Quick Weeknight Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
User Reviews
4.7
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
15 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
6 servings
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Italian
Quick Weeknight Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Description
Quick Weeknight Homemade Spaghetti Sauce brings together ground beef (or alternatives like turkey or pork) cooked with onion and garlic, then blended with tomato paste and a selection of dried herbs including basil, oregano, and thyme. Once combined with crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce, a splash of soy sauce and a touch of brown sugar balance the acidity while intensifying the umami profile. Simmering allows the flavors to harmonize without requiring extended cooking.
This sauce has a robust texture from the browned meat and a rich tomato base enlivened by the aromatic herbs. The use of canned crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce makes the preparation straightforward for a home cook, providing a familiar, comforting taste reminiscent of classic spaghetti sauce. The finish is subtly savory with a hint of sweetness from the brown sugar.
Serve this sauce hot over cooked noodles and optionally garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Its heartiness makes it a good choice for a simple family dinner or a quick meal when time is limited. While it works especially well with spaghetti, it can also complement other pasta types or dishes requiring a meat tomato sauce.
To save time, prepare the noodles simultaneously with the sauce. You can adjust the ground meat type or go meatless if preferred. Using tomato paste in a squeezable tube can simplify measurement and storage. Leftover sauce keeps well and can be refrigerated for additional servings or used in baked pasta dishes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey or ground pork (or a combination
- ½ cup onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon basil dried
- 1 teaspoon oregano dried
- ¼ teaspoon thyme dried
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt coarse
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 28- ounce crushed tomatoes canned
- 8- ounce tomato sauce canned
- 1-2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce low-sodium
- hot cooked noodles, for serving
- Parmesan Cheese for serving (optional, freshly grated
Instructions
- In a large 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground meat, onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks, until the meat is not longer pink.
- Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the tomato paste, basil, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, for about a minute, until the mixture smells fragrant.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, brown sugar and soy sauce. Stir to combine.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes (or as long as you like/need).
- Serve over hot, cooked noodles.
Notes
- Cook noodles while preparing sauce to have a meal ready faster.
- Ground sausage or a meatless option can be used instead of the ground beef if preferred.
- Fresh garlic can be substituted with garlic powder for convenience.
- Tomato paste in squeezable tubes helps reduce waste and simplifies use.
- This sauce works well not only with spaghetti but also in other pasta dishes like manicotti or lasagna rolls.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 serving | |
| Calories | 172kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 16g | 5% |
| Protein | 20g | 40% |
| Fat | 4g | 6% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 47mg | 16% |
| Sodium | 749mg | 31% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 9g | 18% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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