If you have more than will fit comfortably in the pan, don't crowd it and sear the protein in batches instead While onions are caramelizing / protein is searing, heat another saucepan on the stove. Add 1 tbs of olive oil. I'm using crushed garlic as one of my supplemental flavors, so I'm adding about  tbs of it into the oil, plus my drained diced tomatoes with 3 sundried tomatoes (another supplemental flavor). Now I'm going to just let this pot of sauce simmer for about 5 minutes before I take it off the heat After the protein has seared on both sides, you can add supplemental ingredients like artichoke hearts, olives, dried fruits, chilies, to the pan Puree the tomato sauce with an immersion blender, and season to taste with salt, pepper, and your desired sweetener, which helps cut the acidity of the tomatoes Pour the sauce over the skillet. If you want to add cheese, now's the time to sprinkle some on. Bake for specified times below: Subscribe to Weekly Eats Free meal plans delivered to your inbox Search for: Hi There I'm Jess. As the founder of Cook Smarts, I'm on a mission to bring people back in the kitchen. Here you'll find the skills, tools, and confidence to help you live happier, simpler, and smarter in your kitchen. More . . .