Amazing Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

Nothing beats the rich, comforting taste of homemade spaghetti sauce. This classic Italian pasta sauce combines ground beef, sausage, tomatoes, and aromatic herbs for deep, layered flavors that jarred sauces can’t match. Best part? It’s surprisingly easy to make from scratch.

Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (Italian Pasta Sauce)

"Try this rich, zesty homemade spaghetti sauce recipe—perfect for Italian pasta dishes! Easy, flavorful, and the best tomato sauce for any meal."

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Pasta, Sauce

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 1

Calories 251 kcal

Ingredients

  

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• 1 pound lean ground beef
• ½ pound Italian sausage casings removed, or bulk sausage
• 1 medium yellow onion diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juices
• 28 ounces crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
• 6 ounces tomato paste
• 1 cup water
• ¼ cup shredded carrot or a pinch of sugar
• 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or fresh basil (optional)

Instructions

 

• Heat the beef, sausage, onion, and garlic in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat for 5 to 6 minutes until fully browned. Remove excess fat.
• Combine diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, carrot, Italian seasoning, basil, salt, and pepper.
• Simmer over medium-high heat. Lower to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until thickened.
• Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper as needed. Mix in fresh parsley if desired.
• Top spaghetti or cooked pasta with the sauce.

Notes

- Shredded carrots balance tartness; substitute with ½ diced red bell pepper or a pinch of sugar.
- For ground meat swaps, increase Italian seasoning to 2 tsp, add ½ tsp oregano and red pepper flakes.
- Simmer uncovered to thicken; don’t rinse pasta. Store sauce up to 4 days in fridge or 4 months frozen.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 251kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 20gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 691mgFiber: 4gSugar: 10g

Keyword best homemade sauce, easy spaghetti sauce, homemade spaghetti sauce, Italian pasta sauce, tomato sauce recipe

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Why This Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Works

The secret to incredible homemade spaghetti sauce lies in three key elements:

• Meat combo: Ground beef provides hearty texture while Italian sausage adds depth
• Tomato trifecta: Diced, crushed, and paste create perfect consistency
• Flavor builders: Garlic, onion, carrot (for sweetness), and Italian seasoning

Essential Ingredients for Authentic Flavor

This tomato sauce recipe uses simple ingredients that work together to create magic:

Meats

• Ground beef (80/20 blend for best flavor)
• Italian sausage (mild or hot based on preference)

Tomatoes

• Canned diced tomatoes
• Crushed tomatoes
• Tomato paste (for concentrated flavor)

Aromatics & Seasonings

• Yellow onion
• Fresh garlic
• Shredded carrot (natural sweetener)
• Italian seasoning blend
• Dried basil
• Salt and black pepper

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions

1. Brown the Meats

In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage until nicely browned. Break up the meat into small pieces as it cooks for even texture.

2. Sauté the Aromatics

Add diced onion and cook until translucent (about 5 minutes). Stir in minced garlic and cook just until fragrant (30 seconds). The garlic-onion base builds incredible depth in this easy spaghetti sauce.

3. Build the Sauce

Stir in tomato paste and let it cook for 1 minute to deepen its flavor. Add diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, shredded carrot, and all seasonings. Bring to a gentle simmer.

4. Simmer to Perfection

Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce will thicken and the flavors will intensify as it cooks.

Pro Tips for the Best Homemade Sauce

• For extra richness, add a Parmesan rind while simmering
• If sauce gets too thick, add ¼ cup of pasta water or broth
• Let the sauce rest 10 minutes before serving – flavors develop further
• Double the batch and freeze portions for quick meals

Serving Suggestions

This versatile best homemade sauce works beautifully with:

• Classic spaghetti noodles
• Meatballs for spaghetti and meatballs
• Lasagna layers
• Baked ziti or other pasta bakes
• As a dipping sauce for garlic bread

For more Italian-inspired recipes, check out our pasta recipes collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this sauce vegetarian?

Absolutely! Simply omit the meats and add extra vegetables like mushrooms, bell peppers, or zucchini. The tomato base and seasonings still create fantastic flavor.

How long does homemade sauce keep?

Refrigerated in an airtight container, it stays fresh for 4-5 days. It also freezes well for up to 3 months.

What’s the purpose of the carrot?

The shredded carrot adds natural sweetness that balances the acidity of the tomatoes without adding sugar. It dissolves into the sauce as it cooks.

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The Magic of Slow-Simmered Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

There’s something almost alchemical that happens when you let a homemade spaghetti sauce bubble away on the stove for hours. The aromas that drift through your kitchen tell the story – first the sharp punch of garlic hitting hot oil, then the sweet perfume of onions softening, followed by the rich umami of browning meat. By the time the tomatoes join the party, your entire home smells like an Italian grandmother’s kitchen.

I remember the first time I made this homemade spaghetti sauce recipe for a dinner party. My friends arrived to find me stirring a pot of deep red sauce, the surface occasionally erupting with tiny bubbles that released bursts of herbal fragrance. “Whatever you’re making smells incredible,” they all said, almost in unison. That night, we devoured two pounds of pasta and an entire loaf of garlic bread, with people going back for third helpings of sauce alone.

The Science Behind Perfect Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

What makes this homemade spaghetti sauce so special isn’t just the ingredients – it’s the chemical reactions that occur during cooking. When you brown the meats, the Maillard reaction creates hundreds of new flavor compounds. The acidity of the tomatoes mellows as they cook, while the natural sugars concentrate. Even the humble carrot serves an important purpose – its beta-carotene helps neutralize tomato acidity while adding subtle sweetness.

Here’s a pro tip most home cooks don’t know: The fat from the Italian sausage actually carries fat-soluble flavors throughout the sauce, ensuring every bite is packed with taste. This is why using both ground beef and sausage creates such a remarkably flavorful homemade spaghetti sauce compared to single-meat versions.

The Flavor Timeline

Watch how the flavors transform as your homemade spaghetti sauce cooks:

• 0-10 minutes: Bright, acidic tomato flavors dominate
• 10-20 minutes: Herbs begin releasing their essential oils
• 20-30 minutes: Ingredients start blending harmoniously
• 30+ minutes: Deep, complex umami flavors develop

Memories Made With Homemade Sauce

Some of my fondest food memories revolve around homemade spaghetti sauce. There was the blustery autumn Sunday when my entire apartment building smelled like simmering tomatoes, prompting neighbors to knock on my door asking what that amazing aroma was. (I sent them home with jars of sauce, of course.) Or the time I taught my niece to make this recipe, her small hands carefully measuring dried basil while standing on a step stool to reach the stove.

This is the magic of homemade spaghetti sauce – it’s not just dinner, it’s an experience. The rhythmic stirring becomes meditation. The wafting scents create anticipation. And the first bite? Pure comfort in a bowl.

5 Unexpected Ways to Use Your Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

While this homemade spaghetti sauce shines on pasta, its uses go far beyond spaghetti night:

1. Breakfast Shakshuka

Simmer sauce in a skillet, make wells, and crack eggs into them. Cover until eggs set for an incredible brunch.

2. Stuffed Pepper Filling

Mix sauce with rice and ground meat for perfect stuffed peppers.

3. Pizza Sauce Upgrade

Thin slightly with water and spread on homemade pizza dough.

4. Meatball Sub Sauce

Simmer cooked meatballs in sauce for authentic subs.

5. Eggplant Parmesan Base

Layer with breaded eggplant and cheese for a vegetarian masterpiece.

The Freezer Secret Every Cook Should Know

One batch of this homemade spaghetti sauce makes about 8 cups – perfect for freezing in portions. Here’s how to do it right:

1. Cool sauce completely (about 2 hours at room temp)
2. Portion into freezer bags or containers (2-cup portions work well)
3. Label with date and contents
4. Freeze flat for easy stacking

Frozen sauce keeps its quality for 3 months. To use, thaw overnight in fridge or place frozen block in saucepan with ¼ cup water over low heat.

Wine Pairings for Your Homemade Masterpiece

The rich flavors of this homemade spaghetti sauce pair beautifully with:

• Chianti Classico: Bright acidity cuts through the sauce’s richness
• Barbera d’Asti: Fruit-forward with soft tannins
• Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: Earthy notes complement the meat
• Dry Rosé: Surprisingly perfect for summer spaghetti nights

For non-alcoholic options, try sparkling water with lemon or a tart cherry juice spritzer.

The Ultimate Comfort Food Experience

On stressful days, few things soothe the soul like a bowl of pasta with this homemade spaghetti sauce. The ritual of cooking becomes therapy – the methodical chopping of onions, the rhythmic stirring as the sauce thickens, the way the kitchen windows steam up from the simmering pot. And when you finally twirl that first forkful of pasta coated in rich, meaty sauce, time seems to slow down just a little.

This is why we cook – not just to feed ourselves, but to create moments of pure enjoyment. To fill our homes with enticing aromas that draw loved ones to the table. To master recipes like this homemade spaghetti sauce that become part of our family traditions.

So gather your ingredients, put on some Italian music, and let the magic happen. Your future self – and anyone lucky enough to share your table – will thank you.