The Best Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
2 hrs
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Total Time
2 hrs 10 mins
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Servings
8
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Calories
270 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
The Best Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Description
The Best Homemade Spaghetti Sauce combines ground beef or pork sausage with aromatic vegetables like onion, green pepper, and garlic. These are cooked until tender and mixed with diced canned tomatoes and tomato paste, along with herbs such as oregano, basil, thyme, and a bay leaf, to build layers of flavor. Brown sugar is added to temper the natural acidity of the tomatoes, balancing the taste. The sauce is simmered uncovered for one and a half to two hours, allowing the flavors to deepen and the sauce to thicken to a desirable texture.
Its robust texture and hearty ingredients make it suitable for serving over freshly cooked spaghetti, enhancing the pasta with a meaty and herby tomato sauce. This sauce can be customized by substituting the ground beef with turkey, pork sausage, or omitted for a vegetarian version.
The recipe notes suggest choosing quality canned tomatoes and allow the sauce to simmer for even longer to enrich the flavor further. If the sauce becomes too thick, adding a bit more water can adjust the consistency. This slow cooking process delivers a well-rounded sauce ideal for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef or pork sausage
- 1 onion chopped, large
- 1 green pepper chopped, large
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3 diced tomatoes canned 15 oz
- 1 tomato paste canned 6 oz
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons oregano dried
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon basil dried
- ½ teaspoon thyme dried
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cups water or beef broth
Instructions
- In a dutch oven cook meat, onion, green pepper, and garlic until meat is browned and vegetables are tender. Drain off fat.
- Stir in undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, brown sugar, oregano, salt, basil, thyme, and bay leaf.
- Stir in the water or beef broth. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 1 ½ to 2 hours or until sauce is of desired consistency, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf. Serve over hot cooked spaghetti.
Notes
- Use good quality canned tomatoes such as Tuttorosso, Muir Glen, or Pomi for better flavor; Pomi comes in BPA-free packaging.
- Include the brown sugar to moderate the acidity of the tomatoes and balance the sauce.
- Add red pepper flakes for heat if desired, but only if you prefer a spicy sauce.
- Replace the ground beef with ground turkey or pork sausage, or omit meat for a vegetarian sauce.
- Simmer the sauce for at least 1.5 hours; longer (up to 2-3 hours) deepens flavor and thickens the sauce.
- Consider transferring the sauce to a crockpot after initial cooking to continue slow cooking on low heat.
- If the sauce is too thick after cooking, thin it with a bit of water to reach the desired consistency.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 270 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 270kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 12g | 4% |
| Protein | 16g | 32% |
| Fat | 17g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 60mg | 20% |
| Sodium | 682mg | 28% |
| Potassium | 724mg | 15% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 530IU | 11% |
| Vitamin C | 31.9mg | 35% |
| Calcium | 75mg | 8% |
| Iron | 3.8mg | 21% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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