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Home » Main Dish » Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
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Main Dish

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

By Rachael | Updated on May 18, 2020

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Homemade Spaghetti Sauce:

This spaghetti sauce has a robust flavor, is easy to make, uses easy to find ingredients, and is absolutely delicious.

This sauce will turn your Homemade Spaghetti dish into a hit at any meal. With simple ingredients, this is an Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce made from scratch. Add this sauce to any pasta dish to make an instant classic. Serve with this tasty Garlic Bread and Caesar Salad for a complete meal.

Easy homemade spaghetti sauce being scooped out of a silver pot by a wooden spoon

When it comes to pasta sauce, I am a snob. I want the best homemade spaghetti sauce possible, but I am also very busy! I am all for making pasta sauce from scratch, but even if it is homemade, I want it to be easy. This recipe is very simple with common ingredients, can be made ahead, freezes beautifully, and is my Italian

Making Homemade Spaghetti Sauce ahead of time

This spaghetti sauce is one of my favorite things to make. It can be easily frozen, or canned to use later. I love making a big batch of it at the start of the month, then using it through the month. Prepping ahead saves me time on busy days, and this one is perfect because it can be used in recipes like:

  • Traditional lasagna
  • Lasagna soup
  • Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
  • Chicken and Cheese Manicotti

Or you can use it as spaghetti sauce, and eat it with your favorite noodles or zoodles.

There are no real tricks for making it ahead. You make it the same way. The trick is in how you store it. If you plan to freeze it, you want to make sure it is completely cooled before you freeze it.

Homemade spaghetti sauce on top of noodles, twirled noodles on a fork

How do you make homemade spaghetti sauce from scratch?

  • Start with great ingredients: Canned tomatoes, onions, garlic, herbs and spices.
  • Let it all simmer! The key to a great spaghetti sauce is giving it time to let those flavors really meld together. Thus, the simmer time, which also reduces the sauce and helps it thicken, is key to amazing flavor and consistency. Its best to simmer in a thick bottom dutch oven pot, this one is my favorite.

fresh spaghetti sauce on top of noodles in a white bowl with basil and parmesan as garnish

What can you put in your homemade spaghetti sauce?

One of the things I absolutely love about this recipe is it is so easy to customize. Want ground meat in your sauce? Add some. Want vegetables? Add some. Want a little extra garlic flavor? This sauce is a fantastic base to add whatever makes you happy. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Italian sausage, brown ground sausage, drain the fat, and add it to your homemade spaghetti sauce during the last hour of simmer.
  • Carrots and zucchini. Add them when you add the onions, dice them small, or use a grater to grate them. They add amazing flavor.
  • Mushrooms! I love adding mushrooms to my sauce. Great when added at the same time as the onions.
  • Whatever you like in your sauce.

Homemade Spaghetti sauce in a pot with a wooden spoon

What spices do you use in Homemade Spaghetti Sauce?

Usually you use the regular line up of Italian seasonings. For this recipe, I love adding a few extras in.

  • Basil
  • Parsley
  • Oregano
  • Marjoram

The reality is, this is your sauce, so what spices do you like? Start with my suggestions in the recipe card below, and add or subtract to your preference. I like a lot of spices in my sauce, but if you want less spices feel free to cut down the amounts.

What vegetables can you put in your homemade spaghetti sauce?

I don’t put anything other than garlic and onion in for the sauce if I am making it to can or freeze. But when I whip up a dinner with it I will often add carrots, zucchini, and mushrooms.

That is my favorite combination.

But the nice thing about this sauce is it is super versatile, so add or subtract what you like in your spaghetti sauce.

That might be ground beef or sausage (obviously these are not vegetables). It might be eggplant. What do you prefer?

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce in a glass jar with a wooden spoon

Choose Highest Quality Ingredients

  • Red Pack Tomatoes are rated the #1 canned tomato by Epicurious, even over San Marzano and Cento Organic tomatoes. What are your favorite canned tomatoes?
  • Cold-Pressed, Colavita Premium Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil is an exceptional Italian olive oil.
  • When it comes to garlic, nothing beats fresh garlic; don’t go for the minced garlic in the jar. Go fresh! But the minced in the jar won’t kill your sauce if you choose to use that.
  • For that pinch of salt, you’ve got to try Sherpa Himalayan Pink Salt, it is tasty stuff. Table salt will work too.
  • Choose your fresh vegetable fresh, the day you are making your sauce. Choose the best that are available.

Make it a Complete Meal

Salad– A classic green salad or Italian Garden Salad is my favorite type of salad to serve with spaghetti, but go with what you love. Caesar would be good too.

Bread– I love a nice crusty bread with my homemade spaghetti sauce, and I have a few fun options for you. Cheesy Garlic Bread, Garlic Bread Twists, or Crock Pot Artisan Bread.

Drink – My favorite beverage with spaghetti is Blackberry Mint Spritzer.

Delicious spaghetti dinner using homemade spaghetti sauce

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce: This spaghetti sauce has a robust flavor, is easy to make, uses easy to find ingredients, and is absolutely delicious.
4.60 from 10 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: homemade spaghetti sauce, homemade spaghetti sauce recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 603kcal
Author: Rachael

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbs olive oil
  • 1/2 yellow onion finely chopped
  • 2 Tbs minced garlic
  • 4 cans Crushed Tomatoes 28 ounces each
  • 1 can Tomato Paste 6 ounces
  • 1/3 cup dried basil or 1/2 cup fresh basil chopped fine
  • 1/3 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 3 tsps Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 Tbs balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tbs honey
  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese grated, or Romano Cheese

Instructions

  • Use a dutch oven or 5 qt pot and heat olive oil over medium heat.
  • Add finely chopped onion to the pot and saute for 10 minutes
  • Add in minced garlic, saute for an additional minute until fragrant, but not brown.
  • Add in tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, parsley, Italian seasoning, black pepper, balsamic, and honey.
  • Stir well, and bring to a low boil
  • Reduce heat and let simmer for 1 hour 30 minutes, uncovered, and stir often. Keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn, but make sure it simmers.
  • Turn heat down further, cover pot, and let continue to simmer for another hour.
  • Before serving, add in cheese, and any additional fresh basil.
  • Serve over cooked spaghetti or your choice of noodles

Video

Notes

Feel free to use less seasoning if you want, this is our preferred amount, but I use fresh herbs, so usually use larger quantities.
Taste along the way. This is a great way to ensure the flavor is to your preference. 

Nutrition

Calories: 603kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 61g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 359mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 300IU | Vitamin C: 5.3mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 2.6mg

Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.

Tried this recipe?Mention @ezpzmealz or tag #ezpzmealz!
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Homemade Spaghetti Sauce: This spaghetti sauce has a robust flavor, is easy to make, uses easy to find ingredients, and is absolutely delicious.

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Homemade Spaghetti Sauce: This spaghetti sauce has a robust flavor, is easy to make, uses easy to find ingredients, and is absolutely delicious.

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Related

Related categories:
Main Dishgravy homemade spaghetti sauce spaghetti sauce

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristy says

    January 10, 2018 at 7:25 pm

    Have you made this in the crock pot. I would like to try it in there.
    Reply
    • Rachael says

      January 12, 2018 at 12:49 am

      Yes, it works great in a crock pot, just check it and stir occasionally so the bottom doesn't burn.
      Reply
  2. Kim says

    January 15, 2018 at 12:35 pm

    Can you make this without onions?
    Reply
    • Rachael says

      January 16, 2018 at 1:07 pm

      You definitely can. I suggest changing it to your preference, and using whatever spices you like best.
      Reply
  3. Hotmail sign in says

    October 13, 2018 at 12:13 am

    very good. Thank you for sharing!..............
    ★★★★☆
    Reply
  4. Krissy Allori says

    October 16, 2018 at 4:16 pm

    Pasta is my weakness! Such a great sauce recipe.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  5. Kara says

    October 16, 2018 at 6:27 pm

    Nothing beats pasta with a simple homemade sauce! I'm intrigued by the addition of balsamic vinegar and honey. I bet they add a wonderful depth of flavor. Can't wait to try this recipe!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  6. Julie says

    October 16, 2018 at 7:11 pm

    So easy and flavorful! Thanks for the recipe.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  7. Kimberly says

    October 16, 2018 at 7:35 pm

    Spaghetti sauce perfection, yummy!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  8. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    October 17, 2018 at 6:34 am

    I know for sure this would be a huge hit in my house! I gotta make this! Looks great!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
  9. Sherri says

    December 9, 2018 at 1:35 pm

    Wow this is delish. Only change was 1/2 sauce and half crushed tomatoes. It’s so good!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
    • Rachael says

      December 10, 2018 at 9:12 am

      So glad you enjoyed it Sherri, it is one of our favorites.
      Reply
  10. Jacky says

    January 3, 2019 at 5:21 pm

    Can you make this in bulk and store for later useage?
    Reply
    • Rachael says

      January 5, 2019 at 1:16 am

      Yes, it freezes really well.
      Reply
  11. Haley says

    January 20, 2019 at 8:30 am

    I'd love to make this sauce using the Instant Pot. Any advice?
    Reply
    • Rachael says

      January 20, 2019 at 5:48 pm

      I would combine everything and set for pressure for 25-30 minutes. This should give it plenty of time for the flavors to meld.
      Reply
  12. Ali says

    April 22, 2019 at 2:38 pm

    Where's the tomato paste come in?
    Reply
    • Rachael says

      April 26, 2019 at 6:51 am

      Oh man, it is where it says to add tomatoes. I went ahead and adjusted so it is more clear. Thank you so much.
      Reply
  13. Sandi McLeod-Hill says

    August 24, 2019 at 4:07 pm

    Can you freeze the leftovers?
    Reply
    • Rachael says

      August 27, 2019 at 12:53 am

      Yes you can! It freezes really well!
      Reply
  14. Lynette Nadal says

    October 6, 2019 at 7:15 am

    Where does the oregano and marjoram come in?
    ★★★★★
    Reply
    • Rachael says

      October 6, 2019 at 12:54 pm

      I am not sure what you are asking, there isn't any in the ingredient list or instructions. If you want to add them you can at the same time you add the other spices.
      Reply
  15. Eileen says

    March 10, 2023 at 11:53 am

    I haven't tried this yet, but I was wondering if you ever add meat to this sauce.
    Reply
    • Rachael says

      March 17, 2023 at 12:28 pm

      Yes, I do! I tend to add it at the end, and brown it separately because I don't want it to dry out.
      Reply

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