Marinara is a simple, quick-cooking sauce made from either canned or fresh tomatoes, seasoned with basic ingredients like garlic and basil, resulting in a thin sauce.

In contrast, tomato sauce is made from tomato puree, includes additional ingredients such as carrots and bay leaf, and is cooked until thick, making it suitable for heartier dishes.

Tomato sauce, originating from a recipe by French chef Auguste Escoffier, often includes meat, animal fat or butter, and sometimes a roux, making it a rich and thick sauce.

In contrast, marinara sauce, dating back to the 16th century, has a looser recipe that doesn’t have meat, broth, or roux, resulting in a fresher and brighter flavor.

Tomato sauce is more savory than marinara sauce, and it’s best used in hearty dishes like lasagna, whereas marinara is great for various dishes and even works as a dipping sauce.