There are lots of spaghetti recipes out there, but traditional Italian spaghetti is what started it all. Italian spaghetti is one of those amazingly delicious pasta recipes that stays with you.

The red marinara type sauce has layers of deep rich flavor tempered with plenty of authentic Italian seasonings, but it doesn’t stop there! You’ve got the hint of creamy cheesy goodness and plenty of garlic tempered with slightly sweet undertones that make you crave more.

Forget those processed jars of paste and throw together a beautifully delicious Italian spaghetti sauce made from simple wholesome ingredients!

Let’s get started.

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Recipe Notes

Recipe Variations

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What I Love About Italian Spaghetti Recipe

I love that this Italian spaghetti is so super simple to throw together, but it produces some intensely vibrant flavor. I never knew how easy it was to reproduce the rich aromatic flavors from Italian restaurants. I just love sharing this recipe! Here are some of its best qualities

Quick easy prep
Wildly delicious Italian flavor
Simmer time lets you get other things done
Wholesome pasta meal
Easy break from holiday leftovers

Recipe Notes

There’s no need to make this delicious Italian spaghetti recipe vegetarian style because there’s no meat in it! That’s one of the reasons the prep is so incredibly simple, but the awesome Italian flavor doesn’t disappoint! Here’s how to coax it out.

Using a heavier gauged pot works best for this recipe because it helps distribute heat more evenly. You don’t want scorched sauce on the bottom of your pot, it’ll contaminate your whole dish!

Toss all ingredients in your pot except the spaghetti pasta and parsley. You’ll want to incorporate ingredients well and bring them just to a boil before reducing the heat. You’re looking for a gentle simmer over medium-low heat that barely bubbles. It’ll help build that lovely Italian flavor while protecting the integrity of your sauce.

Ingredient Notes

Making this awesome Italian spaghetti sauce starts with simple wholesome ingredients, which is the beauty of this recipe. No bland pasta sauce from a jar for this trendy mama! Here’s what you need.

Tomato – You’ll be using crushed tomatoes and tomato paste to create this incredible recipe. This is where it all starts!
Alliums – Minced garlic and grated onions help blend savory and slightly sweet for a balanced flavor profile. Besides, you can’t make spaghetti without garlic and onions!
Spices – Lots of vibrant Italian spices make this spaghetti sauce intensely delicious. The delicate combination of rosemary, bay and Italian seasonings bring the flavors of Italy right to your kitchen!
Sugar – This recipe calls for brown sugar instead of white. Be sure to pack your brown sugar when measuring it out. The molasses give your recipe a deeper more complex flavor instead of making it sugary sweet. It’ll just have those slightly sweet undertones that are oh so good!
Pasta – Cooking your pasta just until al dente will keep it from getting mushy. It should still be just a little firm in the middle. You’ll also want to reserve some of the starchy pasta water after it has cooked, just in case you need to thin your sauce.
- It’s also important to sauce your pasta immediately. Don’t rinse it. The hot starch will help the sauce stick to the pasta and evenly coat it for savory saucy flavor in every bite!
Cheese – You can’t make an Italian spaghetti recipe without parmesan cheese!! Instead of sprinkling it on top, this grated parmesan goes into the pot with the sauce to help create that rich creamy texture.

Spaghetti Storing Tips

This spaghetti is likely to get gobbled up quickly, especially when served between portions of yummy Thanksgiving leftovers. Storing your Italian spaghetti is as easy as tossing it in an airtight container with a secure lid. Slide it into the fridge and you’re done.

Can You Freeze This?

Yes and no. This Italian spaghetti sauce freezes really well and the flavor continues to develop as it thaws. You probably don’t want to freeze the pasta, or you’ll end up with a mushy mess. Pasta just doesn’t do well in freezing temperatures.

Make Ahead Tips

This decadently delicious Italian pasta recipe is one that I always like to have on hand, especially during the holiday season and cold winter months. I like to make up a couple of batches of the sauce and toss it in the freezer as soon as the leaves start falling. I know I’ve got plenty of holiday cooking in the future and it just simplifies things to have this yummy sauce ready-made and in the freezer!

How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge?

Your yummy spaghetti sauce will stay good in the fridge for up to 4 days when stored properly. The best part is that the intense flavor will continue to develop into something even more incredible as it rests in the fridge!

Recipe Variations

This recipe for Italian spaghetti is so totally flexible and easy to customize. Tweaking it to suit just about any meal plan is simple and that deep complex flavor of the sauce just keeps getting better and better. Here are a couple of easy suggestions to change things up a bit.

Add your favorite veggies to up the nutrition ante
Serve it over spiralized veggies instead of noodles
Try using different cheeses in the sauce
Toss some meatballs into the sauce as it simmers

Can I Add Meatballs?

Yes, you can!! If you’ve just got an Italian spaghetti and meatball kind of family, you can always go with a spaghetti and meatballs recipe that will blow their minds! This Italian spaghetti is one of my long-standing favorite recipes but sometimes I’ll make instant pot spaghetti and meatballs in a pinch.

More Spaghetti Recipes

There are so many different ways to make spaghetti, it’s almost impossible to count them all. This yummy Italian spaghetti is just the beginning. You can easily build off this recipe and tweak it to suit your family’s preferences and meal plan. Here are some of my best spaghetti dishes you can also try.

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