The Best Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

My toddler LOVED this spaghetti! Like, fistfuls of ‘sgetti straight to the mouth she loved it so much.

It’s so simple, so quick and SO GOOD. And the best part is that it only takes 45 minutes from start to finish! So grab a glass of wine and meet me in the kitchen tonight; let’s cook together

How to make the very best spaghetti sauce: 

You’ll brown the ground beef, saute onions and garlic for the most flavorful sauce base ever.

Then you’ll stir in diced tomatoes and tomato puree along with some fresh and dried herbs and just a pinch of sugar.

Lastly you’ll season to taste with salt and pepper and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve with your favorite pasta and a moderate amount of fresh Parmesan cheese.

Why this recipe works:

• It’s simple. Just like too many cooks in the kitchen, too many ingredients in a recipe can muddle the flavors and overpower the main ingredient – the tomatoes! Simplicity is key in this sauce.
• It doesn’t take all day to make. Sure you could simmer your sauce all afternoon if you have time, but most people don’t. 30 minutes of simmering is that sweet spot that will give you the meaty, cooked all day flavor without actually cooking the sauce all day.

Tips for making the very best homemade spaghetti sauce:

• Use fire roasted diced tomatoes for a little flavor boost. Regular diced tomatoes are great too, but I really love the extra dimension that the first roasted tomatoes give.
• Add sugar at your discretion. Everyone likes a different level of sweetness or acidity in their spaghetti sauce. Start with half a teaspoon and work your way up little by little until you reach your desired taste.
• Don’t be afraid of salt. Similar to the sugar mentioned above, everyone likes a different level of saltiness in their meals. A good rule of thumb is that you should just be able to barely taste the salt when you take a bite of the sauce. The reason why many people love the dishes at their favorite restaurants in because trained chefs add much more salt than those who are cooking at home usually add. Salt = flavor. So use it!

Other family favorite recipes you’ll love:

• 30 Minute Baked Ravioli
• Creamy Tuscan Tomato Tortellini Soup
• One Pot Smoked Gouda & Sun Dried Tomato Pasta
• One Pot Bacon & Blue Cheese Bucatini

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? LEAVE A REVIEW!

If you made this recipe I’d love to hear how it turned out! Feel free to leave a rating and comment below. I love hearing from you guys and respond to each and every comment that I receive! Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for the all latest recipes and a sneak peek at the behind the scenes adventures on Midwest Foodie!

The Very Best Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Midwest Foodie
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 12 cups
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American

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Description

This classic meat sauce pairs best with good old fashioned spaghetti noodles. A delicious traditional meal your family will love!

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Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef (or turkey)
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1  large yellow onion, diced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• Kosher salt
• fresh cracked pepper
• 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
• (2) 28 oz. cans tomato puree
• 3 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/3 cup fresh chopped parsley
• 2 teaspoon sugar

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Instructions

1. Start by browning the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat. Once cooked through, drain grease and transfer cooked beef to a bowl; set aside.
2. Then heat olive oil in the same large pot over medium heat. Add onion and a pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally for about 4 minutes. Then add garlic and cook for another minute.
3. Add all remaining ingredients, including more salt and pepper to taste, and the cooked beef. Stir to combine and bring to a low simmer.
4. Turn the heat to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve with your favorite pasta and a moderate amount of fresh Parmesan cheese.

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Notes

Use fire roasted diced tomatoes for a little added flavor boost. Regular diced tomatoes are great too, but I really love the extra dimension that the first roasted tomatoes give.

Add sugar at your discretion. Everyone likes a different level of sweetness or acidity in their spaghetti sauce. Start with half a teaspoon and work your way up little by little until you reach your desired taste.

Don’t be afraid of salt. Similar to the sugar mentioned above, everyone likes a different level of saltiness in their meals. A good rule of thumb is that you should just be able to barely taste the salt when you take a bite of the sauce. The reason why many people love the dishes at their favorite restaurants in because trained chefs add much more salt than those who are cooking at home usually add. Salt = flavor. So use it!

Keywords: red sauce, pasta sauce, meat sauce, beef sauce