Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

This homemade spaghetti sauce recipe is easy to make and perfect over almost any kind of pasta.

Jam packed with flavor, this spaghetti sauce is made with ground beef, Italian sausage, and seasonings in a zesty tomato sauce.

Our Go-To Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

This recipe is so easy to make at home.
Made with sausage and ground beef, it’s hearty and filling.
Stretch this sauce even further with extra veggies or canned tomatoes.
Make a double or triple batch, this spaghetti sauce freezes well for future meals.
Enjoy it over spaghetti noodles or other pasta shapes, or use it lasagna.

ingredients assembled to make homemade spaghetti sauce

Ingredients for Spaghetti Sauce

Meat – Ground beef and Italian sausage add lots of flavor. You can use just one or the other if you’d like. The sausage adds extra flavor, so if you replace it, add extra Italian seasoning.

Veggies – Onion and fresh garlic add flavor, while shredded carrot adds just a bit of sweetness to balance the tang of the tomatoes. Replace the carrot with a small amount of sugar or a finely diced red bell pepper.

Other great additions to a homemade spaghetti sauce recipe include green bell pepper, mushrooms, or shredded zucchini.

Tomatoes – Spaghetti sauce has a base of canned crushed tomatoes (you can replace it with marinara sauce if you’d like). Tomato paste adds a zesty flavor, while diced tomatoes add texture. If you prefer a smoother sauce, use all crushed tomatoes and simmer a bit longer.

sausage, ground beef, and onions in a pot

ingredients for homemade spaghetti sauce in a pot

How to Make Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

This is an easy spaghetti sauce recipe – most of the time is spent simmering.

Brown Italian sausage, beef, onion, & garlic in a skillet or Dutch oven.
Stir in the remaining ingredients & simmer (as per the recipe below).
Season with salt and pepper and stir in fresh herbs if using.

Feeling Fancy?

Fresh herbs add a really great flavor to this spaghetti sauce recipe. If using fresh basil or fresh parsley, stir it in right before serving and reserve a little bit for garnish.
If you have a parmesan cheese rind, add it while the sauce simmers and discard before serving.

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce on top in a white bowl

Tips for Perfect Homemade Pasta Sauce

For a thicker sauce, simmer longer on the stove without the lid. This will cause the liquid in the sauce to evaporate.
Add dry seasonings or spices at the beginning of cooking and fresh herbs at the end of cooking.
Don’t rinse the pasta. When the sauce is added to the noodles, some of the starch in the pasta will thicken the sauce slightly and help it to adhere to the noodles.

Storing Leftovers

This spaghetti sauce recipe is great for meal prep.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freeze leftover spaghetti sauce in an airtight container or a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

More Favorite Pasta Sauce Recipes

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This spaghetti sauce recipe is rich and meaty with lots of zesty flavor.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the beef, sausage, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until no pink remains, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain fat.
Add diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, Italian seasoning, carrot, basil, salt, and pepper.
Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until thickened.
Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if desired. Stir in fresh parsley if using.
Serve over spaghetti or cooked pasta.

*Shredded carrots add sweetness to balance the tart flavor of the tomatoes. Carrot can be replaced with ½ finely diced red bell pepper or a small pinch of sugar. If substituting Italian sausage for another ground meat such as ground beef or pork, increase the Italian seasoning to 2 teaspoons and add ½ teaspoon oregano and a pinch of red pepper flakes. To thicken this homemade spaghetti sauce further, let it simmer uncovered. Do not rinse the spaghetti after draining as the starches in the pasta will thicken the sauce slightly and help it stick to the noodles. Spaghetti sauce can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Main Course, Pasta, Sauce

Cuisine American, Italian

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