This Homemade Spaghetti Sauce recipe is sure to turn any bowl of noodles into the most delicious and comforting Italian dinner. This pasta sauce is easy to make from scratch with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and the best herbs & spices.
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What’s in This Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe?
Crushed tomatoes, onion, carrot, garlic, sugar, and herbs meld together in a pot to create the perfect homemade tomato sauce for your next bowl of spaghetti!
- Oil: It’s important to use extra-virgin olive oil in this sauce for its rich flavor.
- Onion: Chopped yellow onion adds a touch of earthy sweetness to the sauce.
- Carrot: A finely grated carrot practically melts into the sauce to balance out its acidity.
- Garlic: Adds an earthy flavor to the sauce.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Add a touch of spice to the sauce.
- Tomatoes: Canned crushed tomatoes and tomato paste form the base of the sauce, adding rich tomato flavor and delicate acidity.
- Oregano: Adds a fresh and herbal flavor to the sauce.
- Sugar: A touch of granulated sugar cuts the acidity of the sauce.
- Basil: Fresh basil adds a pop of color and fresh herbal flavor.
Notes from the Test Kitchen
The flavor of this spaghetti sauce comes primarily from the oil and tomatoes, so use the best canned tomatoes that are available to you. The better the tomato product, the better the sauce!
Variations on Easy Spaghetti Sauce
This is a classic homemade spaghetti sauce recipe, but you can certainly make adjustments to suit your tastes. Try adding some sliced mushrooms, ground beef, or browned Italian sausage for a meatier sauce. Or add some roasted red bell peppers for a smoky flavor. For a pop of richness, stir in some red wine; or for a creamy sauce, stir in some heavy cream.
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How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover homemade spaghetti sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in a pot set over medium-low heat or in the microwave until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze homemade spaghetti sauce in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 6 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. This sauce is also great to freeze in individual portions for easy access any time a craving strikes.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this homemade spaghetti sauce over some homemade pasta (spaghetti, penne, or any type of pasta you like) with a side of garlic bread. Or use it for dipping with appetizers like mozzarella sticks, pizza pinwheels, or air fryer pizza rolls.
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
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Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- ½ cup finely grated carrot
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes (1 large can)
- 6 ounces tomato paste (1 small can)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- ½ cup torn fresh basil
Instructions
- In a medium pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add in the onion and carrots. Cook until softened, 5-7 minutes.¼ cup olive oil, 1 yellow onion, ½ cup finely grated carrot
- Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.3 cloves garlic, ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper, oregano, and sugar.28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes, 6 ounces tomato paste, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. As the sauce thickens, you may want to put the lid on the pot to prevent splatters. If the sauce gets too thick, add a splash of water.
- Taste and adjust seasonings. Stir in the fresh basil and serve.½ cup torn fresh basil
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Use the best canned tomatoes you have! The better the tomato product, the better the sauce!
- If you don’t have fresh basil, add 2 teaspoons of dried basil in step 3.
- If your sauce scorches or otherwise tastes bitter, try adding a pinch of baking soda.
Nutrition Information
How to Make Spaghetti Sauce Step by Step
Sauté the Vegetables: In a medium pot, heat ¼ cup of olive oil over medium heat. Add in 1 chopped yellow onion and ½ cup finely grated carrots. Cook until softened, 5-7 minutes.
Add the Tomatoes: Stir in 3 minced cloves of garlic and ⅛ teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in 28 ounces (1 large can) of crushed tomatoes, 6 ounces (1 small can) of tomato paste, ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt, ⅛ teaspoon of ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon of dried oregano, and 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar.
Thicken the Sauce: Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. As the sauce thickens, you may want to put the lid on the pot to prevent splatters. If the sauce gets too thick, add a splash of water.
Stir in the Basil: Taste and adjust seasonings. Stir in ½ cup of torn fresh basil and serve.
While they’re not the same, they are very similar. Marinara sauce is simpler and has fewer ingredients, while this spaghetti sauce incorporates grated carrots, tomato paste, oregano, and sugar to deepen the flavor, creating a more rounded sauce.
Absolutely! The taste difference alone should be enough to convince you, but you can also rest easy knowing that you know every ingredient in this homemade spaghetti sauce.
So important! It helps to intensify the tomato flavor without making the sauce watery.
Yes! Just a little bit of sugar helps to cut the acidity of the tomatoes, creating a more balanced sauce.
It sure does! While you only need to simmer this sauce for 20-30 minutes, you can keep it going for a few hours if you like. The flavor will continue to concentrate as it cooks down.
If your sauce tastes bitter, you may have scorched it. It’s important to stir the sauce every so often to prevent burning! You can remedy some of the bitter flavor by adding a pinch of baking soda.
You can absolutely use spaghetti sauce on your pizza! We do it all the time.
