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Easy homemade spaghetti sauce, using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry! This recipe is a family dinner staple!
Spaghetti Sauce
This spaghetti sauce recipe may be the first thing I learned to cook, completely by myself, when I was really young. As I got better at cooking and baking (and because I loved it so much) I can specifically remember two recipes my Mom would let me make all by myself: this homemade spaghetti sauce, and our family's favorite Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.
She'd be nearby for supervision, but it was a huge confidence boost for me to cook all on my own! And an even bigger confidence boost when my older brothers said they liked the food 🙂
This Homemade Spaghetti Sauce recipe has been a family staple for as long as I can remember. It's really simple and the flavors are fantastic.
This is one of those meals that always tastes amazing–and it's perfect for busy weeknights this time of year! Plus, there's no picky eater that would ever say no to spaghetti!
How to make homemade spaghetti sauce:
First brown the beef and onion. Chop the ground beef finely as you go. After it's browned I often like to add it to my food processor to pulse it once or twice so that it's finely crumbled. It makes the sauce extra smooth (although some people like their spaghettie sauce with larger peices of meat in it,)
Next, add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, and sugar and bring the mixture to a simmer. Add water and simmer for 30 minutes or longer, to get more depth of flavor. The longer you simmer it, the more the flavors will blend together beautifully.
I use this sauce all the time in my Spaghetti Pie, Million Dollar Spaghetti, Slow Cooker Lasagna and Instant Pot Spaghetti.
Spaghetti sauce, marinara sauce and pizza sauce; what's the difference?
There is all sorts of confusion surrounding these terms, but spaghetti sauce, marinara sauce, and pizza sauce are usually all tomato based sauces. Marinara sauce, or pasta sauce is a slow-simmered sauce that is often made with tomatoes, garlic, and herbs. In America, we often refer to marinara as a meatless, tomato-based sauce.
Spaghetti sauce is essentially any sauce that you put on spaghetti. Traditional spaghetti sauce is often just a more complex marina sauce that has additional spices and may be made with meat, vegetables, cheese, etc.
Pizza sauce is typically uncooked and refers to any sauce you put on pizza. This sauce is usually simple, with few ingredients and is meant to cook with the pizza for added flavor.
Tips for making ahead and freezing spaghetti sauce:
This homemade spaghetti sauce can be easily made ahead of time. Store it in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or freeze it. Before freezing spaghetti sauce, allow the mixture to cool completely. Label a gallon freezer bag and fill it with the sauce. Store it on a flat surface so that it freezes into a flat shape that will store easily. Store it for up to 4-6 months. To use, place frozen sauce in a pot and reheat on the stove until warm.
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Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, (or ½ lb ground Italian sausage and ½ 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
Instructions
- Season ground beef with salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet, add the beef and chopped onion and brown. Drain excess grease.
- Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, worcestershire, and sugar to the skillet.
- Stir well to combine and bring to a boil. Add water and stir well.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add chopped basil before serving, if desired.
- This sauce tastes great in Spaghetti Pie, Million Dollar Spaghetti, Slow Cooker Lasagna and Instant Pot Spaghetti.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
*I originally shared this recipe in September 2015. Updated July 2018.
So good! I have made this at least 5 times already. I always make a big pot and freeze half for another night for dinner ☺️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This recipe turned out great. It was even better than my recipe straight from Italy.
My family LOVES this sauce! It’s so good and easy to make! Thank you!
I made this sauce for my lasagna. It was the best I’ve ever tasted! Loved it and will continue to make it.
This recipe is seriously delicious, having made sauce hundreds of times this one is a true keeper. I’ve made your recipe about 10 times and it never fails. Thank you
Thank you so much for this keeper of a recipe. I have been looking all over and attempted so many recipes for homemade spaghetti sauce and am so glad to have found ‘THE ONE!’ It is absolutely ‘fantabulous!’ And I love pressing the easy button too!
I’ve tried a number of homemade spaghetti sauces and this is my favorite of all! Thank you so much.
Holy moly!! This is seriously good!! I was nervous that the seasonings wasn’t enough but it packed enough punch!! Soooo yummy and I made a huge batch so I’m sure the flavors will start to deepen and develop over a couple of hours. Thanks for sharing your yummy recipe!!
I just made this sauce and it was superb! No more canned sauces in this house! Thank you!
I used your recipe for the basis of mine with some alterations and it turned out very delicious. You will end up with twice as much.
Ingredients:
2 Lbs. ground beef.
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper.
2 onions, chopped.
2 – 15 oz. cans diced Italian tomatoes.
2- 6 oz. cans tomato paste.
5- cloves fresh garlic, minced.
2- Tbs. Italian seasoning.
1/2 tsp. dried basil.
1/2 tsp. dried oregano.
4 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce.
1 Tbs. granulated white sugar.
1 red pepper (diced)
1 green pepper (diced).
2- cups fresh white mushrooms (sliced).
Instructions:
Lightly brown and dice up the ground beef in a LARGE frying pan (12″ x 3″). Drain beef and return to fry pan. Add onions and diced peppers to pan. Mix and fry for 5 minutes. Add mushrooms to pan and continue frying mixture until onions are translucent and peppers are softened. Add minced garlic to pan and fry a few minutes until garlic becomes fragrant. Add diced tomatoes, Tomato paste, and remaining ingredients to pan. Simmer 30 minutes with lid on, stirring occasionally. Remove lid and simmer until thickened (15 -20 minutes). Blend with the cooked pasta of your choice (I used 600 grams of spaghettini) and enjoy!
Just made this recipe, love it! thanks so much.
My mother is Italian Born and Raised in Brooklyn her mother was born in Italy and needless to say she is very Picky when it comes to anything Italian. MOMS SAUCE IS ALWAYS GONNA B MY FAVORITE. That being said this is a VERY close 2nd and she claims to like the 1 I made more than her own she used to make. Mom is unable to cook nowadays and I take care of her meals. Knowing how picky mom can be I was only one brave enough to step up and face her wrath. After eating this sauce the wrath I face from her is to make more that she can save and have when she wants. So in a way I say SWEET AND THANK YOU SO MUCH! On other hand thanks a lot now I have more work to do!
I added 1 bay leaf during cooking. Also, I substituted cayenne pepper for the red pepper flakes. I also added more water (about 1/2 to 3/4 cup more). Overall, an easy go to recipe that freezes well in ready to go meal portions.
Good recipe. I add peppers mushrooms and diced tomatoes to make it nice and thick
This is my go to recipe now and I usually double it, freeze half of it and then make a small batch of lasagna a week or 2 later later.
the sauce was good thank you
When I was growing up, I lived around a lot of older Italians. We all know they make the best sauces for pasta. They all agreed on on ingredient that was a must – pork. I am suggesting that a couple of strips of bacon be added and then disgarded after cooking.
Just made this recipe. Super easy and delicious. I did add some chopped celery and mushrooms as I am trying to make meals that include more veggies. This will be my go to recipe.