Crushed Tomatoes Recipes

Crushed tomatoes are a pantry-friendly tomato ingredient made from peeled tomatoes that are crushed into a thick, spoonable mixture. They offer a balance of bright tomato flavor and rustic texture, making them ideal for recipes where you want body without the chunkiness of diced tomatoes or the smoothness of puree.

Use crushed tomatoes in marinara, pizza sauce, chili, shakshuka, tomato soup, curries, braised vegetables, and slow-simmered meat sauces. Their natural acidity helps cut through rich ingredients like olive oil, cheese, sausage, and cream, while their soft texture cooks down quickly into a cohesive sauce.

For the best flavor, simmer crushed tomatoes with aromatics such as garlic, onion, basil, oregano, or bay leaf. A pinch of sugar can soften sharp acidity, while a splash of olive oil or butter adds roundness and helps create a smoother, more restaurant-style finish.