BEST Homemade Spaghetti Sauce [+Video]

This homemade spaghetti sauce recipe is a family favorite and is sure to become yours too! Made with fresh ingredients and a secret ingredient that takes it to the next level. Watch the video to see how easy it is to make!

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

After years of trying to create the best homemade spaghetti sauce, we’ve finally found the perfect recipe. This spaghetti sauce from scratch is a recipe we’re happy to eat over and over again! 

After years of testing and retesting recipes for easy homemade spaghetti sauce, we finally have one that we want to shout from the rooftops. This spaghetti meat sauce recipe isn’t a quick recipe, but one that simmers and bubbles all day until it’s flavors are irresistible.

Although this spaghetti sauce requires 3+ hours to develop its rich, hearty flavor, it’s very easy to make. The prep work takes all of 10 minutes to complete, and then you can walk away from the stove to tend to other chores around the house. 

In this post, we walk you through how to make spaghetti sauce, and we also address a number of FAQs we’ve received about making homemade pasta sauce. 

Spaghetti Sauce Ingredients

If you’ve already scrolled down to the recipe card to see what’s in this homemade spaghetti sauce, don’t be worried about the longer ingredient list. Most of the ingredients are herbs you already have in your pantry! Here’s what you’ll need to make this spaghetti sauce recipe: 

• Fresh Tomatoes: I recommend Roma tomatoes for the best flavor.
• Garlic: Toss them in with the tomatoes with their skin on to roast. The skins will slide right off.
• Olive Oil: helps roast the tomatoes and garlic
• Salt and Black Pepper: adds flavor
• Onion: adds flavor
• Baby Bella Mushrooms: adds texture and flavor
• Red Bell Pepper: adds flavor
• Mild Italian Sausage: This can be omitted if you want a vegetarian sauce, but it does add great flavor and good protein to the sauce.
• Fresh Herbs: Parsley, Basil, Rosemary and Oregano – I’ve included the measurements for dried herbs in the recipe card too.
• Canned Tomatoes: I recommend Cento brand San Marzano tomatoes.
• Tomato Sauce: Either make your own or use a good quality canned tomato sauce.
• Tomato Paste: helps thicken the sauce
• Bay Leaf: adds flavor
• Balsamic Vinegar: adds acidity and a hint of sweetness
• Parmesan Rind: This is the secret ingredient I mentioned above. It amps up the flavor so much!

The measurements and details for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post. Keep scrolling for all the information you need.

Tips for Making the Best Spaghetti Sauce

There are a few secrets to making a good spaghetti sauce, and they all have to do with the ingredients you use. I’m sure it comes as no surprise that high-quality ingredients are crucial to making a batch of truly amazing homemade pasta sauce. 

Here’s what you should know about the key ingredients in this spaghetti sauce recipe: 

Tomatoes — You’re going to want whole tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato paste. Our local grocery store sells San Marzano tomatoes and if you have not canned your own, I highly suggest this brand as it truly does taste like a far superior tomato. 

If you can’t find them, try to watch for a good sale and buy the best canned tomatoes you can find. It’s worth it. I’ve linked to them so you can see what the can looks like. We try to freeze or can tomato sauce as well during the summer but it is the same rule as above.

Fresh Herbs — Herbs will create a more flavorful, fresh sauce. A combination of fresh and dry herbs or completely dry herbs will be okay as long as you bloom the herbs and spices. By this, I mean you should add the herbs while you’re sautéing things in the hot pan so that the flavors wake up, so to speak. 

Parmesan Rind — A Parmesan rind is the key ingredient to making the BEST spaghetti sauce. Don’t you dare ever throw out that Parmesan rind again. Toss it into your sauce and let it simmer to really allow the cheese to seep into the sauce. It doesn’t taste cheesy, but boy does it taste wonderful. Even as leftovers sit in the fridge, I allow that rind to be in there.

Time — A truly wonderful sauce needs time. I start mine in the morning and let it simmer all day. In fact, I sometimes make it a day ahead of time, let it sit in the fridge and then slowly bring it back to temperature the day of serving. Time is the only thing that can meld and fully bloom the flavors of the sauce.

Meat — You don’t need meat in a homemade spaghetti sauce, but if you do add meat I prefer to do half ground beef and half Italian sausage or all Italian sausage. These will really create more flavor in the sauce. Our homemade meatballs are also a great option!

How to Make Spaghetti Sauce

This Italian spaghetti sauce requires minimal hands-on prep work but delivers big flavor. Here are the basic steps for how to make spaghetti sauce: 

1. Roast: Halve the fresh tomatoes and toss in olive oil. Place on baking pan with garlic and roast until softened. 
2. Sauté: In a dutch oven, sauté the onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and more garlic.
3. Brown the Sausage: Add the sausage to the dutch oven and cook until browned.
4. Simmer: Add the rest of the spaghetti sauce ingredients to the pot and pop the lid on.  Let the sauce simmer for at least 3 hours, or all day. 
5. Serve: Serve it over spaghetti noodles for a classic spaghetti recipe or over any type of pasta you love! Sprinkle some parmesan cheese and chopped parsley on top.

Keep scrolling down to the end of the post for the complete recipe card.

How to Thicken Spaghetti Sauce

A watery spaghetti sauce is almost always caused by a lack of tomato paste. Tomato paste will thicken the entire sauce without taking away from the tomato flavor. In fact, it’s concentrated enough that it really gives that oomph of tomato you need.

Should I Peel and Deseed the Roasted Tomatoes? 

After roasting the fresh tomatoes, we prefer adding them straight to the pot of sauce without removing their skins or seeds. We find that the roasted tomatoes break down even more in the spaghetti sauce, so there’s no need to add that extra prep work to this recipe. 

Can I Omit the Ground Meat?

Absolutely! If you’re vegetarian or simply don’t have ground meat on hand, you’re welcome to leave it out. Your spaghetti sauce will still have plenty of flavor. 

Can I Make Spaghetti Sauce in a Slow Cooker?

Yes, homemade spaghetti sauce is a great choice for your slow cooker. You can even start the meat in it but remember, it’s going to take longer to brown. Start on high heat and add the meat as well as veggies and herbs. Once browned, add your remaining ingredients and allow to simmer on the low setting all day, stirring occasionally.

If you want to save some time, cook the veggies and sausage on the stovetop and then dump everything into the crock pot and let if cook on low for at least 3 hours or up to all day.

Is it Okay to Can Spaghetti Sauce? 

Yes, we can this homemade spaghetti sauce in the summer when we have lots of tomatoes on hand. 

Can You Freeze Spaghetti Sauce?

Very easily! The best way to freeze spaghetti sauce is to let it cool completely and then seal it in a food saver bag. We aren’t getting paid to say this, but we truly do love our Food Saver. It’s been amazing to freeze even cooked meats and soups and have them taste perfectly fresh two months later when we reheat. We like to use the Rolls so we can cut the bag to whatever size we want, but the Premade Bags are great too.

If you don’t have a Food Saver, you can store the spaghetti sauce in freezer-safe containers or bags. When you’re ready to eat the sauce, place it in your fridge overnight to thaw.

Storing Spaghetti Sauce

If you plan to use the spaghetti sauce soon, it can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to a week. Use the extra sauce in a lasagna or calzone! So yummy!

Skip store-bought sauce and make this delicious homemade spaghetti sauce instead. Packed with fresh ingredients and bursting with flavor, this recipe will become a family favorite. Watch the video above to see how it’s made!

Other Italian Sauce Recipes:

Looking for more Italian Sauce recipes? Who doesn’t love Italian sauces!?  Make sure you try these out the next time you are making that Italian dish:

• Authentic Bolognese Sauce
• Fettuccine Sauce
• Pizza Sauce
• Easy Pesto Recipe
• Garden Veggie Marinara Sauce
• Easy Beef Ragu
• Cilantro Pesto

Watch How to Make Spaghetti Sauce