Ditch the canned spaghetti sauce for this flavorful & beefy homemade Spaghetti Meat Sauce. Easy to make with dried seasonings and canned tomatoes. Make it in one pot and let it simmer on the stove top for the best flavor. Serve over pasta noodles or use in any recipe that calls for spaghetti sauce.
If your family loves spaghetti like mine does then be sure and make my spaghetti casserole, this easy slow cooker spaghetti and meatballs, and my cheesy taco spaghetti casserole.
Extra Flavor – As I’ve mentioned above, you can use different/extra herbs, and even a pinch or two of red pepper flakes for an extra pop! Long and Low Simmer – For the best-tasting sauce, once it is simmering on the stove, let it go for at least 2 or 3 hours so that all of the flavors meld and intensify.
Spaghetti Meat Sauce Recipe
Homemade spaghetti meat sauce is a regular around my house. It’s one of those recipes that my kids ask for all the time, “mom make your spaghetti sauce.” My kids are young right now but I am hoping it’s one of those recipes that they come back home and ask for as they get older ♥️.
This spaghetti meat sauce simmers on the stove top and every time I make it, I am reminded that there is not a better scent than spaghetti sauce simmering away on the stove. It’s like the smell of comfort and home.
I love the convenience of a canned marinara sauce but sometimes you want a homemade, total comfort food dinner. And for me it’s usually this spaghetti meat sauce. It’s the perfect recipe to make for dinner when you have some time on your hands and just want some delicious classic, comfort food.
You will need some easy ingredients like canned tomatoes, dried seasonings, ground beef, and garlic to make this homemade spaghetti sauce recipe.
Ground Beef – Use any ground beef you like. You will drain the excess grease from it so it really does not matter what percentage of fat you use. I always use 93/7 ground beef.
Sweet Onion – I find that this recipe is best with a sweet onion. But feel free to use a white onion or a yellow onion.
Garlic – So many options here! Mince or press fresh garlic cloves. Use chopped garlic from a jar. Or use garlic paste from the tube (I use this!).
Crushed Tomatoes – If you can’t find the 15 ounce size can then buy the larger 29 ounce can and use half of it. I usually just eyeball it but if you want an exact measurement it is about 1.5 cups of crushed tomatoes.
Tomato Sauce
Diced Tomatoes w/ Basil, Garlic, Oregano – This is the ‘Italian version’ of diced tomatoes. If you prefer a not so chunky spaghetti sauce then throw these in the blender and blend until it’s where you want it. I do this for my kids. And for me actually, as I am not a huge fan of tomato chunks.
Granulated Sugar – This helps offset all the acid from the tomatoes.
Dried Basil & Oregano – I love recipes that call for dried spices because I never have fresh spices on hand and don’t want to spend a fortune for them at the store.
Sugar – Helps to balance out the acidity from the tomatoes. Don’t skip this!
Salt & Pepper – You will add the salt in two different places while making this. As always, add more salt (or less) depending on preference.
Serving Suggestions For Spaghetti Meat Sauce
We love this spaghetti meat sauce over some cooked spaghetti noodles. You can use any noodle you want! Top each serving with parmesan cheese.
Serve some garlic bread on the side and a side salad. I like to buy the bagged organic Caesar salad mix from Costco, but any grocery store sells it.
You can also serve it over some zucchini noodles for a low carb option.
Feel free to use this pasta sauce in any recipe that calls for it, like this easy ziti pasta bake. This is a great thing to do with leftovers!
The Faster, BETTER Way to make Spaghetti & Meat Sauce (25 Mins!)
FAQ
How long can meat sauce simmer?
How do you know when meat sauce is done?
How long can you leave sauce simmering?
Does simmering sauce longer make it taste better?
How long does meat sauce take to cook?
Our basic meat sauce recipe will be your go-to for serving with pasta or using in lasagna. It uses a few simple ingredients: ground beef, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, onion, garlic, and olive oil. It’s simple to make and is ready in a little over an hour—plus, it simmers without needing a lot of stirring.
How long should spaghetti sauce be simmered?
While simmering spaghetti sauce for an extended period can intensify the flavors, there is a point where it can become overcooked and lose its freshness. It is generally recommended not to simmer spaghetti sauce for more than 4 hours. After this point, the sauce may become overly thick and the flavors may become too concentrated. 2.
How long do you cook a thick sauce?
The longer you cook it the thicker the sauce so for thinner, long cooked sauce, consider adding no more than about a half a cup of water after about two hours of cooking. Then cook for another hour. After that, turn heat of and let sauce return to room temperature own its own while covered and on the stove top.
How long does meat sauce last?
Add tomatoes and juice, breaking up tomatoes. Simmer over medium heat until thickened and saucy, 45 to 60 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. To store this basic meat sauce, let it cool completely before transferring to airtight containers or freezer bags. Meat sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.