36 Recipes That Start with a Jar of Marinara Sauce

Read Time: 16 mins

36 Recipes That Start with a Jar of Marinara Sauce2/36 Chicken Parm Sliders 27 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chicken Parm Sliders Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 1 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Sliders are the perfect finger food for any get-together, and this flavorful chicken Parmesan version won’t disappoint. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado Nutrition Facts: 1 slider: 428 calories, 26g fat (12g saturated fat), 69mg cholesterol, 843mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 3g fiber), 18g protein. Make your own marinara with our guide to making pasta sauce. 3/36 Cocktail Meatballs 21

You won’t believe how easy these holiday appetizers are to make

Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Holiday Appetizer Meatballs Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings about 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These beefy meatballs are a perennial favorite at our holiday parties. You won’t believe how easy these holiday appetizers are to make. —Pat Waymire, Yellow Springs, Ohio Nutrition Facts: 2 each: 84 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 29mg cholesterol, 245mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 0 fiber), 6g protein. 4/36 Pepperoni Focaccia Bread Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe

You will love the smell of it baking—it’s hard to wait for it to be done!

From the Recipe Creator: This focaccia bread recipe is perfect to serve with a pasta dinner, either as an appetizer or sliced for sandwiches. You will love the smell of it baking—it’s hard to wait for it to be done! I like to add some thinly sliced plum tomatoes and fresh basil on top. — Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 339 calories, 18g fat (6g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 580mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 12g protein. Want more flavor? Here’s how to upgrade jarred pasta sauce. 5/36 Stuffed Pasta Shells 19 Reviews Test Kitchen

6/36 Pepperoni Calzone 13 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Quick

Approved Stuffed Pasta Shells Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These savory shells never fail to make a big impression, even though the recipe is very easy. One or two of these shells makes a great individual serving at a potluck, so a single batch goes a long way. —Jena Coffey, St. Louis, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 314 calories, 13g fat (7g saturated fat), 44mg cholesterol, 576mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 3g fiber), 18g protein. 6/36 Pepperoni Calzone 13 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Quick

Pepperoni Calzones Recipe photo by Diana Chistruga for Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This calzone recipe takes the Italian favorite to the next level with Parmesan and herbs sprinkled on top. —Shannon Roum, Waukesha, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 calzone: 540 calories, 23g fat (8g saturated fat), 36mg cholesterol, 1573mg sodium, 59g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 5g fiber), 21g protein. 7/36 Lasagna Casserole 91 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Lasagna Casserole Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the

Recipe Creator: While growing up, I always wanted this meal on my birthday

Recipe Creator: While growing up, I always wanted this meal on my birthday. Mother made the sauce from scratch, but now I use store-bought spaghetti sauce to save time. Replace the ground beef with Italian sausage if you want more spice. —Deb Morrison, Skiatook, Oklahoma Nutrition Facts: 1 each: 667 calories, 30g fat (14g saturated fat), 157mg cholesterol, 1209mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 4g fiber), 44g protein. 8/36 Air-Fryer Pizza Puffs 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Air-Fryer Pizza Puffs Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 20 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

I love pizza in any form so it seemed only logical to turn my pizza love into an appetizer. These little bundles can be made ahead of time and chilled until you’re ready to pop them into the air fryer. —Vivi Taylor, Middleburg, Florida Nutrition Facts: 1 pizza puff: 120 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 189mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 5g protein. 9/36 Manicotti 16 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Cheese Manicotti Recipe photo by Julia Hartbeck for Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 25 min Servings 7 servings Go to Recipe From the

My grandma absolutely loves Italian food, so I decided to make a twist

Recipe Creator: This is the first meal I ever cooked for my husband and all these years later, he still enjoys every bite. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas Nutrition Facts: 2 stuffed manicotti: 361 calories, 13g fat (6g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 1124mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 4g fiber), 19g protein. 10/36 Italian Sausage Sloppy Joes Test Kitchen Approved Italian Sausage Sloppy Joes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 4 hours 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My grandma absolutely loves Italian food, so I decided to make a twist

on classic sloppy joe sandwiches just for her

on classic sloppy joe sandwiches just for her. The mozzarella and tomato sauce are classic, and red peppers make it fun. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York Nutrition Facts: 1 sandwich: 661 calories, 35g fat (14g saturated fat), 121mg cholesterol, 1231mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 3g fiber), 42g protein. 11/36 Fire-Roasted Ziti with Sausage 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We punch up our pasta with smoked sausage and fire-roasted tomato sauce. It’s an easy recipe to switch up—use whatever noodles and spaghetti sauce are in

your pantry

your pantry. —Jean Komlos, Plymouth, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1-1/4 cups (calculated without optional toppings): 463 calories, 23g fat (11g saturated fat), 66mg cholesterol, 1634mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 3g fiber), 23g protein. 12/36 Italian Sausage Sandwich 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Quick Italian Sausage Sandwiches Recipe photo by Christine Ma for Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For a casual but hearty meal, try these saucy subs created by our Test Kitchen. Full of traditional Italian flavor, these sandwiches are a snap to make. Nutrition Facts: 1 each:

This tasty mostaccioli is meatball magic

552 calories, 28g fat (8g saturated fat), 50mg cholesterol, 1532mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 4g fiber), 24g protein. 13/36 Three-Cheese Meatball Mostaccioli 17 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Three-Cheese Meatball Mostaccioli Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When my husband travels for work, I make a special dinner for my kids to keep their minds off missing Daddy. This tasty mostaccioli is meatball magic. —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1-1/3 cups: 541 calories, 23g fat (11g saturated fat), 105mg cholesterol, 1335mg sodium, 55g

carbohydrate (13g sugars, 5g fiber), 34g protein

carbohydrate (13g sugars, 5g fiber), 34g protein. 14/36 Fried Lasagna 3 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 55 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: One of my favorite dishes at Olive Garden is their fried lasagna. On a whim, I tried to recreate it at home. After a few tries, I think I got it pretty close to the original. —Jolene Martinelli, Fremont, New Hampshire Nutrition Facts: 2 lasagna rolls: 876 calories, 54g fat (19g saturated fat), 195mg cholesterol, 1011mg sodium, 61g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 4g fiber), 37g protein. 15/36 Chicken Parmesan Burgers

Fresh basil adds even more flavor if you’d like

10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chicken Parmesan Burgers Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A restaurant-quality burger that’s topped with marinara and loaded with cheese—what’s not to love? Fresh basil adds even more flavor if you’d like. —Brooke Petras, Alpine, California Nutrition Facts: 1 burger: 603 calories, 33g fat (10g saturated fat), 108mg cholesterol, 1275mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 3g fiber), 38g protein. 16/36 Chicken Pesto Meatballs 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe

They’re short on ingredients, but packed with flavor

From the Recipe Creator: These tender, pesto-stuffed meatballs get gobbled up in our house. They’re short on ingredients, but packed with flavor. I always make a double batch, freezing the other half for a busy night. —Ally Billhorn, Wilton, Iowa Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup meatball mixture with 1 cup spaghetti: 422 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 85mg cholesterol, 706mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 7g fiber), 32g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 starch, 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat. 17/36 Grilled Sausage-Basil Pizzas 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe

Let everybody go crazy with the toppings

Creator: We love basil recipes, and these easy little pizzas are a wonderful change of pace from the classic cookout menu. Let everybody go crazy with the toppings. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida Nutrition Facts: 1 pizza: 808 calories, 56g fat (19g saturated fat), 112mg cholesterol, 1996mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 3g fiber), 34g protein. 18/36 Five-Cheese Ziti al Forno 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Five-Cheese Ziti al Forno Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: After having the five-cheese ziti at Olive Garden, I tried

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