The most delicious homemade spaghetti sauce ever! This hearty recipe is rich and full of so much flavor. A delicious meat sauce that can be served over spaghetti noodles. Or if you're looking for a healthy alternative, serve this spaghetti sauce over zoodles or spaghetti squash!
Full of flavor and easy to make, this homemade spaghetti sauce will quickly become a family favorite recipe! Better than any restaurant version, this is one of those recipes you'll add to the dinner rotation!
Just like making pesto sauce from scratch, learning how to make homemade spaghetti sauce is actually a lot easier than you might think. And I use this same sauce as a base to my homemade lasagna. My mom used to make this recipe for me and my sister when we were growing up. She made it once a week, typically on Thursday nights, and just like her oven baked meatloaf with buttery mashed potatoes and southern style pot roast, we looked forward to spaghetti every week.
I don't know anyone who doesn't love a good pasta recipe, and this one won't disappoint! And while there are hundreds of different pasta dishes you can make, like this chicken Alfredo sauce pasta and this baked chicken parmesan, this happens to be my all time favorite!
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Why This Recipe Works
- We're talking the best spaghetti sauce that is made with simple ingredients you already have in your kitchen.
- It's an easy recipe to make! When my daughter was 9 years old, she made it for dinner without any help.
- It tastes amazing over pasta noodles or your favorite vegetable noodles!
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
- Ground Beef - the higher the fat percentage, the more flavorful the sauce will be. For a lower fat, use either 93% or 96% lean ground beef.
- Onion - use a yellow onion for more of a savory and onion flavor. For a more subtle mild flavor, use a white onion or a sweet Vidalia onion.
- Oregano - using dried oregano pairs really well with this tomato based sauce and provides a warm and savory flavor.
- Thyme - an earthy herb that helps add layers of flavor to the spaghetti sauce.
- Salt - a flavor enhancer that adds the salty flavor.
- Pepper - add a subtle peppery taste.
- Tomato Paste -a key ingredient of the sauce that adds the tomato base and flavor.
- Garlic - skip the jar version and mince fresh garlic cloves. Garlic is a flavor enhancer and pairs well with the other Italian flavors.
- Water - added to the sauce and helps mix all ingredients together to form a liquid. When boiled and then simmered, it will produce a thicker sauce that pairs well on top of any cooked pasta.
- Brown Sugar - light brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness and pairs well with the savory ingredients to balance the flavors.
- Bay Leaves - deepens the sauce's overall taste as it simmers. Remove these before serving.
- Spaghetti Noodles - serve the sauce over cooked noodles.
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!
📋 Variations
- Ground Beef - for added flavor, use a higher fat % such as 80% lean / 20% fat.
- Types of Meat - this homemade spaghetti sauce can be made with ground beef, turkey, or chicken, or Italian sausage!
- Tomatoes - sometimes I add a fresh tomato to this recipe. Spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes is delicious. Add the tomato at the same time you add the tomato paste. You can also add a can of petite diced tomatoes to add extra texture.
- Types of Noodles - use your favorite type of cooked noodle when serving this sauce.
- Vegetable Noodles - try serving the sauce over cooked spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles (zoodles).
🔪 Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions
Step 1: Start by dicing a small yellow onion on a cutting board.
Step 2: Add ground beef and the diced onion to a large skillet. Brown the beef over medium-high heat with the onion and add a dash of salt and pepper to season the meat. Cook until the meat is no longer pink. Once done, drain in a colander.
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Step 3: Once drained, add the beef back to the same skillet. Add in all the sauce ingredients.
Step 4: Add 2 cups of water and stir until combined. The sauce will be very watery at this point. I nurse the sauce on medium-low heat for about 2-3 hours until it’s the perfect consistency. Even though this is a simple recipe, I put a lot of effort into perfecting it, by simmering, taste testing, and adjusting during the cook time.
👩🏼🍳 Chef's note: Even though this is a simple recipe, I put a lot of effort into perfecting it, by simmering, taste testing, and adjusting during the cook time.
Step 5: About 20 minutes before it's done, you can start making the spaghetti noodles. In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to package instructions. Once done, drain the noodles in a colander.
Step 6: Mix the spaghetti sauce with the cooked spaghetti noodles. And now, your homemade spaghetti sauce is ready to eat! Add a serving of cooked pasta to a plate and top with the meat sauce, fresh grated parmesan cheese, fresh chopped basil, or parsley.
👩🏼🍳 Expert Tip: Once the water is boiling, add the spaghetti noodles. If you want "al dente" style pasta, boil the noodles for 10 minutes. For more tender pasta, boil for an additional 1-2 minutes.
🙋 Recipe FAQs
Yes! This recipe freezes really well. You can freeze any leftovers or make a batch specifically for freezing purposes. Freezing it is easy to do. Once it has completely cooled, put the sauce in a freezer safe container and put it in the freezer for up to 3-4 months. Place it in the refrigerator to thaw and warm it up in the microwave or on the stove top.
Mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes, and a fresh chopped green bell pepper are some of my favorite vegetables to add to this spaghetti sauce recipe. A can of crushed tomatoes will not only add more of a tomato flavor, but it will also help thicken the sauce.
Expert Tips
- If using a lean ground beef, you can skip draining the fat. It will help add more flavor.
- You'll probably find yourself adding more water as it cooks down. I typically add ½ cup of water 2-3 times during the 2-3 hour simmer.
- If you want that authentic homemade flavor, allow time to let the sauce simmer. By simmering it for a certain length of time, it really allows for the development of layers of flavor. Ideally, I let it simmer on low for 2-3 hours, adding water as needed. For a thicker sauce, reduce the amount of water.
- You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Make sure to store the noodles and the sauce in separate containers so the noodles don't soak up the sauce.
- You can easily double or triple this recipe. I always have a batch in the freezer for those nights I'm in a hurry to get dinner on the table.
🍝 More Pasta Recipes
If you tried this homemade spaghetti sauce or any other recipes on my website, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I love hearing from you! And please leave a 🌟 rating while you're there!
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Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme, ground
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 6oz can tomato paste
- 3 garlic cloves
- 3-4 cups water, divided
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, light or dark
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 lb box of spaghetti noodles
Instructions
- Start off by dicing a small yellow onion on a cutting board. Add the diced onion to a large skillet.
- Place 1 lb of thawed ground beef into the skillet with the onion. Brown the ground beef, adding a pinch of salt and pepper to season the meat. Cook the ground beef until the meat is no longer pink.
- Once browned, drain the meat in a colander.
- Once the ground beef has been drained, add the beef back to the same skillet. Add in 1 ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, 3 garlic cloves, 6 ounce can of tomato paste, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, 2 bay leaves, 3 cups of water. Stir to combine.Note: Your sauce will be very watery at this point.
- Cook at a slow rolling boil on medium-low heat for 2-3 hours, adding water as needed.Expert Tip: You'll probably find yourself adding more water as it cooks down. I typically add ½ cup of water 2-3 times during the 2-3 hour simmer.
- About 30 minutes before the sauce is done, you can start making the spaghetti noodles. In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of water to a boil. Add salt to taste. Once the water is boiling, add the spaghetti noodles. Note: If you want "al dente" style pasta, boil the noodles for 10 minutes. For more tender pasta, boil for an addition 1-2 minutes.
- Once the noodles are done, drain them and add a serving to a plate. Top with a serving of the spaghetti sauce.
- Top with fresh grated parmesan cheese, fresh chopped basil, or parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
- Simmering is Key: If you want that authentic homemade flavor, allow time to let the sauce simmer. By simmering it for a certain length of time, it really allows for the development of a lot flavor. Ideally, I let it simmer on low for 3-4 hours, adding water as needed. If you don't have that much time, simmering around 2-3 hours will work.
- Storing Leftovers: You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Make sure to store the noodles and the sauce in separate containers so the noodles don't soak up the sauce.
- To Freeze: It freezes really well. I often double or triple the recipe so that I always have a batch in the freezer for those nights I'm in a hurry to get dinner on the table. Before freezing, let it completely cool. Once cooled, pour it into a gallon freezer bag and seal. Lay the bag on a flat surface in the freezer and store for up to 6 months. Make sure you label the freezer bag with the date you placed it in the freezer. When you're ready to use it, place the frozen bag in a pot of water and reheat until warm.
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Maria
I love this! I'm Italian, and I grew up on homemade sauce. I'm impressed with your recipe.
Amanda Mason
What a huge compliment! I'm so glad you loved it!!!
Beth
This is a really good recipe. I love that little bit of brown sugar in there to cut the acidity. Tasty!
Amanda Mason
Yes! That is the key ingredient and the secret sauce!
Natalie
My boys love this recipe. Thank you so much!!
Amanda Mason
Oh Natalie! I'm so glad to hear they love it so much!! Thanks for letting me know!
Frank Andrew
Great homemade food recipe for spaghetti sauce. Sometimes buying others sauce's can taste to bland on the noodles and meat. Thanks 👍
Amanda Mason
Thanks, Frank! I'm so glad you love the recipe!
Nancy
Greetings Amanda,
Two questions. Can I substitute honey for the brown sugar, and can the simmering be done in a larger (deeper) pot or even a crock pot? Just imagining the stove top after a few hours of open pan cooking hinders my desire to create this lovely sauce.
Regards,
Nancy
Amanda Mason
Hi Nancy!! I've never made this recipe with honey but I think it would be ok. I would make the sauce in a deeper pot over the crockpot. It's hard to control the temperature of the sauce in the crockpot. I hope this helps!!
Liz
Pasta night is my favorite night! This sauce takes things to the next level. I had no idea homemade sauce could make such a difference!
Amanda Mason
I'm so glad you loved my spaghetti sauce!! It is a game changer, for sure!! Let me know what other recipes of mine you try!! I can't wait to hear!
Kate
Many thanks for sharing your pasta sauce recipe. I love the way it looks on the pasta. It can only be delicious. I will most definitely try it.
Amanda Mason
Thanks Kate!! I can't wait to hear how it turns out!!