Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

Name: Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 cup yellow onion (grated); 1 cup carrot (grated); ⅛ cup avocado oil; 4 garlic cloves (minced); 28 oz crushed tomatoes; ½ cup vegetable broth; ½ cup fresh basil (chopped); ½ cup fresh parsley (chopped); 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 Tablespoon honey; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika; ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

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This Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce is a tomato based sauce with fresh garlic, parsley, basil, and carrots. The whole family will love this homemade pasta sauce, and you’ll appreciate that it’s a one pot sauce recipe that takes just 30 minutes to make.

Homemade pasta sauce in a large pot with a wooden spoon.

Table of Contents

I know it’s tempting to reach for a jar of store-bought sauce, and believe me, I’ve done it plenty of times. But making your own sauce really is worth the extra effort. You control the sodium content, avoid unnecessary additives, and can customize the flavors exactly how you like them.

Plus I’m always so unimpressed with spaghetti sauce from the grocery store. It’s either bland which is also why I posted How to Make Homemade Alfredo Sauce, tastes tinny, or is way too watery.

The best pasta sauce is absolutely something that can easily be made at home. Plus, it includes ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

Pasta Sauce vs Marinara Sauce vs Spaghetti Sauce. Whats the difference?

While all are tomato based sauces, spaghetti sauce (or ‘pasta sauce’) is a thick, rich sauce usually with meat and vegetables. It’s usually slow-simmered. Marinara sauce is a thinner, simpler, quick-cooking sauce.

Our recipe is quick to make yet thick enough in texture to ‘grab’ the pasta, and is meatless. Basically, it’s an all round red sauce that is totally customizable suited to your preference. For example: thin it out with more broth, add meat etc.

This homemade sauce for spaghetti noodles (or any other type of pasta for that matter) has just the right amount of thickness and so much flavor.

Whether you’re serving it over a simple plate of pasta on a Tuesday night or using it as the foundation for a more elaborate dish, this sauce delivers every single time.

Make a big batch, freeze half, and thank yourself later when you have homemade sauce ready to go on a busy evening.

A wooden spoon stirring homemade spaghetti sauce in a large pot.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This is an easy recipe that is ready in 30 minutes.
This easy tomato pasta sauce is Versatile to use for many different easy dinners such as our Slow Cooker Easy Lasagna.
Our best homemade spaghetti sauce Tastes so much better than store-bought.
Our homemade tomato spaghetti sauce is Freezer Friendly .

Total Time: 30 Minutes

Serves: 6

Ingredients and Notes

As always, the full ingredients and recipe is on the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Ingredients on a table to make Homemade pasta sauce.

Yellow onion – Yellow onion is best over red onion.
Carrots – The carrots add sweetness to the recipe and almost disintegrate into the sauce. Plus it’s a great way to sneak in more vegetables and nutrition.
Avocado oil – If using another oil in it’s place, make sure to use one that has a high smoke point such as refined sunflower oil. You can use olive oil if that’s all you have on hand.
Garlic cloves – You can use jarred minced garlic if you are in a pinch.
Canned Tomatoes – I use canned crushed tomatoes and tomato paste for this recipe, both required.
Vegetable broth – I love the vegetable over chicken or beef broth, as it adds so much flavor.
Basil + parsley – Fresh is definitely best for this recipe. If you must use dried use 2-3 tablespoons of dried seasonings.
Honey – If you don’t have honey on hand, you can replace it with granulated sugar.
Seasonings – For the perfect sauce I use the following spices: garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, sweet paprika, coarse kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Recipe Variations

Make a Meat Sauce: Make a bolognese sauce by adding cooked ground beef, ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork, or Italian sausage to this pasta sauce recipe with tomato sauce.
Vegetable-Loaded Sauce: Add mushrooms, or zucchini when you sauté the onions.
Wine-Enhanced Sauce: Replace 1/2 cup of the vegetable broth with red wine for added complexity.

Tips for Success

Quality Ingredients Matter: Since this recipe has relatively few ingredients, the quality of each one really shines through. Use good quality crushed tomatoes and vegetable broth for the best results.
Don’t Skip the Honey: The small amount of natural sugar helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes. It won’t make this homemade spaghetti sauce recipe taste sweet, I promise.
Taste as You Go: Everyone’s palate is different. Taste your sauce throughout the cooking process and adjust the seasonings to your liking.
Fresh Herbs for Finishing: While some dried herbs are perfect for simmering, using fresh herbs provides a brightness and flavor that dried herbs can’t match.

How to Make Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

grated carrot, onion and garlic in a large cooking pot.

STEP 1 – In a large pot or deep skillet add the onion, carrots, avocado oil, and garlic. Saute over medium heat for 5 minutes.

Making Homemade Spaghetti Sauce in a large pot.

STEP 2 – Add the remainder of the ingredients. Mix until combined.

STEP 3 – Turn the heat to high to bring to a boil. Turn down to low-medium heat and cover the pot.

Homemade spaghetti sauce in a large cooking pot with a wooden spoon.

STEP 4 – Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir occasionally. Serve warm. I like to top with some grated parmesan cheese.

How to Spice up Spaghetti Sauce

Make a Spicy Arrabbiata Style sauce by adding 1/2 teaspoon or more of red pepper flakes for a spicier kick.

How Long Does Spaghetti Sauce Last?

You can keep the homemade spaghetti tomato sauce in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, in an airtight container or storage jar.

Homemade pasta sauce being added to cooked spaghetti with a wooden spoon.

How to Freeze Spaghetti Sauce

This homemade spaghetti sauce can be easily made ahead of time, and used at a later date. When the sauce has cooled completely, pour into a freezer safe zippered bag. You can freeze the sauce for up to 4-6 months. To use, place the frozen sauce in a pot on the stove, and reheat until warm.

Recipes for Leftover Spaghetti Sauce

Don’t be afraid of making a double batch of this amazing pasta sauce. Use the rest up in any recipes that calls for a tomato-based sauce.

We have plenty of recipes here at My Organized Chaos that you’ll love such as Slow Cooker baked Ziti, Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan, and Chicken and Spinach Cannelloni Rolls.

You can even serve this sauce over our Baked Chicken Meatballs Recipe.

Recipe FAQ

How to make spaghetti sauce thicker?

The best way to thicked spaghetti sauce is by adding tomato paste, as it will thicken without taking away flavor.

How long can you freeze spaghetti sauce?

Frozen pasta sauce keeps for 4-6 months.

More Homemade Sauce Recipes

If you’ve tried our Homemade Spaghetti Sauce please let me know how it went in the comments below and leave a 🌟 star rating too.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

This Homemade Spaghetti Sauce is easy, tasty, and ready in just half an hour! A quick recipe that controls sodium and enhances flavor. Freezer friendly and great for meal prep.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

Servings:

Course: Main Course, Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Author: Tammi

Ingredients

1 cup yellow onion (grated)
1 cup carrot (grated)
⅛ cup avocado oil
4 garlic cloves (minced)
28 oz crushed tomatoes
½ cup vegetable broth
½ cup fresh basil (chopped)
½ cup fresh parsley (chopped)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 Tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

In a large pot or deep skillet add the onion, carrots, avocado oil, and garlic. Saute over medium heat for 5 minutes.
Add the remainder of the ingredients. Mix until combined.
Turn the heat to high to bring to a boil. Turn down to low-medium heat and cover the pot.
Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir occasionally. Serve warm.