By Laurel Perry
Published Mar 8, 2024
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.
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.
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 .
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 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
Video
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
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 is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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.
More Pasta Sauce Recipes We Love
- Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce
- Marinara Sauce
- Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce
- Beef Bolognese
- Homemade Alfredo Sauce
- Basil Walnut Pesto
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
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
Video
Notes
- 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
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
