Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

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The best homemade spaghetti sauce recipe ever! All you need is ground beef, onion, garlic, crushed tomatoes, herbs and spices for this delicious meat sauce. It tastes just like Grandma used to make. And the best part? You can simmer on low heat all day long so that the flavors blend together perfectly. Get your favorite pasta ready because you’ll want to eat every single bite of this yummy dish!

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Below you will find tips, tricks and helpful hints for making this recipe including step by step instructions with pictures. If you would like to go directly to the recipe, scroll down to the recipe card or tap “Jump to Recipe” at the top of the page.

About This Easy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

Spaghetti is a delicious, comforting food that everyone loves. However, most of the time, I skip making homemade sauce and jump right to using a store-bought jar because of convenience.

However, I love that when I make this recipe, my family can’t stop commenting on how amazing the sauce tastes over a bowl of spaghetti noodles and they can’t wait to eat it! It has become my go-to spaghetti sauce.

I am sharing this easy recipe for homemade spaghetti sauce, right from my grandmother’s recipe card! This sauce can be simmered on the stovetop all day, made in a slow cooker, InstantPot, or quickly on the stove.

This recipe will help you to make your own spaghetti sauce that tastes just like grandma’s and will wow your friends and family!

Using this easy method, you’ll be sure to impress everyone at dinner tonight. Plus, having it simmer on the stove all day will bring everyone to the kitchen with the amazing aroma of a home cooked meal! I love to double this recipe and use the extra to make lasagna!

Spaghetti Sauce Ingredients

*Ingredient amounts are located in the recipe card at the end of this post.

• Ground Beef or Italian Sausage: Adds savory depth and richness to the sauce. If desired, you could use a combination of ground beef and sausage. For a vegetarian option, consider using plant-based ground “meat” or lentils as a substitute. Use ground turkey for a lighter option.
• Olive Oil: Enhances the richness of the sauce and helps sauté the aromatics. Can be substituted with vegetable oil or butter if needed.
• Chopped Onion: Provides a sweet and aromatic base flavor to the sauce. I like to use white onion or yellow onion. Substitutable with shallots or leeks for a milder flavor profile.
• Crushed Tomatoes: These canned tomatoes form the bulk of the sauce, contributing a rich, thick texture and a deep tomato flavor. Diced tomatoes or whole tomatoes can be used if crushed tomatoes are unavailable at your grocery store, but will result in a chunkier sauce.
• Tomato Sauce: Adds smoothness and richness to the sauce, complementing the crushed tomatoes. A mixture of tomato paste and water can serve as a substitute in a pinch.
• Tomato Paste: Intensifies the tomato flavor and contributes to the sauce’s thick, hearty consistency. Can be subbed with ketchup or a larger quantity of tomato sauce.
• Water: A little bit of water helps to achieve the desired consistency of the sauce. Vegetable or chicken broth can be used as a flavorful alternative.
• Minced Garlic: Infuses the sauce with a rich, pungent flavor. Garlic powder can be used as a substitute, adjusting the quantity to taste.
• Oregano, Basil, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Bay Leaf: These herbs add layers of earthy, aromatic flavors to the sauce. In the absence of any specific herb, Italian seasoning can be used as a convenient substitute.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Provides a little heat and depth of flavor to the sauce. Can be omitted for a milder version or substituted with cayenne pepper or paprika.
• Sugar: Balances the acidity of the tomatoes and rounds out the overall flavor. Honey or maple syrup can be used as natural substitutes.
• Beef Bouillon: Enhances the savory rich flavor in the sauce. Vegetable or mushroom bouillon can be used for a vegetarian alternative.
• Grated Romano or Parmesan Cheese: Adds a nutty, salty richness to the sauce. Pecorino Romano or Asiago cheese can be used as substitutes for a similar flavor profile.

How to Make Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

[Step 1] Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or sauce pan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and ground beef. Heat and stir the onions and beef until no longer pink. Drain if necessary.

[Step 2] Pour in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water to the meat and onions. Stir to combine.

[Step 3] Add the oregano, basil, rosemary, sage, thyme, red pepper flakes, sugar, and beef bouillon to the tomato sauce and stir. Mix in the Romano or Parmesan cheese to the sauce.

[Step 4] Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Allow the sauce to simmer for at least 30 minutes.

[Step 5] Serve the sauce over spaghetti or your favorite pasta.

Helpful Kitchen Items

• Large Sauce Pan
• Wooden Spoon

How to Store Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

If you make a double batch, need to store leftover sauce, or have made the sauce in advance, you can store it in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 5 days.

You can also freeze it in either a freezer-safe ziplock bag or an airtight container. It will last up to 3 months. To reheat, simply place on the stovetop and stir over medium heat until heated through. Or thaw and heat it in the microwave.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why use sugar in spaghetti sauce? Some recipes will call for sugar which may make you wonder why? A bit of sugar is added to most tomato-based sauces as a flavor enhancer and it also helps balance the acidity in the tomatoes. If using a can of tomatoes that are just slightly too acidic, adding a small amount of sugar at the beginning of cooking will help round out the flavors.
• Is spaghetti sauce different than marinara sauce? Spaghetti Sauce is basically a version of marinara sauce. The difference between spaghetti sauce and marinara is the addition of meat in spaghetti sauce. This makes it richer while still having that bright tomato taste like marinara does.
• Can you freeze spaghetti sauce? Yes, you can freeze spaghetti sauce. In fact, it will likely taste even better once it has frozen and thawed because the flavors have had time to blend. To freeze, simply add the sauce to a freezer-safe airtight container, or a gallon freezer bag and freeze. It can last up to 3 months in the freezer.
• What goes with this easy homemade spaghetti sauce recipe? Here are a few recipes that would go well with this homemade spaghetti sauce: Italian Chopped Salad, Macaroni Grill’s Rosemary Bread or garlic bread, Classic New York Cheesecake

Other Great Recipes for Pasta:

• Spaghetti with Browned Butter & Mizhithra Cheese (The Old Spaghetti Factory
• Louisiana Chicken Pasta (The Cheesecake Factory)
• Easy Baked Ravioli
• Olive Garden Fettuccini Alfredo
• Spaghetti with Bolognese Sauce

Final Thoughts

Thank you for checking out my recipe for delicious homemade spaghetti sauce. I hope it has been helpful to give you some ideas of how to make your own pasta sauce at home. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below and I will get back with an answer as soon as possible!

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