Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

This easy homemade spaghetti sauce makes a classic comfort dinner, a hearty recipe and and a real crowd-pleaser. Your whole family will love it!

This one definitely belongs in the classic family favorite recipes collection. And everybody makes spaghetti sauce a little bit different. This version is simple, easy, hearty and delicious.

Ingredients

For tastiest results, always use the best quality ingredients you have access to.

To make this homemade spaghetti sauce recipe, you will need the following:

• olive oil
• ground beef
• onion
• garlic
• crushed tomatoes
• diced tomatoes
• tomato paste
• Italian Seasoning
• salt and pepper
• crushed red pepper
• honey (or sugar)
• fresh basil – optional for garnish

If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can sub a half teaspoon of dried parsley, plus a half teaspoon oregano. Dried basil works too.

You can also sub sugar for the honey.

How to make homemade spaghetti sauce

Here is how to make this easy homemade spaghetti sauce. Heat up a large sauté pan to medium heat.

Once hot, add in the ground beef and cook until it is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as you cook it.

Season the meat with a little salt and pepper. 

Add in the onion and garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1-2 minutes, stirring the onion and garlic into the meat as it cooks. 

Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, honey or sugar and some more salt and pepper and bring the mixture to a low simmer, stirring frequently. Let the sauce simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.

Use a potato masher or fork to break up the tomatoes as they cook. 

Serve warm over your favorite fresh cooked pasta with a garnish of chopped basil.

You may also like my best pasta recipes collection here.

Storing and reheating homemade spaghetti sauce

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in a covered container for up to 4 days. Or you can freeze leftover spaghetti sauce in an airtight container to use to make ahead/ use later. It will stay good in the freezer for 3 to 6 months.

When you get ready to use frozen sauce, fully thaw first. Then heat in a sauce pan until it simmers for a few minutes to heat through. You can add a splash of water, if needed. It will evaporate during reheating, but it will also help facilitate heating, if the sauce is particularly thick. Make a fresh batch of pasta to go with the sauce.

What is the difference between spaghetti sauce and marinara?

So spaghetti sauce versus marinara – what is the difference? Typically, marinara sauce does not contain meat, but only tomatoes and other aromatics such as garlic and onions, plus herbs.

Spaghetti sauce typically contains meat, whether it be ground beef or Italian sausage. It is a bit heartier, typically, than marinara.

Also, marinara can be used as a dipping sauce.

Did You Try This Recipe?

Give it a star rating. Pin it and share it if it looks good to you. And be sure and stay connected on social media! 

Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter

FAQs

Print

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Homemade spaghetti sauce is a classic comfort dinner, a hearty recipe and and a real crowd-pleaser. Your whole family will love it!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword homemade spaghetti sauce, spaghetti sauce recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 8

Calories 247 kcal

Author Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1.5 lbs ground beef
• 1 cup onion finely diced
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 28 oz can diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1 to 2 tsp honey or sugar to taste
• 2 tbsp fresh basil – optional for garlish

Instructions

1. Heat up a large saute pan to medium heat. Once hot, add in the ground beef and cook until it is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as you cook it. Season the meat with a little salt and pepper.
2. Add in the onion and garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1-2 minutes, stirring the onion and garlic into the meat as it cooks.

3. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, honey or sugar and some more salt and pepper and bring the mixture to a low simmer, stirring frequently. Let the sauce simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Use a potato masher or fork to break up the tomatoes as they cook.

4. Serve warm over your favorite fresh cooked pasta with a garnish of chopped basil.

Recipe Notes

Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator. Recipe nutrition based on 8 servings and does not include the pasta.

Nutrition Facts

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Amount Per Serving

Calories 247 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 6g

Cholesterol 55mg18%

Sodium 655mg28%

Potassium 835mg24%

Carbohydrates 15g5%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 20g40%

Vitamin A 459IU9%

Vitamin C 21mg25%

Calcium 90mg9%

Iron 5mg28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.