These days it seems like jarred spaghetti sauce is everywhere. Somehow, we’ve gotten away from those rich complex spaghetti sauce recipes passed down through the generations. Those of you who were lucky enough to partake in one of those flavor-intense pasta sauce recipes remember exactly what I’m talking about!
Well, this delectable recipe is the happy medium between old and new. Jarred pasta recipes have got nothing on this! It’s fragrant, delicious, slightly sweet and easy to throw together. Are you salivating yet?
If not, you will be! Let’s get cookin’….
Jump To…
What I Love About Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
I love that this spaghetti sauce recipe has an old-world flavor that comes from modern conveniences. I can almost smell the sweet red bubbling sauce and the warm aromatic scent of garlic pouring from grandma’s kitchen. Here are some other great qualities.
- Customized simmer time
- Rich complex flavor
- Super easy prep
- Just like grandma used to make
- Wholesome ingredients
Recipe Notes
Learning how to make homemade spaghetti sauce isn’t as difficult as it’s made out to be. There are just a few little trade secrets that’ll help ensure deep rich flavors for miles. Here’s how to do it!
First, take a few minutes to sauté the onion and garlic in the same skillet where you browned the meat. Sautéing veggies before adding them to a recipe helps reduce bitterness and brings out the sweeter more balanced flavor profile.
You’ll also want to try to use heavier-gauge cookware for your sauce. Heavier gauge metal helps distribute heat more evenly and it will help prevent scorching. Lastly, don’t let your sauce boil for any period of time. You’ll want to bring it to a boil and then immediately reduce it to a simmer.
Ingredients Notes
This spaghetti sauce recipe is quite an exquisite rendition of grandma’s secret sauce and once you taste it, you’ll never be the same! The best part is that there aren’t any crazy hard to find ingredients necessary for this easy spaghetti sauce. Here’s what it takes to make this spaghetti sauce from scratch.
Meat – I use a combination of ground beef and pork for this savory spaghetti sauce recipe. It adds a juicy succulence and gives your sauce that little something extra.
Veggies – The garlic and onion are vital to your spaghetti sauce recipe. They are essentially the sweet aromatic base for your tomato products. Be sure to sauté them over medium-low heat for best results.
Tomato Products – The canned tomato products add the convenience factor to your spaghetti sauce recipe because you just open them up and dump them in! The sauce is kind of a given, the crushed tomatoes add that fresh pop of flavor and the paste thickens things up.
Cheese – I like to add a half cup of parmesan to this spaghetti sauce recipe while it’s cooking. It adds that creamy cheesy characteristic that really takes your sauce to the next level! Trust me on this one.
Sugar – This small amount of sugar gives your sauce a slightly sweet crave-worthy flavor that you just can’t get from a jar! The way it melts into your sauce along with that fragrant garlic and those sautéed onions is out of this world!
Storing Tips
Your awesome spaghetti sauce recipe is one of those dishes that gets even more incredible as it sits. It’s hard to believe that it could be any better but it’s always best the second day.
You’ll have to store your leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container. If you’re not trying to freeze it, then you can store it with or without the pasta.
Can You Freeze This?
Oh yeah, baby! This savory recipe is fantastic for meal prep because it can go right into the freezer for a later date.
Don’t worry though, the flavors will continue to develop as it thaws. Just remember to leave some room for expansion.
Make Ahead Tips
I love to whip up a double batch of this awesome recipe and throw one in the freezer. I figure since I’m in the kitchen making it anyway……then I can cure my craving for spaghetti, and I know I’ve got another batch in the freezer for whenever the mood strikes. Leftovers get divvied up into single-serve portions that I can grab for ready-made lunches or have for dinner.
How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge?
According to the USDA, your homemade spaghetti sauce recipe will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days but I promise it’s gonna’ get gobbled up way before then!
Recipe Variations
Changing up this recipe is so super simple. I mean, you’ve got to put your own spin on it, right? There are a lot of different things you can do to make some subtle enhancements. Here are just a few suggestions.
- Add different veggies like mushrooms or bell peppers
- Thin out the sauce with chicken broth instead of water
- Make meatballs instead of meat sauce
- Use a different type of cheese instead of parmesan
- Add a touch of heavy cream
Can I Make This Recipe Meatier?
Of course, you can!! This particular recipe makes a spaghetti meat sauce, but you can always make spaghetti sauce and meatballs instead. Sometimes I’ll make spaghetti sauce with sausage instead of using the ground beef/sausage combination. You can also make this recipe as is and then add some sections of sweet Italian sausage.
Can I Add Liquor To This Recipe?
Everyone cooks differently and I totally understand wanting to make a really decadent spaghetti sauce recipe. Instead of adding alcohol to this particular recipe (which would totally change the flavor), you could try making a vodka sauce pasta. That’ll give you something to rave about! White wine pasta sauce is another popular favorite that you may enjoy.
Can I Make This Creamier?
This homemade recipe is totally decadent, and it has a good creamy factor to it with the added parmesan cheese in the recipe. If you want to take that to the next level, you can always make spaghetti sauce with cream cheese. It’s a rich decadent cream sauce for pasta that will satisfy that inner child.
Can I Make This Pasta Sauce More Italian?
This particular recipe makes an Italian spaghetti sauce that will knock your socks off but if you’re trying to move away from the familiar marinara sauce recipe, I completely understand. You can go in a totally different direction by making a refreshing aromatic pasta primavera sauce! Serve it wearing a curly little mustache if it makes it seem more authentic!
What Other Spaghetti Sauce Can I Make?
Now that you are on a spaghetti sauce recipe kick, you’re probably wondering how many different ways you can adapt this recipe. Better yet, how many different spaghetti sauce recipe ideas do you have?
Crockpot spaghetti sauce is really popular with today’s busy schedules. Now if you’ve got time for canning spaghetti sauce, you can also try making homemade spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes. That’s a recipe you can pass down through the generations!
Spaghetti Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- salt
- black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add beef and pork to pot, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and crumble into small chunks with a wooden spoon and cook until lightly browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a plate.
- Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan and set over medium-low heat. Add the onion, and garlic and cook, until onion is translucent, about 7 minutes.
- Return the browned beef and pork to the pot then add the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil then immediately reduce heat and simmer for 1-4 hours. Add water if needed to thin.
Fans Also Made:
None found
RATE THIS RECIPENutrition
More Pasta Sauce Recipes
Making pasta is a wholesome convenient way to feed the fam without having to spend all day in the kitchen. I mean, who’s got time for that anymore?? However, serving pasta means you’ll need some awesome pasta sauce recipes and I can help with that. Here are some of my favorite pasta sauce recipes you can try. From the kiddos to the in-laws, there’s something for everyone!
- Lemon Pasta Sauce – A light refreshing pop of flavor in every bite!
- Olive Oil Pasta Sauce – Simple, wholesome love on a plate.
- Butter Sauce for Pasta – Comes together fast and appeals to the pickiest palates.
- Cheese Sauce for Pasta – Because everyone needs a great cheese sauce.
- Avocado Pasta – Don’t knock it until you try it. This one is decadent, wholesome and nutritious.
Conclusion
Making spaghetti sauce doesn’t have to be an all-day affair but it can taste like it is! This recipe is full of rich complex flavors that’ll make grandma proud and it’ll redefine your relationship with spaghetti altogether. It comes together quickly, and you can simmer it for 1-4 hours, depending on your schedule and your needs. This flavor-intense recipe will make you forget jarred pasta sauces for good!
Leave a Reply