Best Italian-Style Canned Tomatoes

This Italian seasoned canned tomato recipe is a pantry essential for anyone who loves Italian cooking. Whether you’re using San Marzano tomatoes or garden-fresh picks, this recipe adds basil, oregano, and garlic to create the best canned tomatoes for Italian dishes like spaghetti sauce, marinara, and soups.

Recipe Inspiration

This past year, my tomato garden was nothing short of incredible. I have never grown so many tomatoes in my life—it was a dream come true! But with an abundance of juicy, vine-ripened tomatoes came the challenge of preserving them before they went to waste. {check out: How to Use Eggshells as Fertilizer for Healthier Tomato Plants}

So, I got busy in the kitchen, canning everything from spicy salsa to whole and diced tomatoes, experimenting with different blends and flavors. That’s when I decided to make these Italian seasoned canned tomatoes, and let me tell you—they’ve been a game changer! I love having canned tomatoes with herbs on hand because they make seasoning canned tomatoes for pasta sauce, soups, and stews so much easier.

What I love about this recipe is its versatility. Whenever I’m making homemade spaghetti sauce, soups, or even pizza sauce, these seasoned tomatoes cut my prep time in half. The rich flavors of basil, oregano, and garlic infuse every dish with authentic Italian goodness, making my home-cooked meals even more delicious.

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If you’ve ever found yourself with more tomatoes than you know what to do with, or if you just want a pantry staple that will save you time in the kitchen, this Italian seasoned canned tomato recipe is for you!

Best Ingredients for Italian-Style Canned Tomatoes

• tomatoes – I used a blend of homegrown tomato varieties: Cherokee Purple, Roma and Brandywine
• dried basil
• dried thyme
• dried oregano
• dried rosemary
• dried sage
• garlic powder
• hot pepper flakes
• lemon juice

Essential Equipment for Canning Tomatoes at Home

• glass canning jars
• canning lids and rings
• water bath canner
• essential canning tools (jar lifter, funnel, ladle, etc.)

Prep The Ingredients

This recipe calls for mostly dried spices and herbs, so there’s not much in the way of prepping! However, I do recommend that you blanch the tomatoes before canning them as removing the tomato skin helps reduce bacteria.

• 💡 Pro Tip: How to Blanch Tomatoes for Canning: If you’re new to canning tomatoes, blanching is an essential step to remove the skins easily. Bring a large pot of boiling water to a rolling boil, then drop in whole tomatoes for 30-60 seconds until the skins begin to loosen. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the tomatoes into cold water or an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Once cooled, the skins will slide right off, making them perfect for salsa canning recipes!

Fresh tomatoes have varying pH levels that’s why it’s important to follow a tested recipe from a trusted source. I am using the recipe for Italian Spice Blend tomatoes from the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving, to ensure proper preservation. Using bottled lemon juice, citric acid, vinegar helps maintain the right acidity level, which is critical for safety reasons when using a water bath canner.

Fill The Jars

• Prepare the glass canning jars and lids according to best canning practices
• Fill each jar with 2 1/4 tsp of the Italian spice blend and 1 tbs lemon juice
• Fill the jars with tomatoes leaving 1/2″ headspace and remove the air bubbles
• Clean jar rims and add lid and metal rings

Processing Time

• Place jars on canning rack in water bath canner, jars must be covered by 1″ water
• Process jars in water bath for 35 minutes

How to Store & Use Canned Tomatoes for Spaghetti Sauce & More

Once the hot jars have cooled to room temperature, remove the rings from the sealed jars and store them in a dark place for the best shelf life. If a jar didn’t seal properly, refrigerate and enjoy the fresh salsa within a week. {check out my Creepy Stairwell Closet Turned Pantry Food Storage}

Pasta Sauce

I love using these Italian-seasoned tomatoes in my pasta sauce. I simply open a jar and add them to my stockpot with ground Italian sausage, extra diced tomatoes, and sauce, creating a rich, flavorful spaghetti sauce every time!

Let me know how you would use these Italian seasoned canned tomatoes in the comments!

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