Jazz up pasta?

Try sauteing some garlic in olive oil, add the sauce and a good dosage of red wine. If you have cured olives that would be great too. Simmer for a while, like 30 min (the longer the better). It will be very fragrant and moody.

I saute some onion and garlic in olive oil and then add in the jar of sauce and some chopped fresh or canned tomatoes.

For a more sturdy sauce mushroom walnut bolognese is great- saute the onion and garlic, add 8oz chopped mushrooms and cook til they release all liquid and are half original size (maybe 10min). Add whatever spices, some thyme, salt and black pepper are good basics. Add the jar of basic marinara sauce and about one cup of finely chopped walnuts. Maybe a splash of water if it’s too thick.
Let it simmer together til it’s the consistency you like. Taste and add salt if needed or a splash of red wine vinegar to brighten it up.
Great on basic pasta or something simple like baked spaghetti squash or polenta

I add capers and olives with a dash of hot pepper flakes.
BB💐

Step one, forget the jar sauce. Why not make cacio e pepe?: https://food52.com/recipes/34609-cacio-e-pepe another option is simply garlic & oil and you can add any vegetable you have handy (charred broccoli & lemon maybe? ) . saute some sliced garlic over a low flame till golden , add some hot pepper flakes to taste and your done. SO many options that are better than jar sauce and almost as easy.

Hi Kris - take a look at this list, I think you might find it helpful drumming up new ideas:

https://food52.com/blog/22236-how-to-make-store-bought-tomato-sauce-much-better

I like to add fresh spinach and sneak in tofu

Add some ingredients to your tomato sauce to evoke Sicily...capers, raisins, pine nuts, some fresh garlic & onion (if not already in the sauce, or if you like more).
If you eat fish /or eggs, supplement with sardines anchovies and/or Parmesan (note, some Italians don't put cheese on dishes with fish).
For an Indian subcontinent direction, doctor the sauce to make it like makhani (butter sauce): add garam masala or a curry spice blend, shallot, butter, cream or yogurt, ginger garlic paste. Maybe also a steamed substantial vegetable like cauliflower.