Homemade pasta sauce is easy to make and tastes so much better than the kind that comes in a jar.
If your family is anything like mine than spaghetti is probably a meal that you serve often. There is something very kid and family friendly about a simple pasta dinner.
This homemade pasta recipe is one that I came up with years ago.
I have another homemade pasta sauce on my site that my family enjoys, but it is more of a chunky sauce with canned diced tomatoes.
The recipe I am sharing today more closely resembles store bought sauce.
Years ago when I came up with this recipe I was trying to recreate the sauce that you buy in a jar.
I have never been a huge fan of store bought jarred spaghetti sauces. I do have a few recipes that use them, but in general we prefer homemade sauces.
When I need an easy pasta dinner this is the recipe I make. You can make it without or without the meat. You can add mushrooms or onions. Or you can serve it as is.
No matter how you serve it, it is a delicious dinner!
Why should I make homemade pasta sauce?
By making your own sauce you can control what goes into it. You can season and adjust it just how you like it.
When it comes from a jar it is harder to control the seasoning and the sweetness of the sauce.
Can I freeze homemade pasta sauce?
Yes you can! Homemade pasta sauce freezes well. You can easily make a big batch of this and freeze it to use for easy meals.
What do I need to make homemade pasta sauce?
- tomato sauce
- oil
- sugar
- dried basil
- dried parsley
- garlic powder
- black pepper
- Italian Cheese, Parmesan or a mix of Parmesan & Romano cheese, optional, you can mix this into the sauce or serve it on top of the pasta.
- cooked ground beef or sausage- optional
- mushrooms, onions, or anything else you like in your sauce to this
Simple Homemade Pasta Sauce
Homemade pasta sauce is easy to make and tastes so much better than the jar!
Ingredients
- 4- 8 ounce cans tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 1 tablespoon sugar ( or a little less)
- ¾ teaspoons dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup of Italian Cheese or a mix of Parmesan and Romano cheese, optional, you can mix this into the sauce or serve it on top of the pasta.
- cooked ground beef or sausage- optional
- mushrooms, onions, or anything else you like in your sauce to this
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients, but cheese in a pan.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add cheese. Stirring until cheese is melted.
- Serve with your favorite pasta.
Notes
If using meat brown the ground beef or sausage. Drain off any fat and add to sauce ingredients.
If using mushrooms or onions cook with meat or cook in a little oil until tender. Add to sauce ingredients.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8 servingsServing Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 190Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 896mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 3gSugar: 8gProtein: 10g
Originally posted October 2010. Updated April 2020.
Even when spaghetti isn’t on my meal plan, it winds up making it’s way in. I love spaghetti and could (have) lived off the stuff. Your version sounds fantastic. It’s got CHEESE!!!
this sounds like a great sauce… i love easy 🙂
Looks yummy and easy! I’ve been on the search for a good sauce recipe, I’ll have to try it out:)
Sounds like a great crockpot candidate….thanks!!
I love your site and often come here for meal ideas! I also just put your button on my site. Thanks for all the recipes!
@Tancy, Thank you! I am so glad that you enjoy my site and recipes. Thank you for reading!
Sounds wonderful, I will definitely be making this, even though my 3 year old doesn’t like pasta of any kind (he is the oddball of the family because the rest of us will eat pasta anytime)
I also wanted to say that I love your site, I visit here daily. I love your recipes. they are wholesome and easy to make. I appreciate all your hard work , keep up the great work!
@Ana, I hope you enjoy the sauce. And thank you for your kind comment about the site. I am so glad you enjoy my site and recipes. Thank you for reading!
Thank you so much for this sauce, it is so easy! Do you think this would freeze ok in either mason jars or freezer bags?
Spaghetti sauce freezes great, so yes this should freeze well. I have done both freezer bags and jars and I prefer bags mainly because they take up less space.
Is this recipe for a family of 4? Just asking because I have a family of 5. Also, in order to freeze would you still put in the cheese or wait on that part when you reheat it?
This feeds my family of 5, with enough sometimes leftover for my husbands lunch. So I would say it serves 5-6. You can add the cheese and freeze. It would work fine that way or add it after. Either way should work on that. I hope you enjoy it.
It’s hardly any sugar & I’m not diabetic, but why is the sugar necessary? Will it work without the sugar? There are some store bought sauces that I can taste the sugar in & I am not fond of that .
You could easily leave out the sugar. I just like the little bit of sweetness to counteract the acidic in the tomatoes, but feel free to leave it out if you don’t want the sugar or don’t like any sweetness to it. I hope that you enjoy it!