper flakes.
  • Adjust the acidity – If your cherry tomato pasta sauce has bitter or acidic undertones, add a pinch of baking soda or sugar to help balance it out.

Serving suggestions

Tomato sauce with cherry tomatoes doesn’t have to only be used with pasta. Step outside the box and explore the almost endless ways to use it:

Don’t forget the crusty bread on the side to soak up every last drop of sauce!

Open jar of tomato sauce made with cherry tomatoes.

Frequently asked questions

Do cherry tomatoes need to be peeled for sauce?

Nope! Leaving the skins on your cherry tomatoes eliminates most of the work involved in other homemade tomato sauce recipes. In addition, the skins add elements of texture, flavor, and nutrition. 

Do cherry tomatoes have to be roasted for sauce?

Technically, no. Cherry tomatoes are naturally sweeter than other varieties and will yield a bright and flavorful tomato sauce regardless. However, roasting cherry tomatoes intensifies the sweet flavors and adds a rich, caramelized complexity that sets this sauce apart from the rest. 

How do you store cherry tomato sauce?

If you plan to use the sauce within the week, let it cool completely and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 to 7 days.

Can you freeze it?

Yes, the sauce freezes very well! Once it’s completely cool, transfer it to a freezer-safe container or resealable bag and freeze for 3 to 4 months. Let the batch thaw in the fridge before reheating.

Plate with spaghetti and cherry tomatoes and homemade cherry tomato sauce.

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tomato sauce with cherry tomatoes
5 from 3 votes

Cherry Tomato Sauce

by Silvia Dunnirvine
This Cherry Tomato Sauce is the best way to use up an abundance of cherry tomatoes. It’s easy to make from scratch, requires zero canning or special equipment, and has bold, fresh flavors!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 1 32oz Jar

Ingredients 

  • 3 cups cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 whole onion sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 – 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions 

  • place cherry tomatoes (whole) in a large sheet pan without overlapping. Drizzle with about 1/4 cup of olive oil, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bake at 400F degrees for 45 minutes.
  • In a large dutch oven or heavy pot add remaining oil. When oil is hot add in onions and garlic, sautéing until soften and fragrant but not browned. Add oregano, red pepper flakes, roasted cherry tomatoes and bay leaves. Cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed.
  • Remove bay leaves.
  • Transfer to a blender and process until sauce is creamy and there are no chunks left. Alternatively you can use an immersion blender.
  • Transfer sauce to a jar and store in the fridge for up to 1 week. Alternatively you can freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

If using whole tomatoes slice them in quarters.
Before blending the sauce put some roasted tomatoes aside to add to your final dish.

Tips to make the best tomato sauce

  • Use extra tomatoes – You don’t have to stick to cherry tomatoes. Instead, add the extra Roma or Heirloom tomatoes you already have at home. Cut them into quarters and roast them along with the others.
  • For a creamy finish – Stir ricotta, burrata, mozzarella, or a splash of heavy cream into the batch of sauce after it’s blended.
  • Craving more heat or a spicy arrabbiata sauce? Add up to 4 teaspoons of red pepper flakes.
  • Adjust the acidity – If your cherry tomato pasta sauce has bitter or acidic undertones, add a pinch of baking soda or sugar to help balance it out.

Nutrition

Calories: 1065kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 109g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 79g | Sodium: 71mg | Potassium: 1083mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 2547IU | Vitamin C: 106mg | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Keyword: Cherry Tomato Sauce, Pasta Sauce, Tomato Sauce
Course: Sauces
Cuisine: American
Like this? Leave a comment below!
Jar of tomato sauce made with cherry tomatoes. Fresh kitchen herbs.
Large plate of spaghetti with cherry tomatoes and parmesan cheese.

Hi! I’m Silvia.

My goal is to make cooking simple and enjoyable.

Garden in the Kitchen is full of easy and balanced recipes for busy families. Classics get a healthier twist with additions of veggies or alternative ingredients.

I hope my recipes will inspire you to cook more home meals and above all have fun in the kitchen!

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10 Comments

  1. We havenโ€™t tasted it yet and we added a few extra ingredients but the aroma is the best.. thank you for sharing your recipe

    1. Hi Liz, I am sure that’s possible, however I don’t have much experience with canning to offer any advice. I am sure if you look up canning process you will get guidance on how to do so. I usually freeze my sauces instead. Hope this helps!

  2. I followed this recipe exactly, but in the end it turned out to be a thick tomato paste and not a sauce. Iโ€™m thinking my onion was too large, and all the juice from my tomatoes leaked out and burned while roasting. Iโ€™d like to know if this is a common mistake

    1. Oh no! there should not have happened. The tomatoes should be juicy. You can always add a bit more water but I never needed to.