How To Make Easy Spaghetti Sauce

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Homemade Pasta Sauce Recipes

How to Make Quick Spaghetti Sauce | Pasta Recipes | Allrecipes.com

Before we dive into thickening strategies, lets talk homemade sauce recipes. Here are a few delicious options for you to choose from!

Want To Learn How To Make Pasta Sauce This Simple Recipe Is A Great Place To Start It’s On The Table In Just 20 Minutes

Store-bought pasta sauce is undoubtedly convenient. As long as you have one jar in the pantry, you have the key component for many of our favorite weeknight dinners. But what if we told you that a good pasta sauce doesnt have to simmer on the stovetop for hours. In fact, you can make some homemade pasta sauce recipes in the time it takes to boil the pasta! Well show you how to make pasta sauce with pantry staples you likely already have on hand, in less time than you think.

Family Tested Dad Approved

Part of the reason we worked so hard to perfect this canned spaghetti sauce recipe is because of our dad. To know him is to know his passionate love for Italian food. He is super picky about spaghetti sauce it has to be just right. Well, were happy to report that we served this sauce at family dinner recently and our dad loved it! He couldnt get enough. In fact, he used a spoon to get all the excess off his plate. Hes crazy about this savory sauce, and you will be too!

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Spaghetti And Meat Sauce

Minutes Prep Time: 25

  • 12 ounces dry spaghetti, uncooked

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil

  • 1 pound ground round beef

  • 1 can Hunt’s® Traditional Pasta Sauce

  • Grated Parmesan cheese, optional

  • Cook spaghetti according to package directions.

  • Step two

    Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion cook 3 to 5 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring frequently. Add garlic and cook 1 minute or until fragrant. Add beef cook 7 minutes or until beef is crumbled and no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Drain.

  • Step three

    Add pasta sauce to skillet stir together. Simmer covered over medium-low heat 10 minutes or until hot. Serve meat sauce with spaghetti. Sprinkle with cheese, if desired.

Homemade Canned Spaghetti Sauce

Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Homemade Canned Spaghetti Sauce is FAR better than anything you can find in a store. Youll love the rich, savory flavor. The best way to use fresh garden tomatoes!

This canned spaghetti sauce is HANDS-DOWN the very best with home-grown tomatoes. We are kind of crazy about our tomatoes over here.

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Helpful Hints For A Perfect Spaghetti Sauce:

1.) Pick the right crushed tomatoes.

There are so many ways to make sure your sauce can be perfect every time. You first need to start with the best quality crushed tomatoes. When you buy your crushed tomatoes, make sure that you are buying ones that do not have any seasoning added. Often times you can buy crushed tomatoes with basil and salt already added, which can throw off the taste when you take into account the spices I add to my tomatoes.

You also want to decide if you like a chunky or smooth spaghetti sauce. We prefer a smooth sauce, so I like to buy Tuttorosso or Hunts crushed tomatoes. If you prefer a chunky sauce, you may want to use whole tomatoes or buy a chunky canned crushed tomato.

2.) Add Ground Beef or Italian sausage.

You can easily add ground beef or Italian sausage to this sauce. We typically brown it before adding it to the sauce. Another thing that we like to add is the big sausage links. That way, if the kids dont like them they can pick them out without it affecting the entire pot of sauce.

3.) Use canned crushed or fresh tomatoes.

When using canned tomatoes vs fresh tomatoes there are a few things to consider. If you are growing your own tomatoes at home, it is obviously going to be cheaper to make a sauce using your own tomatoes. You will need approx 15 medium-sized tomatoes to equal 3 28 oz cans of crushed tomatoes.

Lets take a look at how to make a homemade spaghetti sauce using fresh tomatoes.

Tips For Making Ahead And Freezing Spaghetti Sauce:

If you plan to can this sauce or freeze it you will want to omit the Parmesan cheese. Make a note on the freezer bag and add the cheese when you cook the sauce following the recipe.

We often add ground beef or Italian sausage to it BEFORE freezing it. This just makes it that much easier to cook!

You can make this sauce with either canned crushed tomatoes or fresh tomatoes.

When I make my Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs I put the meatballs and sauce directly in the bag before I freeze it. Then throw it in the crockpot in the morning. In 6 hours I have a delicious and healthy meal for my family!

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How To Make This Spaghetti And Meat Sauce

Truly fantastic homemade spaghetti sauce is easier to make than youd think, but it does take time.

Brown the beef. Drain off any excess fat, then, throw in the chopped celery, onion, and garlic and cook until the vegetables soften.

Boil and simmer. Dump the rest of the homemade pasta sauce ingredients into the pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Once the spaghetti sauce is boiling, reduce the heat and let it simmer on the stove for 3 hours. I know 3 hours sounds like forever, but thats how long it takes to make a rich, flavorful meat sauce. Just do what the Italians do, .

Cook your noodles. Once the homemade spaghetti sauce has had time to simmer, all thats left to do is boiling the spaghetti noodles according to package instructions and dish it up!

To Cook The Best Spaghetti We Have A Few Simple Tricks

How To Make The Best Pasta Sauce | Delish Insanely Easy

Check the package directions of the spaghetti you plan to cook. On the box, there should be an approximate cook time for al-dente, which means the pasta will be tender, but not mushy. It will still have a bit of a bite, which is perfect.

When you know the suggested cook time, set a timer for a minute or so before it. So if the box suggests 10 minutes, set a timer for 8 minutes.

This way, at the 8-minute mark, you can check on the spaghetti to make sure it isnt done already. The box directions are a helpful guide, but its always a good idea to check the pasta early!

Cook the spaghetti in salted water. The water should taste salty. This seasons the pasta as it cooks and is necessary for the best-tasting pasta.

Toss the cooked spaghetti with a flavorful sauce like our homemade spaghetti sauce. Dont just spoon the sauce on top of the pasta.

For more spaghetti recipes, look at this baked spaghetti is similar to lasagna, but easier and if you love veggies, try our easy veggie spaghetti.

If you were looking to reduce the carbohydrates in your dish, swap half or all of the pasta with zucchini noodles. Heres our recipe for zucchini noodles pasta.

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How To Freeze Spaghetti Sauce

Let the sauce cool completely. Pour into a freezer safe container and seal. Sauce will keep for 3 to 4 months in the freezer.

To thaw, let the sauce thaw in a sink of cool water. Once thawed, pour sauce into a pot on the stovetop to reheat or in a large microwave safe bowl for the microwave. You can also reheat it from frozen by adding it to your slow cooker and letting it cook for 5 to 6 hours on low.

How Much Spaghetti Sauce Should I Make

This is a very easy recipe to double so before you start cooking consider how much sauce you think youll really need.

A single batch of this recipe is enough for 4 people if you dont want any leftovers and you dont anticipate anyone wanting extra helpings. When Im just making this for my family this is plenty because Im feeding two adults and two children. My daughter eats a small serving so my husband and son can still go back for seconds with no problem.

A double batch can serve 8 people or 4 to 6 people who may want extra helpings. I often choose to double this recipe so that my family of 4 will have leftovers! Because who doesnt want leftovers?! This spaghetti sauce is soooooooo good the second day!

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Can You Freeze Spaghetti Sauce

I often make a few batches of this spaghetti sauce to keep in the freezer for later use.

To freeze pasta sauce, again be sure it is cooled completely. Transfer to freezer-safe containers, leaving enough room for the sauce to expand as it freezes. Cover tightly and be sure to label the container clearly with content and date.

Thaw the sauce in the fridge overnight. Warm up over medium heat, stirring as needed.

Serve The Sauce On The Spaghetti

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

If you want to use a colander, reserve some pasta water. Otherwise, use a pasta fork to take the pasta directly from the pot and place into the sauce . Just remember, the spaghetti goes into the sauce, not the other way around. You can have it over very low heat to keep the pasta super hot .

Mix well. If the pasta soaks up the sauce and seems too dry, add a little pasta water.

Add sauce until the pasta is completely coated.

There are two ways to serve spaghetti: twirled , or simply placed as is, into a bowl .

To serve restaurant style, use a large fork, or tongs to twirl the pasta inside a ladle.

Then simply place onto the bowl, or plate.

Top with a sprig of basil, and serve!

Family-style or homestyle, is easier: just place the spaghetti into a plate or bowl.

You can still add that sprig of basil.

However, either way, a good grating of Parmigiano Reggiano, or Pecorino Romano is an added bonus!

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Cooking The Meat + Get The Water Boiling

Next you will need to cook the of meat. Take all of the meat out of its container and set it all in a large pan, then put the pan on the stove and set the stove to medium.

After that you will need to break the meat into smaller pieces. When the meat is in small pieces you will then need to start flipping the meat and make sure it gets brown all-around and cooked thoroughly. The cooking should take approximately 10-15 minutes. When all of the meat is brown and cooked you can add in the sauce.

What Pasta Should You Use With This Sauce

When it comes to pasta and sauce pairings, spaghetti paired with a tomato-based pasta sauce is always a hit. The long, thin noodle holds up to an even coating of sauce that guarantees a flavorful experience in every bite. You can use dried or fresh pastajust make sure its cooked to al dente for the best texture. Add on some quick meatballs and youve got a classic, delicious dinner.

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About This Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

I use four different forms of canned tomatoes to make this homemade spaghetti sauce: tomato paste, crushed tomatoes with their juice, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes with their juice.

Although homemade spaghetti sauce requires a nice long simmer on the stove, most of that time is hands-off. You could also use a slow cooker to simmer the spaghetti sauce on low for 8 hours.

Why bother making homemade when you can buy a jar of sauce at the grocery store? Once you taste this sauce, youll know the answer to that question! Anything thats freshly made beats canned by a long shot. Plus you can be confident in knowing that the sauce you make is preservative and additive free, and made with love.

Listen for the Grazie thats sure to come your way. The correct response to that is Prego!.

Super Simple Marinara Sauce

How to Make Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Meet the marinara sauce recipe of my dreams! Ive always been intimidated by marinara, maybe because I love it so much that I was afraid of messing it up. I finally faced my fears and tried making marinara every which way. This version is my favorite, no contest.

This homemade marinara sauce offers rich and lively tomato flavor. Youll need only five basic pantry ingredients to make this delicious marinara sauce: good canned tomatoes, onion, garlic, dried oregano and olive oil. Thats it!

This marinara is exceptionally easy to make, too, so its perfect for busy weeknights. You dont even have to chop the onion and garlic. Yep, thats rightjust crank open a can of tomatoes, halve an onion and peel some garlic. Youre ready to go!

This sauce offers lovely, authentic Italian flavor after a 45-minute simmer. I tried to take shortcuts to make it even faster, but no amount of tomato paste, spices, salt or sugar will make up for lost time.

Bottom line: Its impossible to achieve enchanting, long-simmered marinara flavor in under 45 minutes. So throw those ingredients in a pot, pour yourself a glass of wine and boil water for pasta. Dinner is almost ready.

After trying many variations on marinara sauce, I adapted this recipe from Debs tomato sauce with onion and butter, which was originally sourced from Marcella Hazans 1992 cookbook, Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking.

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How To Prepare Tomatoes For Freezing

If you have fresh garden tomatoes on your hands, be sure to freeze extras so you can turn them into a sauce later. Prepping fresh tomatoes for freezing is super easy! Dont waste those juicy red morsels that have spent the summer growing in your garden.

Learn the best method for freezing whole tomatoes to thaw and use them in the coming winter months!

Faq About Spaghetti Sauce

Is spaghetti sauce gluten free?

Most spaghetti sauce recipes are gluten-free. When looking for gluten-free store-bought varieties, check the label for ingredients that contain wheat.

Are spaghetti sauce and pizza sauce the same?

Pizza sauce is typically made using tomato sauce, tomato paste and seasonings and is cooked briefly on the stovetop. Spaghetti sauce is made using additional ingredients such as onions, bay leaves and crushed tomatoes and simmers for a couple hours to help enhance the flavor.

Can spaghetti sauce be used for pizza?

Spaghetti sauce sauce can be used in place of pizza sauce in a pinch. First, run the sauce through a strainer to get rid of excess liquid. Transfer to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon each of fennel seed and Italian seasoning.

Does spaghetti sauce go bad?

Unopened spaghetti sauce will typically remain at optimal quality for approximately 1 year, but can be used past that. Opened sauce will remain fresh when stored properly in the fridge for up to 10 days. Discard if visible signs of mold are present.

Can spaghetti sauce be frozen?

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Reasons To Make This Recipe

Wondering why making your own pasta sauce is worth it?

  • This easy sauce recipe uses tomato paste and canned tomatoes. No peeling or chopping necessary.
  • Lots of herbs give the spaghetti sauce an aromatic Italian flavor.
  • Its ready to eat in 30 minutes. I cook my pasta while the sauce is simmering so everything is ready at once.
  • Easy to make ahead and store or freeze for later.

Give me a bowl of spaghetti noodles covered in tomato sauce and Im a happy girl. Store bought spaghetti sauce is fine but making your own sauce from scratch is so much better!

This is one of those recipes thats bound to become a staple in your home. If you have pasta lovers in your family like I do, this is the best go-to homemade spaghetti sauce for those busy weeknights. As easy as it is to make, its tasty enough to serve to a dinner guest too.

Youll love the way the sauce makes your kitchen smell as its simmering! The garlic and herb aroma is so tantalizing that everyone will be lining up for a taste.

Four: Cook Your Onion And Garlic

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

At this point you have a couple options. If you just want diced tomatoes, you only need to cut your tomatoes up small and freeze them as-is. Simple! If youre going to make spaghetti sauce from scratch, now is when you will begin cooking the onions and garlic.

Start by heating up about a tablespoon of olive oil in a small skillet, on medium heat. Dice your onion while it warms. I actually used onions that were also from my garden. Theyre tiny, but man they pack a punch! My eyes were burning and watering like crazy, and the kids got a kick out of me flailing around the kitchen I mean, I was super cool about the whole thing.

Dont forget to keep an eye on the oil while youre chopping, so it doesnt burn. Youll know its hot enough when it moves like water in the pan. Reduce the heat and add your onions, stirring often. When theyre almost translucent, add minced garlic . Garlic burns easily, so only cook it for a minute or two, and watch it closely!

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