Description

This homemade spaghetti sauce recipe delivers a rich and flavorful tomato sauce perfect for pasta, lasagna, or meatballs. Made with crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and aromatic herbs, it simmers gently on the stovetop to develop deep, savory flavors. The sauce is vegetarian, gluten-free, and can be easily customized with fresh herbs or optional extras like red wine or Parmesan cheese.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil (optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Heat oil and sauté onion: Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the onion becomes soft and translucent.
Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, making sure to stir frequently to prevent it from burning and becoming bitter.
Combine tomato ingredients and seasonings: Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, salt, black pepper, dried oregano, dried basil, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and bay leaf to the saucepan. Stir everything together until well combined.
Simmer the sauce: Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the saucepan partially and let it simmer gently for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Finish and serve: Remove the bay leaf from the sauce. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley or basil for a burst of fresh flavor just before serving. Use the sauce immediately or store for later use.

Notes

For a richer flavor, add a splash of red wine or a pinch of Parmesan cheese during the simmering process.
This sauce freezes well and can be stored in an airtight container for future use.
To make the sauce heartier, brown ground beef or Italian sausage separately and add it to the sauce before simmering.
Adjust the level of crushed red pepper flakes to control the spiciness to your preference.