Easy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe - Sauce Fanatic (2024)

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This easy spaghetti sauce is so basic but loaded with flavor and contains no added sugar! It can be made on the stove, in a slow cooker, or in an instant pot.

If you are a looking for a simple yet flavorful spaghetti sauce, then look no further. This sauce will be your new go to when you want to eat clean without sacrificing taste.

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Table of Contents

  • 1 Easy Spaghetti Sauce
  • 2 Easy Spaghetti Sauce Ingredients:
  • 3 How to Make Easy Spaghetti Sauce:
  • 4 How to Make Easy Spaghetti Sauce in a Slow Cooker:
  • 5 How to Make Easy Spaghetti Sauce in an Instant Pot:
  • 6 How to Store Easy Spaghetti Sauce:
  • 7 Easy Spaghetti Sauce

Easy Spaghetti Sauce

This easy homemade spaghetti sauce is our go-to recipe. It’s so simple and tastes incredible. It’s become just as popular as our homemade sloppy joe sauce.

There are minimal ingredients and no added sugars. It’s perfect for pasta noodles or vegetable noodles. It’s similar to our eggplant tomato sauce and it’s a bit healthier than our amogio sauce or carbonara sauce.

Garlic, onion, and basil flavor the sauce and it’s completely meat-free. But, if you are a meat lover, you can always add that in.

The sauce can be cooked in a variety of ways making it perfect for busy weeknights.

Simmer it on the stove or in the slow cooker. Or give it a quick cook in the pressure cooker.

I’ll leave tips down below on how to cook and store this homemade spaghetti sauce with ease!

If you’re in the mood for fall flavors, try adding pumpkin for a creamy pumpkin sauce! Or add ground turkey for a simple ground turkey meat sauce.

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Easy Spaghetti Sauce Ingredients:

To make this basic spaghetti sauce recipe, you will need:

  • Olive oil: For sautéing the onion and garlic
  • Onion: One medium onion for the best flavor
  • Garlic: Love the flavor of garlic in spaghetti sauce
  • Tomato Puree: We prefer this over tomato paste
  • Crushed tomatoes:Gives the sauce a rustic texture
  • Basil:Fresh basil is heaven is pasta sauce
  • Salt and pepper: Season to taste
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How to Make Easy Spaghetti Sauce:

To make this easy homemade spaghetti sauce, simply…

  1. Sautétheonionandgarlicin olive oil.Cook it until the onion turns translucent.
  2. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer. The longer you simmer the sauce, the more flavorful it will be. We tend to let it cook for an hour.
  3. Use it right away or store it for later. If you plan to store it for later use, let the sauce cool to room temperature, about 1 hour, then transfer it to an airtight container.

To make a meat sauce, cook 1 pound of ground beef then drain the fat and add it in step 2.

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How to Make Easy Spaghetti Sauce in a Slow Cooker:

You can make this sauce in a slow cooker by…

  • Sautétheonionandgarlicin olive oil.Cook it until the onion turns translucent.
  • Transfer to slow cooker and add remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

How to Make Easy Spaghetti Sauce in an Instant Pot:

Spaghetti sauce can also be made in an Instant Pot…

  • Sautétheonionandgarlicin olive oil. Use the Instant Pot’s saué option to cook until the onions turn translucent.
  • Stir in ⅔ cup of broth to deglaze the pot. (we like vegetablebroth but you can use beef or chicken.) And stir in the remaining ingredients.
  • Cover and cook. Secure the lid and turned the valve to the sealing position. Set the pressure cook button to 10 minutes on high pressure.
  • Release the pressure. When finished cooking, let the pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes then move the valve to venting.
  • Remove the lid and stir.

Add ground meat by cooking it in the Instant Pot with the onions and garlic. Drain the fat then continue with the next step.

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How to Store Easy Spaghetti Sauce:

Refrigerate – Allow the sauce to cool for about 1 hour then transfer it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Freeze – Allow the sauce to cool to room temperature, about 2 hours, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the sauce overnight in the refrigerator then reheat and use right away.

Italian sauces are some of the best and if you are a lover of Italian food, we’ve got a growing archive to satisfy you!

  • Parmesan Cream Sauce
  • Best Pizza Sauce
  • Classic Alfredo Sauce
  • Creamy Basil Pesto

Easy Spaghetti Sauce

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This easy spaghetti sauce is so basic but loaded with flavor and contains no added sugar! It can be made on the stove, in a slow cooker, or in an instant pot.

Sauce Fanatic

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Serving Size 10

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic about 3 cloves
  • 29 ounce can tomato puree
  • 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes with juice
  • ½ cup fresh basil chopped
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic, sauté until onions become translucent.

  • Add the tomato puree, crushed tomatoes, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to a low boil, stirring often.

  • Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1 hour.

  • Serve immediately or allow to cool then package it in a freezer safe container for easy storage.

Make ahead tip

  • Allow the sauce to cool for about 1 hour then transfer it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.

  • Or Allow the sauce to cool to room temperature, about 2 hours, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the sauce overnight in the refrigerator then reheat and use right away.

Notes

Makes about 5 cups of sauce.

CourseCourse: Dinner

CuisineCuisine: Italian

Easy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe - Sauce Fanatic (2024)

FAQs

What makes spaghetti sauce more flavorful? ›

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.

What does adding butter to tomato sauce do? ›

Similar to creamy sauces like Alfredo, or meaty sauces like ragu, tomato sauce is naturally low in fat, and as a result, sometimes becomes too thick and too starchy when it's been tossed with pasta. The addition of butter helps to loosen and emulsify the sauce, making it smooth and creamy.

What gives spaghetti sauce depth of flavor? ›

The rich, peppery taste of many red wines enhances the other elements found in red sauce, leading to deep, delicious flavor throughout. Plus, depending on the cooking wine you choose, it either adds some sweetness or a dry element, both of which are great for marinara.

How do you add depth to spaghetti sauce? ›

Fat adds flavor and richness, so just say yes to butter, cream, or cheese for a souped-up tomato sauce! Stir in a spoonful of cream or ricotta, add a pat of butter, or top the sauce with grated Parmesan or pecorino. For a dairy-free option, opt for olive oil!

Does sugar make spaghetti sauce taste better? ›

If tomato season is over and you resort to canned tomatoes, a minute amount of sugar can enhance the sauce. However, you may not need it if you make sauce from in-season homegrown San Marzano or another sweet variety of tomatoes.

Does spaghetti sauce taste better the longer it simmers? ›

Time Is a Valuable Ingredient

But you should consider simmering for three or more hours, letting it lazily cook away, no more than a few straggling bubbles surfacing at a time. Time plus low heat and fresh ingredients make for a great sauce.

Does spaghetti sauce get better the longer you cook it? ›

Simmered sauces produce richer, more complex flavors packed with umami and aromatic caramelization. The longer tomatoes are cooked, the more flavor molecules from inside the skin will be released, notes BBC Science Focus. But that's not all. Once you've simmered your marinara sauce to perfection, wait.

How do you make spaghetti sauce taste richer? ›

You make foods richer by adding fat to them. For a tomato sauce you could begin include bacon, pancetta, sausage or another meat to the sauce. I like to braise beef shanks in tomato sauce, shred the tender meat and mix it into the sauce. You could also simmer beef or chicken bones in the stock as if making a stock.

What is the secret to good tomato sauce? ›

Starting with good quality tomatoes and crushing them by hand offers great flavor and texture later on. The combination of butter and oil releases fat-soluble aromatics and gives the sauce a creamy texture. Slowly cooking the sauce in the oven creates rich caramelization without burning.

Why put Worcestershire sauce in spaghetti sauce? ›

If you do not have crushed or diced tomatoes, you can use tomato sauce and tomato paste instead. If using tomato paste, you will need to add 1 cup of water and allow the sauce to simmer. Worcestershire sauce – (Optional) Deepens the flavor of the sauce.

What is it called when you add butter to a sauce? ›

Monter au Beurre is a French term used to describe the process of adding or whisking in whole, cold butter into a sauce or puree at the end of the cooking process. This process, which is usually done off the heat, adds shine, flavor and richness.

How do you elevate spaghetti? ›

Cheese it up.

A dollop of ricotta or mascarpone adds lightly sweet creaminess, while soft goat cheese or even a humble cream cheese adds tangy richness to elevate dull tomato sauce. A generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese makes any plate of pasta look all dressed up, while adding a welcome kick of umami.

Why do some people put sugar in tomato sauce? ›

The traditional thinking behind adding sugar to tomato sauce is based on the idea that it will balance out the natural acidity of tomatoes.

What is the most important ingredient in spaghetti? ›

Tomatoes is the most popular ingredient in spaghetti sauce dishes. In fact, over 90% of spaghetti sauce recipes contain tomatoes. Variations of tomatoes include: tomato sauce: 15% of recipes.

Why do Italians put sugar in spaghetti sauce? ›

Up until the early 1900s, the U.S. had a limited tomato supply, and it didn't stack up to Italian standards. It is widely held that Italian immigrants began adding sugar to their sauce to make up for the overly acidic tomatoes they were forced to work with in their new home.

Does sugar make spaghetti sauce better? ›

Yes, sugar might make the sauce taste better, but good old baking soda is an alkaline that will help balance the excess acid. A little pinch should do the trick.

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