I grew up with a pot of red sauce humming on the stove and I still chase that smell. This batch hits the spot with bright tomatoes, soft onion, and a nudge of garlic. It clings to noodles and it makes a simple bowl feel like home. Our table gets quiet in the best way once the forks start twirling. This speaks to spaghetti recipes that work on busy days and on slow Sundays. I lean on a recipe for spaghetti sauce that tastes rich yet stays light. I keep the process clear and quick, so a beginner can cook it and a pro can relax. If you want an easy spaghetti sauce recipe that holds well for guests, this one plays nice. Friends ask for the best spaghetti sauce recipe and they expect big flavor with little fuss. I use pantry staples and fresh basil when I have it. For fun I serve it over roasted strands from a recipe for spaghetti squash or I go classic with homemade spaghetti and meatballs recipe on a cool night. I even save extra jars for canning spaghetti sauce recipes since the sauce tastes better the next day.
Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
- 4) How to Make Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
- 5) Tips for Making Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
- 6) Making Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
- 8) Try these Pasta Sauce next
- 9) Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
I am Camila from Camila Cooks and I love a good pot of red sauce. I keep the steps short and I keep the flavor full. This works on weeknights and on slow Sundays. The main keyword appears here as spaghetti recipes and it sits well in our plan.
Tomatoes cook down and grow sweet. Garlic turns soft and kind. Onion melts into the sauce and gives body. The result hugs noodles and makes the house smell warm.
Pantry items do the work. Fresh herbs lift the finish. The method stays calm so a new cook can shine. You can read more on www.camilacooks.com where I share what I learn as I cook.
2) Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
Spaghetti recipes soothe me after a long day. Spaghetti recipes help my family sit and share a quiet meal. I grab a heavy pot and I let tomatoes speak. The sauce starts bright then settles into a deep red bowl of comfort.
We take a relaxed path that still feels smart. I toast a little tomato paste to build depth. I add crushed tomatoes and a splash of broth so the texture stays loose yet rich. The spoon leaves a trail and that is my cue.
I wrote this with Camila Cooks in mind so the tone stays friendly and clear. If you want an easy path to dinner this recipe meets you right where you stand. Find more on https://www.camilacooks.com and bring a friend to the table.
3) Ingredients for Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Olive oil I use a gentle pour to coat the pot and help the onions soften and turn sweet.
Yellow onion I dice it small so it melts and gives a soft base that supports the tomatoes.
Garlic I mince four cloves and let them bloom so the sauce smells bold yet friendly.
Tomato paste I cook it for a minute so the taste turns deep and round and a little nutty.
Crushed tomatoes I use two large cans so the pot feels generous and feeds the crew.
Low sodium broth I pour in a cup to loosen the sauce and help flavors blend and move.
Sugar I add a small spoon to balance the acid and keep the finish smooth on the tongue.
Kosher salt I season in layers so the taste stays bright not harsh.
Dried oregano I sprinkle a teaspoon for a classic hint that plays well with tomato.
Dried basil I add a teaspoon for a soft herbal lift that feels like summer.
Black pepper I grind a little for warmth that lingers.
Red pepper flakes I pinch in a bit if I crave a gentle kick that wakes the sauce.
Balsamic vinegar I stir in a splash at the end for shine and a round finish.
Fresh basil I chop and toss in right before we eat so the aroma rises from the bowl.
4) How to Make Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Step one Set a heavy pot over medium heat and add olive oil then onion. Stir until soft and sweet. Add garlic and stir for one short minute.
Step two Spoon in tomato paste and cook until it darkens and smells rich. This helps the final sauce taste deeper and more rounded.
Step three Pour in crushed tomatoes and broth. Add sugar salt oregano basil black pepper and red pepper flakes. Stir and bring to a lazy bubble.
Step four Lower the heat and simmer uncovered. Stir now and then so the bottom stays safe. Watch for a spoon trail that slowly fills.
Step five Finish with balsamic and fresh basil. Taste and adjust salt. Ladle over hot pasta or spoon over meat sauce cravings on busy nights.
5) Tips for Making Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Use a wide pot so the surface lets steam escape. The sauce thickens in a steady way and the flavor turns round and full.
Salt in small steps. A pinch at the onion stage then a pinch after tomatoes. Final salt at the end when the taste tells you it is ready.
Stir with care. A gentle scrape keeps the bottom clean. Add a splash of pasta water if the sauce feels tight. For variety try marinara nights or a quick meat sauce.
6) Making Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Ahead of Time
I make a big batch on Sunday then cool it and chill it. The flavor improves as it rests. Dinner on Monday turns simple and kind.
For easy use split the sauce into jars. Mark the date and stack them in the fridge. Reheat over gentle heat and stir until smooth.
For the freezer fill flat bags and lay them on a tray. They freeze fast and thaw fast. This helps with weeknight spaghetti recipes and saves us from takeout.
7) Storing Leftover Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Store in clean glass jars with tight lids. The sauce keeps for four days in the fridge. The color stays bright and the aroma stays lively.
For longer storage use the freezer. Leave room at the top of the container so it can expand. Label the jar so no one guesses later.
Warm the sauce in a small pot and add a spoon of water if it looks thick. Toss with hot pasta and you have family spaghetti recipes on repeat.
8) Try these Pasta Sauce next
9) Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce for Cozy Nights, Spaghetti Recipes You Love
Ingredients
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 cans crushed tomatoes 28 ounces each
- 1 small can tomato paste 6 ounces
- 1 cup low sodium broth chicken or vegetable
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 0.25 cup chopped fresh basil optional
For the Pasta
- 1 pound spaghetti
- Salt for pasta water
- Freshly grated Parmesan for serving
Instructions
For the Sauce
- Warm olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and add onion. Cook until soft.
- Stir in garlic and cook one minute. Add tomato paste and cook two minutes to deepen flavor.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes and broth. Add sugar salt oregano basil black pepper and red pepper flakes.
- Bring to a gentle bubble then lower the heat. Simmer uncovered for 25 to 35 minutes and stir now and then.
- Stir in balsamic vinegar and fresh basil. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
For the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and salt it well.
- Cook spaghetti until just tender then drain.
- Toss pasta with a few ladles of sauce and serve with more sauce and Parmesan.
10) Nutrition
A one cup serving lands near one hundred ninety calories. The balance feels light yet steady. You stay full and still feel good.
Sugar sits near ten grams from the tomatoes. Sodium stays moderate when you season with a light hand. Fiber sits near five grams so the bowl satisfies.
Protein reaches five grams from the tomatoes and cheese if you add some. Pair with salad and you have a calm plate that fits weeknight spaghetti recipes.
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