Making Roasted Garlic Sauce at home is a great way to dress up pasta, pizza, or spaghetti squash. This tomato based sauce is flavored with bright basil, sweet yellow onion, a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, and of course, roasted garlic.
![How to Make Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/d6d898c9-75dc-472a-805b-93ef438cf510.jpg)
Since the garlic takes around 30 minutes to roast, do that first. If you've never roasted garlic before - don't worry - it's a very simple process that takes only a few minutes of prep.
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Things You'll Need
Small oven-safe ramekins or a muffin tin
Aluminum foil
Large saucepan
Blender or food processor
One whole head of garlic
2 Tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 cup fresh basil, thinly sliced
Step 1
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Peel and discard any papery outer layers on the garlic bulb, leaving the actual skin on each individual clove intact. Using a sharp knife slice a 1/4 inch off the top of the cloves, or enough to leave each clove tip exposed.
![head of garlic](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/5d516fc3-9715-4c21-ab9b-c35130633781.jpg)
Step 2
Place the garlic bulb, cut side up, in a small ramekin or muffin tin. Drizzle the olive oil over the exposed garlic tips, then cover with aluminum foil. Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until cloves are soft enough to be easily pressed up and out of their skin.
![head of garlic in ramekin](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/0eb38465-7567-4a3c-a9e1-ae63652d2bb1.jpg)
Step 3
While the garlic roasts, prepare the tomato sauce base. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-heat. Add in the diced yellow onion and crushed red pepper; sauté, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, or until the onion is soft and translucent.
![onion and red pepper in pan](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/d2268afb-7caf-4764-a4b8-0d85ac232184.jpg)
Step 4
Add in the crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, sugar, Italian seasoning, and basil; cook on medium-low until roasted garlic is ready. Add in roasted garlic and cook an additional 5 minutes, then transfer the sauce to a blender or food processor and pulse smooth. Taste to test for seasoning, adding more salt, pepper, or basil as needed.
![tomato sauce in pan](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/61747111-f781-4d05-bfc5-60edf8b0f803.jpg)
![tomato sauce in blender](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/a612dc1d-531e-44a5-ac7c-a7192d37b7f2.jpg)
Step 5
Serve sauce warm.
![finished roasted garlic pasta sauce in pan](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/48857545-7652-4868-98ee-e61675cc1fa5.jpg)
Tip
Try serving this sauce with shredded spaghetti squash and mozzarella-stuffed meatballs.
![Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce served with shredded spaghetti squash and mozzarella-stuffed meatballs](https://img.ehowcdn.com/375/ppds/1ff64604-45d8-461d-bf4e-f7faa406b03b.jpg)