Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce is so full of flavor and it’s easy to make it in large batches for freezing or canning for easy homemade meals that are prepared ahead.

My family loves it when we make homemade spaghetti sauce. Whenever we make it, it’s always a huge double or triple batch to easily freeze the leftovers. Spaghetti and meatballs is such a family favorite, we almost always have frozen spaghetti sauce and meatballs in the freezer. It makes for a quick and easy weeknight meal, and it’s pretty amazing.

The best spaghetti sauce is made using San Marzano tomatoes. San Marzano is a variety of plum tomatoes. These tomatoes have a stronger flavor and are sweeter and less acidic. You can find canned San Marzano tomatoes at your grocery store. The label should make it very obvious that the tomatoes are this variety.

If you want to make spaghetti sauce completely from scratch using whole tomatoes rather than canned, you’ll need to peel your tomatoes and remove the stems. The easiest way to peel tomatoes is to blanch them in boiling water for 1-2 minutes and then immediately place them into an ice bath. The skins can then be easily removed. We also have a different recipe for Fire Roasted Spaghetti Sauce.

Marinara and spaghetti sauce are slightly different things. Both are tomato-based sauces. Marinara has very simple additional flavorings added to it like garlic, salt, and basil. Spaghetti sauce usually has additional ingredients and spices like onion, fennel, parsley, and oregano.

homemade spaghetti sauce recipe

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

homemade spaghetti sauce recipe

Easy homemade spaghetti sauce, using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry! This recipe is a family dinner staple!

Prep: 10min

Total: 40min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 303 kcal, Carbohydrate 16 g, Protein 18 g, Fat 18 g, Saturated Fat 7 g, Cholesterol 64 mg, Sodium 814 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 11 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground beef ((or 1/2 lb ground Italian sausage and 1/2 lb ground beef))
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper (, to taste)
  • 1 medium onion (, chopped)
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 Tablespoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • crushed red pepper flakes (, to taste)
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves ((optional))
  • spaghetti noodles (, for serving)

Instruction:

  1. Season ground beef with salt and pepper.
  2. In a large skillet, add the beef and chopped onion and brown. Drain excess grease.
  3. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, worcestershire, and sugar to the skillet.
  4. Stir well to combine and bring to a boil. Add water and stir well.
  5. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add chopped basil before serving, if desired.
  6. This sauce tastes great in Spaghetti Pie, Million Dollar Spaghetti, Slow Cooker Lasagna and Instant Pot Spaghetti.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

homemade spaghetti sauce recipe

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce is so full of flavor and it’s easy to make it in large batches for freezing or canning for easy homemade meals that are prepared ahead.

Prep: 10min

Total: 70min

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 51 kcal, Carbohydrate 4 g, Fat 3 g, Sodium 203 mg, Sugar 2 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large white onion (minced)
  • 5 cloves garlic (crushed)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 6 ounce can tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
  • 1 tablespoon ground oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Instruction:

  1. Heat a large pot on the stove over medium high heat. Add in olive oil and saute onion in the olive oil for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add in 5 cloves and saute another 30-60 seconds.
  2. Pour in chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, fennel, oregano, salt, pepper, basil, and parsley. Bring to a simmer.
  3. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1-4 hours. Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until the desired consistency is achieved, leaving it slightly chunky, or making it completely smooth.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

FAQ

What makes spaghetti sauce taste better?

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.

What is the one ingredient that makes spaghetti sauce so much better?

Add butter. Yes, that’s right. Toss in a few tablespoons of butter, and let it melt into the sauce. If you’ve never tried it before, it might seem strange, but a little butter makes tomato sauce rich and smooth, and also balances out too much acidity, which is common in jarred sauces.

What is the secret ingredient in Italian pasta sauce?

Tomato sauce is very acidic and the brown sugar is necessary to tone down the ‘tart’ in the tomatoes and balance the flavors. But I think it’s the Worcestershire that is truly the secret ingredient and gives it that ‘ je ne sais quoi’! The herbs cilantro, oregano, rosemary and basil are also critical.

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best spaghetti sauce?

Ingredients
  1. 2 28 Oz Cans of Peeled San Marazano Tomatoes.
  2. 1 Large Yellow Onion, Julienned.
  3. 6 Garlic Gloves, Sliced Thin.
  4. 6 Basil Leafs, Torn.
  5. 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste.
  6. 1 Cup Red Wine.
  7. 1/8 Cup Olive Oil.
  8. Salt & Pepper to Taste.
About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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