Homemade Pasta Sauce

This easy homemade pasta sauce comes together in one pot with simple ingredients for a flavorful, hearty meal. Perfect for tossing with spaghetti or your favorite pasta and topped with Parmesan!

Easy Homemade Pasta Sauce Recipe

• Quick prep and all made in one pot
• Bold, delicious flavors with just a handful of pantry ingredients

Ingredients for Homemade Pasta Sauce

• Olive Oil: Adds richness and helps sauté the onion for a flavorful base. Substitute with avocado oil or grapeseed oil.
• Yellow Onion: Provides sweetness and depth. A white onion or shallots work too.
• Butter: Adds a silky texture and extra flavor. Salted or unsalted works!
• Garlic: Fresh garlic brings a rich, aromatic flavor. Use about a teaspoon garlic powder if fresh isn’t available.
• Herbs and Spices: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder are the perfect trifecta to add tons of flavor to this sauce in just seconds. You can also use a mix of dried oregano, dried thyme, and dried basil in place of the Italian seasoning.
• Tomato Paste: Intensifies the tomato flavor and adds richness. A tube of it will stay fresh in the fridge for at least a month.
• Crushed Tomatoes: Creates a hearty texture. Substitute with diced tomatoes for a chunkier sauce.
• Tomato Sauce: Balances out the texture and adds a smooth consistency.
• Granulated Sugar: Cuts acidity and rounds out the flavor. Honey can be used instead. Add as much as you like or omit if you prefer.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds savory depth and umami. Soy sauce or balsamic vinegar can be used as a substitute.
• Bay Leaves: Infuse the sauce with subtle, earthy flavor.
• Fresh Basil: Brightens up the sauce at the end. Use dried basil if needed, but reduce the amount to about a tablespoon.

How to Make Homemade Pasta Sauce

Sauté the Onion. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, for about 6 minutes until translucent and starting to caramelize.

Add Butter, Garlic, and Seasonings. Stir in the butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant.

Incorporate Tomato Paste. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another 2 minutes to deepen the flavor.

Add Remaining Ingredients. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaves. Stir until everything is well combined.

Simmer the Sauce. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low and cover. Simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Finish the Sauce. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Stir in the fresh basil and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve and Enjoy. Toss with your favorite pasta, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and enjoy with my easy homemade garlic bread!

Tips for Making Homemade Pasta Sauce

• Use salt and pepper liberally in this sauce. The ingredient list is short and sweet, so you’ll need to season moderately to really boost the delicious flavors.
• Use high-quality canned tomatoes for the best flavor. I usually try to find Cento.
• Double the recipe and freeze half for an easy meal later.

Make-Ahead Instructions

• This sauce can be made 3-4 days in advance.
• Store it in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freezing Homemade Pasta Sauce

• Cool the sauce completely, then freeze in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
• Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating Homemade Pasta Sauce

• Reheat sauce in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.
• Add a splash of water or broth to loosen it up if it’s too thick.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

Use Pasta Sauce to Make:

• easy sheet pan lasagna
• instant pot spaghetti and meat sauce
• skillet ravioli with ground beef
• meatball and pasta casserole
• easy spaghetti pie
• cheesy zucchini lasagna
• meatball sub sandwiches

Variations

• For extra depth of flavor, simmer the sauce with a leftover Parmesan rind. I like to freeze my leftover Parmesan rinds just for this purpose!
• Add a scoop of homemade pesto to the sauce before simmering to add even more fresh flavor.
• Make it spicy by adding red pepper flakes with the seasonings.
• Stir in a splash of heavy cream or half and half to transform this into a creamy tomato sauce.
• Add a head of roasted garlic (or as many cloves as you’d like) to make a garlicy homemade pasta sauce.
• Feel free to add your favorite protein. Try Italian sausage or ground beef. Just saute it in the same pan before cooking everything else.

Serving Suggestions

• the perfect crispy garlic bread
• Caprese garlic cheese bread
• cheesy olive garlic bread
• easy Bruschetta with mozzarella
• simple green salad

Try these easy pasta recipes next!