Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (2024)

This homemade spaghetti sauce recipe is easy to make and perfect over almost any kind of pasta.

Jam packed with flavor, this spaghetti sauce is made with ground beef, Italian sausage, and seasonings in a zesty tomato sauce.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (1)

Our Go-To Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

  • This recipe is so easy to make at home.
  • Made with sausage and ground beef, it’s hearty and filling.
  • Stretch this sauce even further with extra veggies or canned tomatoes.
  • Make a double or triple batch, this spaghetti sauce freezes well for future meals.
  • Enjoy it over spaghetti noodles or other pasta shapes, or use it lasagna.
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (2)

Ingredients for Spaghetti Sauce

Meat – Ground beef and Italian sausage add lots of flavor. You can use just one or the other if you’d like. The sausage adds extra flavor, so if you replace it, add extra Italian seasoning.

Veggies – Onion and fresh garlic add flavor, while shredded carrot adds just a bit of sweetness to balance the tang of the tomatoes. Replace the carrot with a small amount of sugar or a finely diced red bell pepper.

Other great additions to a homemade spaghetti sauce recipe include green bell pepper, mushrooms, or shredded zucchini.

Tomatoes – Spaghetti sauce has a base of canned crushed tomatoes (you can replace it with marinara sauce if you’d like). Tomato paste adds a zesty flavor, while diced tomatoes add texture. If you prefer a smoother sauce, use all crushed tomatoes and simmer a bit longer.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (3)
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (4)
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (5)
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (6)

How to Make Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

This is an easy spaghetti sauce recipe – most of the time is spent simmering.

  1. Brown Italian sausage, beef, onion, & garlic in a skillet or Dutch oven.
  2. Stir in the remaining ingredients & simmer (as per the recipe below).
  3. Season with salt and pepper and stir in fresh herbs if using.

Feeling Fancy?

  • Fresh herbs add a really great flavor to this spaghetti sauce recipe. If using fresh basil or fresh parsley, stir it in right before serving and reserve a little bit for garnish.
  • If you have a parmesan cheese rind, add it while the sauce simmers and discard before serving.
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (7)

Tips for Perfect Homemade Pasta Sauce

  • For a thicker sauce, simmer longer on the stove without the lid. This will cause the liquid in the sauce to evaporate.
  • Add dry seasonings or spices at the beginning of cooking and fresh herbs at the end of cooking.
  • Don’t rinse the pasta. When the sauce is added to the noodles, some of the starch in the pasta will thicken the sauce slightly and help it to adhere to the noodles.

Storing Leftovers

This spaghetti sauce recipe is great for meal prep.

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Freeze leftover spaghetti sauce in an airtight container or a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
  • Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

More Favorite Pasta Sauce Recipes

Homemade Bolognese Sauce (Pappardelle)

Pasta

Ground Turkey Pasta Sauce

Pasta

Chicken Alfredo

Pasta

Vodka Sauce

Pasta

Did your family love this homemade Spaghetti Sauce? Leave a rating and a comment below!

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (12)

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (13)

4.99 from 131 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

This spaghetti sauce recipe is rich and meaty with lots of zesty flavor.

Save

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (15)

Servings 8 servings

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (16)

Author Holly Nilsson

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 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 can diced tomatoes with juices
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 1 cup water
  • ¼ cup *carrot grated
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley optional

Instructions

  • In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the beef, sausage, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until no pink remains, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain fat.

  • Add diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, Italian seasoning, carrot, basil, salt, and pepper.

  • Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until thickened.

  • Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Stir in fresh parsley if using.

  • Serve over spaghetti or cooked pasta.

Notes

*Shredded carrots add sweetness to balance the tart flavor of the tomatoes. Carrot can be replaced with ½ finely diced red bell pepper or a small pinch of sugar.

If substituting Italian sausage for another ground meat such as ground beef or pork, increase the Italian seasoning to 2 teaspoons and add ½ teaspoon oregano and a pinch of red pepper flakes.

To thicken this homemade spaghetti sauce further, let it simmer uncovered.

Do not rinse the spaghetti after draining as the starches in the pasta will thicken the sauce slightly and help it stick to the noodles.

Spaghetti sauce can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.

4.99 from 131 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 251 | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 691mg | Potassium: 1003mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1327IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (18) Course Main Course, Pasta, Sauce

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (19) Cuisine American, Italian

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (20)
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (21)
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (22)
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (23)

Categories:

Ground Beef, Main Dishes, Pasta, Recipes, Slow Cooker

Like our recipes?
Follow us on Pinterest!

Follow us on Pinterest

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (24)

Recipes you'll love

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Slow Cooker

Homemade Mac and Cheese Casserole

Casseroles

Easy Homemade Lasagna

Pasta

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad

Cabbage and Noodles

Pasta

Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings

Main Dishes

About the author

Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
See more posts by Holly

Follow Holly on social media:

pinterest facebook twitter instagram

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (32)

Free eBook!

Subscribe to receive weekly recipes and get a FREE Bonus e-book: Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals!

You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of emails you receive.

Latest & Greatest

Tuna Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad

Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole

Pasta

Taco Spaghetti

Pasta

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Pasta

American Goulash Recipe

Pasta

Baked Mac and Cheese

Pasta

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Frankie Dare

Last Updated:

Views: 6681

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Frankie Dare

Birthday: 2000-01-27

Address: Suite 313 45115 Caridad Freeway, Port Barabaraville, MS 66713

Phone: +3769542039359

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Baton twirling, Stand-up comedy, Leather crafting, Rugby, tabletop games, Jigsaw puzzles, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Frankie Dare, I am a funny, beautiful, proud, fair, pleasant, cheerful, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.