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January 24, 2014 182 Comments

Amazing Spaghetti Sauce



 

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce on top of a plate of spaghetti noodles with a bay leaf on top of the sauce. The text Homemade Amazing Spaghetti Sauce is overlayed at the top. The text reallifedinner.com is overlayed at the bottom.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce is absolutely delicious!

When I say “Amazing Spaghetti Sauce,” I am not exaggerating. This is my new favorite sauce recipe! I got it from my sister, and it is FANTASTIC!!! Like most Italian dishes, this sauce just gets better with time. It was good the first day, but the leftovers seemed even better! I pulled this sauce out of the freezer one night to make stuffed shells, and the sauce was even more Amazing!!!

At first, I was skeptical, because it simmers with a couple of bay leaves in it. I wasn’t sure what that would do to the flavor. Oh, man! It just might be the secret ingredient. It is so subtle, yet you are, like, “Dang! Why is this sauce so good? Hmm, maybe it’s the bay leaves?”

I have a giant container of bay leaves. It’s much cheaper to buy them in bulk. Mine has lasted six years and has at least 75-100 leaves in it still.

Use this Spaghetti Sauce to Make:

  • Italian Sausage and Peppers Lasagna Roll-Ups
  • Creamy Bacon Spaghetti
  • Amazing Stuffed Shells
  • Sausage and Zucchini Lasagna Roll-ups
  • No-Boil Meatless Lasagna
  • The Best Italian Meatballs

how to make amazing spaghetti sauce

  • Sauté the onion in the butter and olive oil for 2 minutes.
  • Add sausage and garlic and cook until sausage is cooked through.
  • Add the rest of the ingredients.
  • Simmer for two hours.
  • Remove bay leaves before serving.
  • Serve over spaghetti noodles or use it to make lasagna or stuffed shells.
  • Leftover sauce can be frozen and used in future meals.

A large pot filled with spaghetti sauce with a wooden spoon inserted from the right.**See that pan in the picture? It is what I like to call my “Special Pan.”  I love this pan. I use it every day! You can also put it in the oven. It has a very tight sealing lid, which helps cook food evenly and quickly. I LOVE IT!!!! It is like a member of the family. I would be lost without it. The company that makes this pan is out of business now, so sad. I also like enamel-covered Dutch ovens and use mine almost as often as I use my “special pan.”

Tips for making Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

  • Make a double batch and freeze half to use this amazing sauce the next time you make lasagna. 🙂
  • If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can make a mixture of your own using thyme, basil, oregano, and rosemary. As long as you get a decent amount of Italian-flavored spices in this recipe, you can’t go wrong.
  • My sister makes the sauce without the meat and adds the cooked sausage later. But I love to let the sauce simmer with the sausage in it. It adds a depth of flavor that is AWESOME!
  • You can use ground beef or no meat in this recipe at all. It will taste great with sautéed or canned mushrooms put in at the end as a vegetarian option.
  • This sauce can easily be made in a slow cooker. First, brown the meat with the onion and garlic before putting all the ingredients in the slow cooker. Plus, add 2 Tbsp of tomato paste to help it thicken, which it naturally does as it cooks down on the stove. In the slow cooker, the moisture will not escape, so you need tomato paste to thicken it.A bowl plate with spaghetti noodles topped with spaghetti sauce, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley sitting on a burlap place holder with a fork at the top. The text reallifedinner.com is overlayed at the top.

CHEF’S TOOLS for Spaghetti Sauce:

  • Dutch Oven
  • Chef’s Knife
  • Garlic Press
  • Can Opener
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Bay Leaves

A pinterest picture of spaghetti noodles topped with spaghetti sauce with a bay leaf on top. The text of the title separates the photo and the text of the ingredients list at the bottom.

Serve Spaghetti Sauce with...

How to Make Perfect Artisan Bread {Step by Step Instructions and Pictures}One-hour-Dinner-rolls-recipeOne Hour Dinner RollsEasy Homemade Hard RollsEasy Homemade Hard Rolls {TMH}

4.9 from 39 reviews
Amazing Spaghetti Sauce
 
Print
Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
2 hours
Total time
2 hours 10 mins
 
For best results allow sauce to simmer for two hours. Also, olive oil, bay leaves, and brown sugar are a must!!!
Recipe type: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup butter
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 4 segments of garlic, finely chopped or crushed
  • ½ lb Italian Sausage, remove casings
  • 1 29 oz can of crushed tomatoes
  • 1 8 oz can of tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper (scant)
  • 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
  • 1 tsp basil
  • ½ tsp oregano
  • 2 bay leaves
Instructions
  1. Saute the onion in the butter and olive oil for 2 minutes.
  2. Add sausage and garlic and cook until sausage is cooked through.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients.
  4. Simmer for two hours.
  5. Remove bay leaves before serving.
  6. Serve over spaghetti noodles or use it to make lasagna or stuffed shells.
  7. Leftover sauce can be frozen and used in future meals.
3.5.3251

More Amazing Italian Recipes

A glass 9x13 baking dish filled with stuffed shells with a black serving spoon scooping out some shells from the corner.Amazing Stuffed ShellsFettuccini sitting on a blue plate topped with Alfredo sauce and grated Parmesan cheese.The Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce RecipeA white 9x13 oval baking dish filled with manicotti topped with red marinara sauce down the middle with mozzarella cheese and parsley on top sitting on a hot pad.Amazing Manicotti Recipe

A bowl plate with spaghetti noodles topped with spaghetti sauce, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley sitting on a burlap place holder with a fork at the top. The text reallifedinner.com is overlayed at the top.

Other Spaghetti Sauce Recipes
  • Homemade Canned Spaghetti Sauce
  • Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce
  • Homemade Marinara Sauce

$10 Dinners, Beef, Dinners, Family Favorite Recipes, Gluten Free, Ground Beef, Ingredients, Italian, Italian Sausage, Main Categories, Meats, More, Pasta, Pork, Reader Favorites, Recipes, Tomato Sauce, Tomatoes
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182 Comments

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182 Comments

  1. Heidi

    January 24, 2014 at 5:52 pm

    I can’t wait to try any suggestions if I omit sausage? Hamburger or no meat?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 24, 2014 at 7:12 pm

      I think it would taste great with sauteed mushrooms, zucchini and spinach thrown it in at the end. (Or….my sister loves to add canned mushrooms and canned olives, I have eaten it that way at her house and it is really good too. You can add those while the sauce is simmering.) If you want it to have a little meaty flavor you could put beef bullion in place of the salt in the recipe.

      reply to this comment
      • maureen hess

        September 26, 2021 at 9:03 am

        I can’t wait to try this recipe. In the past my sauce is bitter. I try added sugar . It will be great if I can make this good.

        reply to this comment
        • Maria

          September 27, 2021 at 4:22 am

          You will love this sauce! I am excited for you to try it!

          reply to this comment
    • Don martin

      March 4, 2017 at 4:20 pm

      This is a great sauce and you can call it home because that’s what it is

      reply to this comment
      • Maria

        March 7, 2017 at 1:27 pm

        Thanks Don!

        reply to this comment
      • Chef David

        March 8, 2018 at 7:50 pm

        I am a chef of 23 years in Italian restaurant and I like these recipes for spaghetti sauce

        reply to this comment
        • Maria

          March 8, 2018 at 10:20 pm

          Thank you Chef David! 🙂

          reply to this comment
          • Debbie

            August 3, 2019 at 3:14 pm

            Do you simmer covered or uncovered?

          • Maria

            October 22, 2019 at 8:26 am

            I cover it with the lid slightly ajar, that way it doesn’t splat but also lets the moisture out.

    • Pete

      September 27, 2018 at 4:44 pm

      Nice recipe but I will definitely add fresh basil—other then that, it’s a great sauce

      reply to this comment
    • Pat

      January 5, 2019 at 1:04 pm

      I make a sauce very similar to yours. The difference is I use 3 small cans of tomato sauce = 24 oz. with the large can of crushed tomatoes and minus the brown sugar. Most of the time I make it without the meat. Sometimes I cook the meatballs separate and then add to the sauce to give it a meaty flavor or sometimes I cook the sausages separate and then add to the sauce. Today I am trying your sauce and boy does it smell yummy. Thank you for the recipe!

      reply to this comment
      • Maria

        February 26, 2019 at 9:53 pm

        Your sauce sounds delicious too. Hope you liked how mine turned out!

        reply to this comment
      • Jess

        April 5, 2020 at 11:00 am

        This is amazing. My family loves this sauce! Did it with spare ribs was so good!

        reply to this comment
        • Maria

          May 6, 2020 at 2:09 pm

          Awesome! That sounds delicious.

          reply to this comment
    • Muoi

      October 27, 2019 at 12:49 pm

      I’m making this right now. I’ve been making this so many times. We love it so much! I can say it’s just a perfect ingredients for me. Thank you for the recipe!!

      reply to this comment
      • Maria

        May 12, 2020 at 4:52 pm

        Thanks Muoi! I love that! Thanks for leaving the comment and letting me know!

        reply to this comment
    • Cheryl King

      August 24, 2023 at 10:36 pm

      This sauce is amazing, I make it a couple of times a month. It’s like a party in your mouth, it’s that delicious.

      reply to this comment
  2. Emma

    July 9, 2014 at 8:40 pm

    I love that this is called “homemade” and calls for a “can of tomato sauce”

    reply to this comment
    • Tristan

      November 11, 2014 at 7:48 pm

      A “can of tomato sauce” can be from your own collection of your “homemade” tomato sauce…Oh, by the way, I love that your own “homemade” sauce recipe is so good that you had to google or pinterest a recipe =)

      reply to this comment
      • kathy

        November 5, 2016 at 5:43 pm

        Touche!! Awesome sauce BTW!!

        reply to this comment
        • Maria

          November 5, 2016 at 10:29 pm

          Thanks Kathy!

          reply to this comment
      • Sandra

        November 8, 2018 at 1:00 pm

        Ouch…that had to sting Emma.

        reply to this comment
    • Joan

      October 25, 2016 at 5:58 pm

      I have made it with the canned sauce and with my own homemade marinara sauce and it is equally good with either. Some of you folks are way too critical!

      reply to this comment
      • Donna

        December 1, 2019 at 7:29 pm

        Thank you, Joan!

        reply to this comment
        • Todd

          August 14, 2021 at 7:40 pm

          I canned 34 jars of this last summer using my garden Roma’s and vegetables and we have 1 left haha! My family loves the flavor of this and by the way I believe a bit of sausage does the trick!

          Awesome recipe! 😀

          reply to this comment
      • Elaine Leduc

        December 23, 2020 at 10:28 pm

        Sounds so good! I’m making it tomorrow and can’t wait to taste it with the brown sugar! I always add white sugar..about tbsp..but I’m sure brown sugar will be great.

        reply to this comment
        • Maria

          December 28, 2020 at 3:16 pm

          Hi Elaine, I hope you loved it! The brown sugar really gives it a great flavor!

          reply to this comment
    • Brenda

      August 12, 2017 at 6:10 pm

      Maria- making your sauce right now!! It’s awesome already and it’s only simmered for 1/2 hr. I don’t think my husband can wait the whole 2 hrs.👨🏼‍🍳 he loves it already!!👍To your critics, some of the best chefs say they prefer the canned tomatoes 🍅 (less water content)!! Some people are so petty , they need to get a life and try your awesome recipe!! Thanks for your homemade , made with love in your own kitchen, recipe!! Sincerely Brenda

      reply to this comment
      • Maria

        August 15, 2017 at 3:30 pm

        Awwww, thank you so much Brenda! You made my day!

        reply to this comment
    • Michael

      May 8, 2018 at 1:22 pm

      A little snitty/snotty today???
      This is one of the best recipes on the net.

      reply to this comment
  3. Kelcy

    July 20, 2014 at 6:42 pm

    Loved it. Maybe only half an onion next time.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      July 21, 2014 at 1:42 pm

      Glad you liked it.

      reply to this comment
  4. A W

    July 23, 2014 at 9:47 am

    Oh, man. I was so excited to use this recipe off pinterest when it said homemade spaghetti sauce. But, then it used cans and not fresh tomatoes. Next time! Still, looks yummy.

    reply to this comment
    • Megan

      January 19, 2016 at 7:09 pm

      Not sure why everyone is having a cow over the canned tomatoes. Some people can their own tomatoes? Use fresh if you like, I’m sure if you google it someone will tell you the ratio of fresh to a can.

      reply to this comment
      • Maria

        January 25, 2016 at 11:07 pm

        I kind of love you for saying that. 🙂

        reply to this comment
        • Millie

          February 24, 2016 at 3:37 pm

          Sounds like a great sauce. I have made sauce from fresh tomatoes too, but you don’t always have the time or inclination to blanch and peel them so this recipe works for me. Thanks Maria.

          reply to this comment
        • Megan

          March 28, 2016 at 1:23 pm

          You’re welcome. 😉 I rarely read comments on recipes for all the stuff like this!! Makes me crazy.

          reply to this comment
          • Dennis

            August 24, 2017 at 3:00 pm

            I just made this sauce and doubled the recipe. It smells really really good right now in my house. And those comments about not being homemade with can products, some people have nothing good to say ever. Thanks for the recipe. I have trie a lot of them and by far this is the one I am going to use for now on. Thanks again, Dennis from Dubuque,Iowa

          • Maria

            September 6, 2017 at 10:36 pm

            Thanks Dennis! You made my day! So glad you love the sauce as much as I do!

        • Suzy

          April 24, 2016 at 7:29 pm

          So with home made BREAD do you expect I grind my own flour? lol well, still a great recipe, don’t concern yourself over all those “homemade” critics !! I bet they will love this if they try it!
          I use a dash of cinnamon and a dash of cayenne when I make spaghetti sauce, too.

          reply to this comment
          • Maria

            April 25, 2016 at 10:56 pm

            haha! Good point Suzy. 🙂 Cinnamon and cayenne ‘ey? Gonna have to give that a try.

        • Brenda

          January 28, 2018 at 11:08 pm

          If it’s not a jar sauce, it’s homemade!! Love it!!

          reply to this comment
          • Maria

            January 30, 2018 at 8:47 am

            🙂

          • Lisa

            April 29, 2020 at 11:43 am

            Exactly what I was thinking!

      • Linda

        May 29, 2016 at 7:44 pm

        There is nothing better than Pastene Chunky tomatoes canned…..to make a spaghetti sauce. They are always fresh tasting and delicious.

        reply to this comment
      • Sherri

        August 10, 2016 at 2:32 pm

        Homemade doesn’t mean you have to grow the freaking tomatoes people! Duh! Homemade simply means you didn’t open a jar or can that says “Spaghetti Sauce” on it. Why am I still so amazed at the stupidity of people?

        reply to this comment
        • Marcelle Lowder

          August 22, 2016 at 5:26 pm

          Bravo!

          reply to this comment
        • Helene

          September 14, 2018 at 1:53 pm

          I just blanched tomatoes my neighbors gave me and put them in the freezer until I have enough to do a BIG batch to freeze later for neighborhood get-to-gethers. at 84 I am considered a good cook and I love this and can add some red wine if I wish later . A large salad, sour dough garlic french bread and this with fresh fruit or home made ice cream is a truely great dinner.

          reply to this comment
          • Maria

            September 17, 2018 at 2:19 pm

            Yum, yum, yum! I wish I could come to your neighborhood get together’s. 🙂

      • Chris

        August 16, 2016 at 7:49 pm

        That’s true. Where else are you going to find fresh tomatoes more than 3 months a year…unless you live in California.
        Or Italy…

        reply to this comment
  5. bonnye

    July 24, 2014 at 12:20 am

    Just made this and it was delish. Working full time with two kids, this is about as homemade as its gonna get. Thx for something easy yummy and better than any package or jar sauce.

    reply to this comment
    • Vickie

      March 31, 2018 at 1:20 pm

      Good for you Momma! ❤️

      reply to this comment
  6. Jessica

    August 18, 2014 at 11:19 am

    Thank you for putting your recipe on here….I used canned tomatoes too, cause today I don’t have time to chop up a pile of tomatoes….there are critics in every crowd, just remember we all do what we can and should be happy with meeting our own expectations! My #1 us putting love in my food, no matter whether some came from a can, it all came from my heart…can’t wait to try a new recipe today!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      August 22, 2014 at 12:06 pm

      Hi Jessica, thanks for your sweet comment. I feel the same way about food. 🙂 I hope you enjoy this sauce as much as my family does.
      Maria

      reply to this comment
  7. Dawn Ritter

    September 1, 2014 at 5:02 pm

    How long will this keep in the freezer? As a mom of one (soon to be 2 in a couple weeks hopefully) We have been making freezer meals to prepare for the hustle bustle of our little ones arrival so it’d be nice to make lots of sauce if it will last for awhile. In my house if you are adding any ingredients it’s homemade!!! Can’t wait to make this!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      September 1, 2014 at 10:07 pm

      Hi Dawn, Congratulations on the soon to be new baby! This sauce freezes great and can stay good in the freezer for two or three months. We double it and freeze the extra almost every time we make it. It is so nice to be able to pull out delicious sauce on busy nights.

      reply to this comment
      • Lila

        November 19, 2015 at 10:18 am

        I see you can freeze this but can you can it ?

        reply to this comment
        • Maria

          November 19, 2015 at 3:43 pm

          I have never canned it because I don’t know what it’s ph level is and if it would need citric acid or vinegar added. I plan on doing some more research about it before next summer because I would love to be able to can this. I will let you know what I find out.

          reply to this comment
          • Bessie Carter

            June 13, 2016 at 8:31 pm

            I use tomato paste also & a few dashes of red wine vinegar along with the crushed tomatoes! I also add Tony’s Cajun seasoning to my spaghetti sauce! My son n law loves my sauce , oh & of course meat & Italian blend seasoning! !!

          • Maria

            June 22, 2016 at 9:19 pm

            I love Tony’s. I will have to try adding that sometime I add it to my sausage gravy for biscuits and gravy and the whole family loves it. I never thought to add it to spaghetti sauce. Thanks for the idea.

          • Onalee

            August 5, 2023 at 11:54 am

            As I was making a double batch of this amazing spaghetti sauce, I noticed the date that I had printed off my copy. December 24, 2020. It is splattered and looking rather worn, but it is the only spaghetti sauce that I follow. I’ve been married 57 years, tried many brands and recipes, yet our family never cared much for spaghetti. Now, mostly just hubby and me, and this has been a regular in our rotation. Time to sit down this weekend and peruse your website more carefully. Thank you for the great recipe.

          • Maria

            August 5, 2023 at 3:51 pm

            This makes me so happy Onalee. I love this sauce so much too! I love knowing that you have a spattered copy of it and it’s in your rotation. I hope you find more things on my site that you will love this much. Try the salsa chicken enchiladas, and the million dollar zucchini skillet. Those are two of my favorites.

  8. Jeanie

    September 6, 2014 at 1:50 pm

    This is as close to homemade it gets for me, like a lot of other busy Mom’s I really don’t have the time to can my own tomatoes and Kudos to those of you that do! I did triple the recipe and it turned out wonderfully well! I used it for spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna and cheese tortellini and it is by far the best sauce I have made and is def going in the family cookbook! Thanks for sharing:~)

    reply to this comment
  9. Kristen

    September 10, 2014 at 10:35 pm

    I found this on Pinterest and I cannot wait to try tonight with my quinoa meatballs over egg noodles! If I don’t use premade sauce out of a jar, and I am not eating ingredients I cannot pronounce, I consider it homemade too!

    I bet this is delicious with sausage cooked into it as well, I will have to try that next time!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      September 10, 2014 at 10:56 pm

      Hi Kristen,

      So glad you found it. I love this recipe so much and yes, it is AWESOME with sausage! And Amen to the not out of a jar is homemade. 🙂

      Maria

      reply to this comment
  10. Rad

    October 2, 2014 at 11:46 am

    Hi Maria!

    I love this recipe! Instead of using canned diced tomatoes, I just diced up a bunch of roma tomatoes (we grow our own) and threw them in the pot with the butter and garlic and onions, and added roughly a 1/2 tsp of baking soda to get rid of acidity and a 1/2 small can of tomato paste. Then when it had cooked down, whirred it up with an immersion blender. It tastes delicious and sooo flavorful – love the addition of bay leaves and brown sugar! Thanks so much 🙂 Just because some ingredients come from a can doesn’t make it not homemade!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 2, 2014 at 9:17 pm

      You are so welcome! I am so glad you like the recipe. And I bet it was FANTASTIC with the fresh roma’s.

      reply to this comment
  11. Sarah

    October 8, 2014 at 8:15 am

    very excited about making this sauce!!!! My husband would eat spaghetti everyday of his life if he could. ☺️
    We have always used jar sauce and I am tired of all the added “stuff”. This will be my first time making homemade sauce! Thank you for posting your recipe!

    reply to this comment
  12. Amie

    October 8, 2014 at 4:27 pm

    Do you think I could put this in the slow cooker on low all day while gone to work and it come out ok? Very exited to try it!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 8, 2014 at 4:43 pm

      yes! I think it will turn out delicious!

      reply to this comment
    • Megan

      January 19, 2016 at 7:10 pm

      I have done this! It worked great!

      reply to this comment
  13. Emma

    October 29, 2014 at 12:00 am

    This was delicious, thank you!! I followed the recipe exactly, although I added more sausage to avoid wasting it. I love a meaty sauce anyway. My husband said that it’s his favorite red sauce to date. I might use spicy sausage the next time or add some red pepper flakes for a little kick, but with or without added spice, we loved it!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 29, 2014 at 9:28 pm

      Hi Emma,

      I am so glad you liked the sauce. It is my favorite too. Now you just need to try it on stuffed shells. Amazing!

      Thanks for letting me know it was a hit at your house. I love hearing that!

      Maria

      reply to this comment
  14. Kristy

    November 5, 2014 at 10:53 am

    Made this tonight and my Italian boyfriend loved it. I added some hot pepper flakes and mushrooms….also didn’t add the sausage but simmered chicken breast in the sauce….So delicous! Thanks for the recipe…I will use it over and over again.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      November 5, 2014 at 12:29 pm

      Thanks Kristy! So glad you both liked it and I love hearing new ideas on how to serve it. I will have to try simmering Chicken Breasts in it!

      Maria

      reply to this comment
  15. Melissa

    January 20, 2015 at 10:10 pm

    This spaghetti sauce lives up to it’s name! I took your advice and doubled it. So glad I did! Delicious and easy!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 21, 2015 at 10:26 am

      Thanks Melissa! I love hearing that people like it as much as I do! 🙂

      reply to this comment
  16. Renee

    February 11, 2015 at 9:06 am

    I am trying this recipe today! I canned a mixture of yellow and red tomatoes…. I am excited to see the color of my sauce! Thanks for the recipe 🙂

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 11, 2015 at 11:12 pm

      🙂 I bet it will be so yummy!

      reply to this comment
  17. Sarah

    February 15, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    I found this recipe on Pinterest and just wanted to stop by and say thank you! I’ve made it a handful of times now and the family just loves it! It’s the best. Never buying the premade stuff again. 🙂

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 15, 2015 at 11:38 pm

      Oh YAY! I love to hear this! We love it too, in fact I just made a quadruple batch this week and froze it to have on hand. Thanks for taking time to come back and comment!

      reply to this comment
  18. Stephanie

    September 22, 2015 at 11:39 am

    It really seriously looks amazing! I will have to make this next time we have spaghetti!

    reply to this comment
  19. Maris (In Good Taste)

    September 22, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    Amazing spaghetti sauce is something you should always have in the freezer. This looks great!

    reply to this comment
  20. Maryanne @ the little epicurean

    September 22, 2015 at 10:11 pm

    It’s always a good idea to make large batches of spaghetti sauce. This one looks tasty 🙂

    reply to this comment
  21. Melanie | Melanie Makes

    September 22, 2015 at 10:11 pm

    Love that you can double it so that you can always have some on hand!

    reply to this comment
  22. Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet

    September 23, 2015 at 1:45 am

    This looks and sounds delicious! I’m virtually always in the mood for spaghetti 🙂

    reply to this comment
  23. Jaren (Diary of a Recipe Collector)

    September 23, 2015 at 2:22 pm

    I love a sweet sauce. I’ve never tried brown sugar in mine! Must try!

    reply to this comment
  24. Michelle @ The Complete Savorist

    September 23, 2015 at 11:09 pm

    This is a wonderful recipe. I have red sauce flowing through my veins.

    reply to this comment
  25. Samantha

    November 10, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    Can this be done in a crockpot?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      November 10, 2015 at 8:46 pm

      Hi Samantha. Yes, If you brown the meat with the onions and garlic in the butter and olive oil first. You can add it and the rest of the ingredients to the crock pot and cook it on low for 4-6 hours.

      reply to this comment
  26. Megan

    March 28, 2016 at 1:25 pm

    If I make meatballs should I only cook them partially in the oven and then put them in the sauce to summer for 2 hours, do you know? Or cook meatballs completely? I’ve never done homemade meatballs before so I don’t know the best method!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      March 28, 2016 at 10:46 pm

      Either way will work great. If you cook them partly in the sauce it adds a little different meaty flavor that I really like, so I usually do it that way.

      reply to this comment
  27. Marilyn Duncan

    April 17, 2016 at 4:54 pm

    Hi Maria, I found this for you on how to can your spagetti sauce, and it sounds almost like yours except it uses fresh tomatoes. But you can substitute canned tomatoes. I am going to try your sauce tonight, it sounds yummy. Thank you!!!

    reply to this comment
    • Marilyn Duncan

      April 17, 2016 at 4:57 pm

      Forgot this : http://www.simplycanning.com/canning-spaghetti-sauce.html

      reply to this comment
    • Maria

      April 19, 2016 at 7:39 pm

      Thank you so much Marilyn.

      reply to this comment
  28. Jennifer

    May 11, 2016 at 7:59 am

    Could i make this in bulk and can it? Looking for a new sauce recupe for canning.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      May 11, 2016 at 8:19 pm

      I don’t can it but I freeze it in gallon bags. I still have one in the freezer from this September when I made huge batches to freeze and it is still good. When canning tomatoes the ph has to be just right and I don’t know if this recipe would need to be altered to meet the needed levels so I just freeze it.

      reply to this comment
  29. Darlene Anderson

    May 30, 2016 at 10:28 am

    How much garlic would you use if you used garlic from the jar, oh yes I do use jar items

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      June 1, 2016 at 2:28 pm

      lol, I would do 3-4 tsp or more if you really like garlic. 🙂

      reply to this comment
  30. Pat

    August 1, 2016 at 9:35 am

    If it’s cooked at home, it’s homemade.

    reply to this comment
  31. Shannon

    September 27, 2016 at 12:51 am

    I made this tonight and the flavor is out of this world! Seriously, like a great restaurant. I absolutely loved it! I used ground turkey and added sautéed mushrooms and zucchini at the end. My sauce wasn’t thick though. I was afraid if I simmered it for 2 hours without the lid it would get way too thick. Is it supposed to be simmered with the lid off? I’m guessing it will thicken a bit when we reheat it. It is absolutely delicious! Thank you so much for sharing! Bottled sauce doesn’t even come close!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      September 29, 2016 at 2:58 pm

      So glad you love the sauce! We love it too. Yes, keeping the lid on doesn’t allow it to cook down and thicken. I made this in the crock pot on Sunday and had the same issue. It still taste great but doesn’t thicken. If you want to cook it with the lid on try adding a couple tablespoons of tomato paste, that will help it thicken.

      reply to this comment
      • Mesha Davis

        September 25, 2017 at 2:24 pm

        You can also add your pasta about 30ish minutes (I usually slow cooker, and the time will depend on how hot your pot is. If your using your cook top, I would follow the pasta directions) before you serve it. It will soak up most of the liquid and save some dishes.

        reply to this comment
        • Maria

          September 26, 2017 at 7:21 pm

          Wow! I’ve never tried that. Sounds like a great time/one more pot to clean, saver!

          reply to this comment
  32. Joanna

    September 28, 2016 at 9:33 pm

    Loved this recipe and instead of meat I added some green and red peppers finely chopped.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      September 29, 2016 at 2:54 pm

      Awesome! Glad you liked it Joanna!

      reply to this comment
  33. Dodi

    October 19, 2016 at 8:50 am

    I made this last night and it was really good but made such a small amount I have made sauce many many times and several different recipes and they all call for water did I miss something or is there not any ? Will definitely make again but in order to add meatballs and have some to freeze I will have to quadruple

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 21, 2016 at 3:24 pm

      Hi Dodi, I am glad you like the sauce. It’s our favorite. And yes, if you don’t double it it only makes about 5-6 cups of sauce. I mention on the recipe card that I like to double it so I can freeze half for a later meal. Quadrupling is even better 🙂

      reply to this comment
  34. Maria

    October 28, 2016 at 7:59 am

    Is there somewhere to find the nutrition info on this sauce?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      November 30, 2016 at 3:12 pm

      I am sorry, I don’t have that feature. You would need to go to a site that does that and enter the ingredients.

      reply to this comment
  35. Cheryl

    November 7, 2016 at 7:04 pm

    Wonderful sauce. I’m sicilian and my Grandfather’s family brought the family’s top secret sauce/gravy recipe with them when they came to America. Quite honestly, your recipe is very very similar. 🙂 For all those who have an issue with canned tomatoes…that’s what my Nonna and Nonni used too! Nice recipe!

    reply to this comment
    • Cheryl

      November 7, 2016 at 7:06 pm

      And before anyone has a meltdown….I know that a grandfather is called Nonno in Italian. But we called our grandfather nonni. 🙂

      reply to this comment
    • Maria

      November 30, 2016 at 3:10 pm

      Thank you Cheryl!

      reply to this comment
  36. Donna

    November 10, 2016 at 6:15 pm

    This is amazing! Better than any other homemade sauce I’ve made ,my husband won’t eat any other sauce. Not only delicious but super easy to make. Thanks for sharing. I always double the recipe for future use.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      November 10, 2016 at 10:27 pm

      Thank you so much Donna. My kids are the same way too now. Last time I was in a crunch I used bottled sauce and they all looked at me like I was trying to torture them or something. 🙂

      reply to this comment
  37. Madison

    November 12, 2016 at 11:46 am

    I found your recipe thru Google and looked easy enough to give it a try! I wanted to use my crockpot and not have to worry about cooking later tonight. Haven’t tried it yet but it already smells so good! Thanks for the recipe and I’ll be checking out the rest of your blog 🙂

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      November 18, 2016 at 5:31 pm

      Hi Madison, I have noticed that when I make this in the crock it doesn’t cook down the same way (and thicken) like it does when I cook it on the stove. I would suggest adding half a can of tomato paste if you do it in the crock pot. Hope you like it!

      reply to this comment
  38. Melissa

    December 6, 2016 at 10:43 pm

    This sauce is AMAZING!! I could not stop eating it as it simmered! Thank you for posting this recipe!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      December 6, 2016 at 11:20 pm

      I feel the same way Melissa! It’s addicting! My kids are becoming sauce snobs. Last time I tried to give them store bought, they revolted. 🙂

      reply to this comment
  39. Veronica

    February 5, 2017 at 1:27 am

    Hopefully even though this was posted awhile ago, you’ll still respond.

    When cooking in a slow cooker how long do you recommend?

    Thank you ?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 6, 2017 at 9:31 pm

      Hi Veronica, I usually do 4-6 hours on low.

      reply to this comment
      • Veronica

        February 17, 2017 at 6:58 pm

        Thank you! My family loves the sauce. Even my boyfriend who’s a chef and my daughter who is crazy picky!!

        reply to this comment
  40. Lois

    February 6, 2017 at 4:40 pm

    I used ground beef. Should I drain it before adding the rest of the ingredients?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 6, 2017 at 9:21 pm

      I don’t but if it is extra fatty, you might want to.

      reply to this comment
  41. Jayme

    February 13, 2017 at 11:45 pm

    OMG! Amazing! Love this “homemade sauce”! Home made is anything that doesn’t say Prego or Ragu in my book! And I can tell you I will be making this recipe instead of jarred sauce from now on– I had no idea it would be so much better!!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 15, 2017 at 2:44 pm

      Thanks Jayme, I felt the same way the first time I had this sauce! It is awesome and its the only sauce I make now.

      reply to this comment
  42. Maureen

    March 2, 2017 at 10:50 am

    I have made a lot of sauces in my lifetime but this is without a doubt the very best!!!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      March 7, 2017 at 1:28 pm

      Oh Wow! High praise indeed. Thank you Maureen!

      reply to this comment
  43. Felix

    March 13, 2017 at 3:42 pm

    Got it cooking now. Debating should I add tomato paste after reading about the sauce being thin. But I will say it smells amazing..

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      March 14, 2017 at 4:18 pm

      Hi Felix, I rarely add tomato past because I like to let it cook down until it is nice and thickened. But when I make it in the Instant Pot I add some tomato paste.

      reply to this comment
      • Mandi

        June 19, 2017 at 3:41 pm

        Oooooooh – how long do you cook it for in the Instant Pot?!? This sauce is my all time favorite go-to recipe – but to use the IP instead of allowing 2 hours for simmering would make my day 😊

        reply to this comment
        • Maria

          June 19, 2017 at 5:14 pm

          Hi Mandi, I brown the meat, onion and garlic on the saute setting and then pick a setting that will do 20-30 minutes. I also add in a couple tablespoons of tomato paste because it doesn’t thicken like it does on the stove because none of the moisture is escaping. 🙂

          reply to this comment
  44. Laurie

    May 31, 2017 at 10:49 am

    I was looking for a sauce like I just had in Rome – smooth, not acidic. This was perfect. My family loved it – a keeper!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      June 13, 2017 at 7:44 pm

      This makes me so happy! So glad your family loved the sauce!

      reply to this comment
  45. Peg

    October 5, 2017 at 6:52 pm

    Has anyone left this in the crockpot on low for 8 hours? Would it matter?

    reply to this comment
    • Peg

      October 5, 2017 at 6:54 pm

      Also, do you put the tomato paste in right away with all the other ingredients or wait until it’s almost done?

      reply to this comment
      • Maria

        October 9, 2017 at 1:34 pm

        I put it in right away. At the end if it isn’t looking thick enough, you could add a little more.

        reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 9, 2017 at 1:34 pm

      I have. When I do this sauce in the crock pot I add a tbsp or two of tomato paste to help it thicken.

      reply to this comment
  46. Tarah

    January 19, 2018 at 6:05 pm

    Haha! Im reading comments like 🤨😳😤🤯 I’m going to try this recipe out tonight, but I admit, I have to add wine to it 😆❤️ I’ve gone to culinary school and been a sous chef at a 4⭐️ Italian restaurant and let me tell you, ITALIANS USE CANNED TOMATOES FOR THEIR SAUCE TOO! I actually much prefer canned tomatoes to make marinara. The texture, moisture level, acidity and (hello) TIME! Girl, do your thing! If you don’t have time to chop up tomatoes, you definitely don’t have time for all that negativity!

    reply to this comment
    • Tarah

      January 19, 2018 at 6:15 pm

      Ps. I’m trying to satisfy a crowd of kids and picky eaters, so my normal marinara is too spicy and time consuming for this event. 😁 crock pot it is!

      reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 19, 2018 at 7:24 pm

      Lol, you crack me up! And, thank you so much, for the validation Tarah! Good luck with the crowd of kids! I’m going to have a crowd of them at my house tomorrow too, for my daughters birthday.

      reply to this comment
  47. Perla

    March 9, 2018 at 2:43 pm

    Maria.
    Will be making this sauce tomorrow for my daughter and granddaughters visit.
    When I moved into my home over 30 years ago, the elderly couple left practically everything behind which included pans that you mentioned in your blog. One of them is my favorite to make posole in because it is so big .
    Thanks for the recipe.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      March 9, 2018 at 5:08 pm

      AHH! I love it that we have the same pans Perla!!!! I just made this sauce last night for dinner! So yummy! It sounds like I need your Posole recipe!!

      reply to this comment
  48. Vickie

    March 31, 2018 at 1:25 pm

    Can’t wait to try this recipe! I’m making it for our youth Pastors family who are having their 7th child and I know it’s going to be amazing! Thank you for sharing it and for your grace in the comments. I am sometimes amazed at some comments but we know hurt people hurt people. ( or should I say try to 😉) 🙏

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      April 18, 2018 at 7:46 pm

      Thank you Vickie! You are a sweet heart!

      reply to this comment
  49. Sidney Gregory

    September 15, 2018 at 3:52 pm

    I am in the middle of making a batch following the recipe printed. I am not a cook, but married to a woman that is. Since I am doing this for bragging rights I would like to ask a couple of questions (after the fact). I found a bottle of marinara sauce in the cupboard. Could I have used it in place of the tomatoes or would I have to adjust the other ingredients. I used 8 ounces of tomato sauce out of a 16 ounce can. could I have used the other 8 ounces without changing the finished results? Also I bought a 12 ounce package of Italian sausage. I used 4 of the 5 links. Can I cook the other link for this batch? Thanks from a real novice.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      September 17, 2018 at 2:16 pm

      Hi, these are great questions. No to the marinara sauce, but yes to all 16 ounces of tomato sauce being okay and yes, to adding all of the sausage! I hope your wife loved the finished product. This is one of my all time favorite recipes!

      reply to this comment
  50. Jacqueline

    February 15, 2019 at 7:56 pm

    Hi. Just read this recipe on Yummly. What are casings? Does it mean sausages ?

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 26, 2019 at 9:37 pm

      Hi Jacqueline, Italian Sausage is usually sold in casings. I like to remove them for this recipe.

      reply to this comment
  51. Kayla

    February 22, 2019 at 7:21 pm

    I love the smell of spaghetti sauce but never eat it because I’m basically a child. I do not like onions or tomatoes but will eat pizza sauce and ketchup. Is it possible to strain this after making it to remove the onions and tomato chunks? If so I’m definitely interested in trying it. I’ve really been craving chicken parmigiana but would prefer a red sauce that I know what’s actually in it if you catch my drift.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      February 26, 2019 at 9:34 pm

      You could try it, I would leave the meat out and add it last. The other thing you could try is use and emulsion blender to smooth it all out.

      reply to this comment
  52. Mayra

    June 17, 2019 at 11:34 am

    By far, the best and most delicious pasta sauce ever! Made it just like you did, Maria, with the Italian sausage. Oh, yummmm! Just dipping bread in it was amazing! Thank you for the awesome recipe! Used it on your stuffed shells recipe–oh, what a treat!

    reply to this comment
  53. Darlene Kjar

    July 16, 2021 at 7:11 am

    We tried the new lemon pie with strawberry sauce and a dollop of cream. It is divinely delicious❣️You are an awesome cook Maria!!Love you, Mom

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 26, 2021 at 9:11 am

      Thanks mom! So glad you tried it!

      reply to this comment
  54. Callie

    September 8, 2021 at 10:28 am

    #septembergiveaway

    reply to this comment
  55. Barbara Eisenhower

    December 29, 2021 at 9:34 pm

    I made this tonight with your wonderful meatball recipe (I left out the Italian sausage since I made the meatballs), otherwise I followed it to the T, doubled the recipe so I could freeze the leftovers for another night. Both recipes are out of this world, sooooo scrumptious!!! I’ll be using these two recipes forever now!!! Thank you!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 4, 2022 at 4:54 am

      Yay! I am so happy to hear that Barbara! They are two of my favorite recipes too!

      reply to this comment
  56. AnnS

    March 3, 2022 at 10:43 pm

    Best spaghetti sauce ever! My whole family loves it, and one I make often for them.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      March 7, 2022 at 4:23 am

      So glad you all like it! We totally agree at our house, whenever I’m in a hurry and use a store bought sauce my family realizes how spoiled they are. 🙂

      reply to this comment
  57. Kristin

    September 11, 2022 at 5:30 pm

    This has become my go ~ to recipe😋😋😋
    I quadruple the recipe and it’s spot on!
    Thank you so very much from my family to yours😊😊😊😊

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      September 13, 2022 at 4:35 am

      You’re welcome, I am so glad you and your family loves it!

      reply to this comment
  58. Cheryl

    October 8, 2022 at 4:26 pm

    Absolutely delicious.
    Thank you for sharing your recipe!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 11, 2022 at 3:51 am

      You are welcome, I am so glad you like it!

      reply to this comment
  59. Sue

    January 12, 2023 at 1:21 pm

    Made this the other night and it was amazing, my husband raved about it and said that this was the best sauce I’ve ever made. Only thing different I did was I also added ground hamburger to balance the spicy Italian sausage because even though I love the sausage it is a little to strong for me. We froze the leftover sauce and this recipe I will definitely make again

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      January 13, 2023 at 9:25 am

      Yay! That makes me so happy! I’m so glad you gave it a try!

      reply to this comment
  60. kara

    March 2, 2023 at 8:28 pm

    Making your sauce right now and it already smells delicious.
    When you simmer your sauce, do you usually cover or simmer uncovered?
    Thanks for a great recipe.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      March 7, 2023 at 6:14 am

      Hi Kara, when I simmer it I usually put the lid a little crooked so some air and moisture can still escape but I don’t get pops of sauce all over my stove.

      reply to this comment
  61. Bonnie

    March 3, 2023 at 9:47 pm

    I didn’t read through all of the comments and enjoyed the back and forth between “homemade” cans or no cans…Funny how petty people can be, and I agree that it’s homemade so long as you don’t use it directly out of the bottle, can or jar…
    I haven’t made this yet but plan to next time, but just wanted to add a couple of little things that I do that might be a good addition. Since I love anise/fennel seed in my sauce I also add some (crushed in a mortar) and some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper because I like just a little heat. I do use white sugar but will definitely try brown next time.
    All of your recipes sound so good, and I plan to try a few. Especially the coconut ones.
    You have good taste…

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      March 7, 2023 at 6:17 am

      Thank you Bonnie, you just made my day! I love a little kick in my spaghetti sauce too! It sounds like we are two peas in a pod. 🙂

      reply to this comment
  62. Leann C Rardin

    March 23, 2023 at 1:15 pm

    Hi Maria,
    Thank you so much for the recipe, it is awesome! I make this in large quanity and home can it. We always have a jar of it on the shelf. My family will not eat any other sauce!!

    Thank you again!!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      March 23, 2023 at 3:17 pm

      Hi Leann, Thank you so much for making this comment! I love hearing that! It’s our very favorite sauce too and definitely one of those, “you can never go back” once you’ve had it recipes. 🙂

      reply to this comment
  63. Ann ketchum

    June 29, 2023 at 8:23 am

    This is my go-to for Spaghetti sauce! It’s the absolute best because it tastes so homemade and delicious but also so easy! Thanks so much!

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      July 19, 2023 at 7:21 am

      Thank you Ann, I love hearing this! I am so glad you like it!

      reply to this comment
  64. Jamie Spalding

    August 24, 2023 at 12:00 am

    “FAVORITE!”
    My family loves this spaghetti sauce! I love how simple and quickly it comes together. It’s delicious!

    reply to this comment
  65. Amy Rosquist

    August 24, 2023 at 12:25 pm

    FAVORITE! Well, one of our favorites. I make a huge pot of this to portion and freeze for busy nights. I haven’t bought a jar of spaghetti sauce since I found this recipe. So so good.

    reply to this comment
  66. Kara B

    September 25, 2023 at 11:26 pm

    Hands down the best sauce ever. I have not bought spaghetti sauce since I first made this five years ago. I don’t even put the sausage in it and it is still to die for.

    reply to this comment
    • Maria

      October 9, 2023 at 10:15 am

      Thank you so much! You just made my day, I am so glad you like it!

      reply to this comment
  67. ANN KETCHUM

    December 24, 2024 at 4:33 pm

    THE BEST! THIS IS ONE RECIPE THAT IS “MINE” NOW. I DON’T USE ANYTHING BUT THIS. I ALSO ONLY USE GROUND BEEF BUT I’M SURE IT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER WITH THE SAUSAGE!

    reply to this comment
    • Ann@Real Life Dinner

      December 27, 2024 at 6:31 pm

      Thanks, Ann! So glad you like it. It is yummy with Italian sausage.

      reply to this comment
  68. Karla

    February 3, 2025 at 4:29 pm

    The ONLY sauce recipe I use! Easy, flavorful, and wonderful 2 double and freeze. Thank you.

    reply to this comment
    • Ann@Real Life Dinner

      February 5, 2025 at 2:43 pm

      Thanks, Karla! So glad you like it. I like doubling it, too, and freezing half for another meal. Makes for easy food prep.

      reply to this comment

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Welcome friends!

Hi, I'm Maria. A mom of five and a total foodie. My superpower is taking ordinary recipes and making them DELICIOUS. Your family will LOVE these meals! Come cook with me, I promise it will be amazing! Get started here or search my archives below.


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