Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
- Brianne Thomas
- Dec 12, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 3
This classic hearty sauce is filled with tangy-sweet tomatoes, savory ground beef, and a blend of herbs and spices.
Having a reliable homemade spaghetti sauce recipe is essential for any home cook. While it's true that jarred sauces offer a quick and easy solution, nothing compares to the rich, fresh flavors of a sauce made from scratch. I often turn to pasta for simple weeknight meals, and my straightforward homemade spaghetti sauce is perfect for those busy evenings. The beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility; you can easily swap out the ground meat based on your preference or what you have on hand. Whether you choose ground venison, turkey, pork, or chicken, each option brings its own unique taste to the dish, making it a delicious and adaptable choice for any pasta lover.
Difference Between Homemade Spaghetti Sauce and Bolognese
Bolognese is a hearty, slow-cooked meat sauce from Northern Italy, typically made with beef, pork, milk, wine, and just a touch of tomato, and it's traditionally paired with tagliatelle. In contrast, what many know and love as "spaghetti with meat sauce" is more of an Italian American creation, featuring a lighter, tomato-heavy sauce with herbs, garlic, and often ground beef, served over spaghetti.
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Easy to Prepare: This recipe is easy to prepare, even for the novice cook.
Affordable. Simple, budget-friendly ingredients keep costs easy on the pocketbook.
Crowd Pleaser: Spaghetti is a simple classic, making it perfect for a typical busy Monday evening or a Friday night dinner party!
How to Serve Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Serve this tomato-based sauce with your favorite pasta noodle, a crisp Brussels Sprouts and Kale Salad, and Garlic and Herb Sourdough Boule. Or skip the pasta and use it on top of roasted spaghetti squash, in Homemade Lasagna, or as a sauce on Homemade Pizza Dough!
Helpful Tips for Making Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Tomatoes. If you’re able to use home-canned tomato products, your sauce will be 100x better. If using store-bought, look for high-quality organic options.
Sugar. Just a bit of a sweetener helps to offset the acidity of the tomatoes, creating a more harmonious taste. Pure maple syrup or raw organic honey are also good options.
Pasta water. Always add at least 1 teaspoon of salt to pasta water. This is the only chance you have to season the pasta itself.
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Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
1 Tablespoon Garlic & Cayenne Infused Olive Oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
28 ounces crushed tomatoes
6 ounces tomato paste
15 ounces of tomato sauce
½ cup red wine
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
½ teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon chili powder
Salt
Ground black pepper
Directions
In a large, deep skillet or saucepan, heat 1 Tablespoon Garlic & Cayenne Infused Olive Oil over medium heat. Add 1 medium chopped onion and sauté until translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Stir in 4 cloves of minced garlic and cook for an additional minute or until fragrant. Add 1 pound of lean ground beef to the pan, breaking it up into smaller pieces. Cook until browned, and it is no longer pink, approximately 10 minutes. Do not remove any brown bits (known as Fond).
To the same deep skillet or saucepan, add 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 6 ounces tomato paste, and 15 ounces tomato sauce. Mix well to combine the ingredients and begin scraping up the Fond on the bottom of the pan.
Add ½ cup red wine, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon each of dried basil and dried oregano, ½ teaspoon each of dried thyme and dried parsley, and ¼ teaspoon chili powder. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover. Simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Allowing the sauce to simmer longer will enhance the flavors.
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Add more salt, pepper, or sugar to suit your preference.
Once the sauce has reached your desired flavor and consistency, serve it over cooked pasta noodles or roasted spaghetti squash. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
How to Store Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
How to Freeze Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Prepare as directed. Store in an airtight freezer-safe container or tightly cover with plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to reheat, thaw completely in the refrigerator, then heat in a saucepan over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes or until completely heated through.
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