Cozy Italian Charm: Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe From Scratch

Cooking up a classic homemade spaghetti sauce recipe brings pure comfort straight to your kitchen.

Generations of Italian families have perfected this rich, hearty sauce through decades of love and tradition.

Ripe tomatoes simmer slowly with fragrant herbs and robust seasonings, creating a depth of flavor that store-bought sauces can never match.

Every spoonful tells a story of culinary passion and home-cooked warmth.

The secret lies in selecting fresh ingredients and allowing them to meld together gradually over gentle heat.

Simmering transformations turn simple ingredients into an extraordinary sauce that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Dive into this recipe and unlock the magic of authentic, soul-warming spaghetti sauce that connects you to timeless kitchen traditions.

Kitchen Tools For Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

• Large Saucepan: Essential for sautéing aromatics and simmering the sauce, with enough space to mix ingredients comfortably.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Perfect for stirring and mixing ingredients without scratching the pan.
• Cutting Board: Needed for chopping onions and preparing ingredients.
• Sharp Knife: Crucial for precise chopping of onions and garlic.
• Measuring Spoons: Helpful for accurately measuring herbs and seasonings.
• Immersion Blender or Countertop Blender: Optional tool for creating a smoother sauce texture.
• Ladle: Useful for serving and transferring sauce.

How To Make Homemade Spaghetti Sauce From Scratch

• Aromatic Foundation

Create a flavor base by softening onions in olive oil until they turn translucent and tender. Add minced garlic and let its fragrance fill the kitchen, releasing deep, rich undertones.

• Tomato Symphony

Combine crushed and diced tomatoes with a dollop of tomato paste. Sprinkle in classic Italian herbs that will transform your sauce into a vibrant, hearty blend. Let the ingredients dance together, releasing their natural sweetness.

• Slow Simmering Magic

Lower the heat and allow the sauce to gently bubble, developing complex flavors. Occasionally stir the mixture, letting each ingredient meld and intensify. If the sauce feels too thick, splash in some liquid to maintain a perfect consistency.

• Flavor Refinement

Taste your creation and adjust the seasoning. Some might prefer a hint of sweetness or extra pepper. For a silky smooth texture, use a blender to create a more uniform sauce.

• Pasta Celebration

Generously coat your favorite pasta with the homemade sauce. Sprinkle fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese on top to elevate the dish, transforming a simple meal into a delightful culinary experience.

Smart Cooking Tips For Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

• Let the sauce slowly simmer to develop rich, complex flavors. Low and slow cooking allows ingredients to meld together, creating a more intense taste profile that transforms simple tomatoes into a restaurant-worthy sauce.
• Prepare this sauce in large batches and freeze in portion-sized containers for quick weeknight meals. The sauce keeps perfectly in the freezer for up to 3 months, making meal prep a breeze and ensuring delicious homemade sauce is always at your fingertips.
• Swap ingredients to accommodate different dietary needs. For vegan versions, skip the Parmesan cheese. Gluten-sensitive individuals can use zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta. Those watching sodium can reduce salt and use no-salt-added tomatoes.
• Enhance the sauce's depth by adding unexpected ingredients. A splash of red wine, a parmesan rind during simmering, or a spoonful of balsamic vinegar can elevate the sauce's complexity. Roasted vegetables like bell peppers or carrots can also add subtle sweetness and richness.
• Experiment with sauce consistency based on personal preference. For a chunkier sauce, minimal blending works best.

Serving Homemade Spaghetti Sauce The Easy Way

• Pasta Perfection Pairings: Crisp garden salad adds refreshing contrast to rich sauce.
• Cozy Comfort Plate: Serve with warm garlic bread for soaking up delicious sauce remnants.
• Protein Power Boost: Top with grilled chicken, meatballs, or sautéed shrimp for extra substance.
• Wine Companion Pick: Select medium-bodied red wines like Chianti or Sangiovese to complement tomato flavors.

How To Save And Reuse Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

• Smart Refrigeration Tactics: Store cooled sauce in airtight containers, keeping fresh for 5-7 days in the refrigerator.
• Freezing Friendly Method: Transfer sauce to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty zip-lock bags, ensuring flat storage for easy stacking. Freeze up to 3 months without quality loss.
• Reheating Magic: Warm sauce gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add splash of water or broth to restore original consistency if sauce thickens during storage.
• Portion Control Strategy: Divide sauce into smaller containers before refrigerating or freezing, allowing convenient single-serving options for quick meal preparation.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Calories: 100 kcal

Servings: 5

What’s Inside Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

• Olive Oil: Provides a rich, smooth foundation for sautéing and adds subtle Mediterranean flavor.
• Onion: Builds a sweet, depth-creating base that softens and mellows during cooking.
• Garlic: Delivers a punchy, aromatic kick that elevates the entire sauce's flavor profile.

• Crushed Tomatoes: Offers a vibrant, concentrated tomato essence that forms the sauce's primary texture.
• Diced Tomatoes: Adds chunky texture and fresh tomato brightness to the sauce.
• Tomato Paste: Intensifies the tomato flavor and helps thicken the sauce naturally.

• Oregano: Brings a classic Italian herbal note with earthy, slightly bitter undertones.
• Basil: Contributes a fresh, sweet, and peppery flavor that screams authentic Italian cuisine.
• Thyme: Introduces a subtle, minty warmth that complements the tomato base.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Creates optional gentle heat and a subtle spicy dimension.
• Salt: Enhances and balances all the existing flavors in the sauce.
• Black Pepper: Adds a gentle, warming spiciness and depth.
• Sugar: Balances the acidity of tomatoes and creates a more rounded flavor profile.

• Fresh Basil Leaves: Provides a bright, aromatic finish to the completed sauce.
• Parmesan Cheese: Offers a salty, nutty complement that enriches the overall dish.

Authentic Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Nonna’s classic Homemade Spaghetti Sauce from Italy simmers with rich tomato depth and aromatic herbs. Hearty marinara brings comfort with generations of family tradition you can savor in each delicious spoonful.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 can (28 oz / 800 g) crushed tomatoes
• 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) diced tomatoes (or 2 cups fresh tomatoes, chopped)
• 2 tbsps tomato paste
• 2 tbsps olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
• ½ tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• ½ cup (120 ml) water or vegetable broth (optional, for consistency)
• Fresh basil leaves
• Grated Parmesan cheese

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Aromatic Foundation: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium warmth. Sauté diced onions until translucent, releasing their inherent sweetness.
2. Flavor Infusion: Add minced garlic and let it bloom for a minute, creating an aromatic base that will permeate the entire sauce.
3. Tomato Transformation: Incorporate crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste into the pan. Blend dried oregano, basil, thyme, and red pepper flakes, stirring to integrate the seasonings thoroughly.
4. Flavor Development: Reduce heat to low, allowing the sauce to simmer uncovered. Periodically stir to prevent sticking and promote even flavor concentration. If the sauce becomes too thick, introduce vegetable broth or water to maintain an ideal consistency.
5. Seasoning Calibration: After 25 minutes, adjust the flavor profile by adding salt, pepper, and a touch of sugar to balance the tomatoes’ natural acidity.
6. Texture Refinement: Use an immersion blender or transfer to a standard blender to create a smooth, uniform sauce with a velvety texture.
7. Culinary Presentation: Toss the meticulously crafted sauce with freshly cooked spaghetti, ensuring complete coverage. Finish with a garnish of fresh basil leaves and a generous dusting of grated Parmesan cheese for a classic Italian touch.

Notes

• Optimize Aromatics: Finely dice onions and mince garlic for maximum flavor infusion, ensuring even cooking and preventing harsh, raw tastes.
• Balancing Acidity: Add a pinch of sugar to neutralize tomatoes’ sharp tang, creating a harmonious and rounded sauce flavor profile without overwhelming sweetness.
• Consistency Control: Simmer sauce uncovered to allow natural reduction, stirring occasionally to prevent burning and achieve desired thickness – thicker sauce means more concentrated flavors.
• Dietary Adaptations: Transform sauce into vegan version by replacing Parmesan with nutritional yeast, or make gluten-free by ensuring all ingredients are certified gluten-free and pairing with alternative pasta options.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 100
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg