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–+ servings
Close up of homemade spaghetti sauce in a white bowl with a jar of extra sauce in the background a bowl of spaghetti noodles to the side.
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4.62 from 21 votes

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

An easy, basic 30-minute homemade spaghetti sauce recipe, plus a few flavor variations to try. Just 10 minutes to prep and plenty of extra sauce to freeze for another night!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Yield: 6 cups

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small sweet or white onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 (28-oz) cans crushed tomatoes (see notes)
  • 1 teaspoon (or to taste) crushed red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
  • 1 bay leaf

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  • Add onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until softened (but not browned).
  • Add garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  • Add crushed tomatoes and remaining ingredients.
  • Stir well to combine. Lower heat to medium-low and let simmer for 15-45 minutes. It helps to cover the pan partially with a lid. The steam should be able to escape so the sauce thickens, but that will help prevent splatters.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings. Remove the bay leaf. Serve sauce with spaghetti or use as a marinara for any of your favorite recipes.

Notes

Tomatoes: I prefer crushed tomatoes for a smooth, well-integrated sauce. You can also use half diced tomatoes for a chunkier sauce. (Or you can puree diced tomatoes in a blender to make your own crushed tomatoes.)
Flavor variations:
  • Garlic lover? Add an extra clove of garlic and/or ½ teaspoon garlic powder to the sauce.
  • Sprinkle on ½ teaspoon dried thyme with the other seasonings.
  • Stir in a couple tablespoons of tomato paste for a deeper tomato flavor.
  • Like it chunky? Use half diced tomatoes and half crushed tomatoes.
  • Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or a few splashes of red wine for a little oomph.
  • Add some fresh basil at the end to give it a really fresh, bright taste. 🌱
Storing: Extra sauce keeps for 5-7 days in the fridge. It also freezes great. Let it cool then store in a freezer-safe container or heavy duty freezer safe bag for up to 3-4 months.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 3/4 cup | Calories: 30kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 189mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g
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