The short answer: a homemade spaghetti sauce recipe starts with onion, garlic, tomato paste and crushed tomatoes, simmered until thick. Add browned ground beef or sausage for a meat sauce, or keep it meatless for a simple tomato spaghetti sauce.
- Key numbers: two 28 oz cans tomatoes · 20 to 45 minute simmer · about 6 cups sauce · fridge 3 to 4 days (meat) · freeze up to 3 months
- Top moves: cook the paste until brick red, season in layers, simmer uncovered to thicken, sauce pasta in the pan
- Free and paid next step: get the free recipe book starter pages (we email it to you), or plan pasta night with the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99).
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Methods and storage notes on this spaghetti sauce recipe were checked November 5, 2026. Homemade pasta sauce and spaghetti sauce secondaries are covered here. For a fast herb-forward jar-style sauce, see marinara sauce. Creamy pasta nights belong on alfredo sauce. Making the noodles too? Our homemade pasta recipe has the dough, rolling and cook times.
Spaghetti sauce ingredients (about 6 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Olive oil | 2 tablespoons | |
| Yellow onion | 1 medium, diced | |
| Garlic | 4 cloves, minced | |
| Tomato paste | 2 tablespoons | Cook until brick red |
| Crushed tomatoes | Two 28 oz cans | Or whole peeled, crushed by hand |
| Water or broth | ½ cup | Loosen as needed |
| Dried oregano | 1 teaspoon | Plus 1 teaspoon basil |
| Red pepper flakes | Pinch | Optional |
| Kosher salt and black pepper | To taste | Season at the end too |
| Sugar or grated carrot | ½ to 1 teaspoon / 1 small carrot | Only if tomatoes taste sharp |
| Fresh basil | A handful | Finish off heat |
Meat sauce add-in: 1 pound ground beef, Italian sausage or a mix, browned and drained before the tomatoes go in. Confirm ground meat reaches 160°F.
How to make homemade spaghetti sauce
- Soft-start aromatics. Warm olive oil over medium heat. Cook onion 5 to 7 minutes until translucent. Add garlic for 30 seconds.
- Cook the paste. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 to 2 minutes until it darkens. This removes the tinny taste.
- Add tomatoes. Pour in crushed tomatoes and water or broth. Scrape the pot.
- Season and simmer. Add oregano, basil, pepper flakes and a pinch of salt. Simmer uncovered 20 to 45 minutes, stirring now and then.
- Taste. Adjust salt, pepper and sweetness. Finish with fresh basil.
- Sauce the pasta. Boil spaghetti in salted water. Move pasta to the sauce with a splash of pasta water and toss 1 minute.
Meat sauce variation
Brown 1 pound ground beef or sausage in the pot first, breaking it up. Drain excess fat if needed, then continue with onion (or cook onion in the drippings), garlic, paste and tomatoes. Simmer at least 30 to 45 minutes. For baked pasta, layer this sauce into baked ziti or spoon it over meatball recipe nights.
Spaghetti sauce vs marinara vs tomato sauce
| Sauce | Time | Typical add-ins | Use this page? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marinara | ~30 minutes | Garlic, olive oil, basil | Prefer marinara sauce |
| Spaghetti / pasta sauce | 20 to 60 minutes | Onion, paste, herbs, optional meat | Yes — primary here |
| Plain tomato sauce | Short | Smooth tomato base | Covered as the homemade tomato base above, not a separate URL |
Storage
Cool within 2 hours. Meat sauce keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge; meatless tomato sauce about 4 to 5 days. Freeze up to 3 months. Reheat meat sauce to 165°F. Guidance follows USDA FSIS leftovers and FoodSafety.gov cold storage charts. For a cheese-and-pepper Roman bowl instead of tomato sauce, try cacio e pepe.
For a slow-simmered meat ragù instead of a quicker tomato sauce, make our bolognese recipe. Want the wider tomato base before you choose a pasta simmer? Start with our tomato sauce page.
Plan pasta night and save the sauce
Plate it as spaghetti and meatballs when you want the full classic.
- Meal Planner & Grocery List, $3.99. Weekly menu grid and aisle-sorted shopping list.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you make homemade spaghetti sauce? Soft-start onion and garlic in olive oil, add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, seasoning and a splash of water or broth, then simmer 20 to 45 minutes. For meat sauce, brown ground beef or Italian sausage first and simmer it in the tomatoes.
What is the difference between spaghetti sauce and marinara? Marinara is a quicker, simpler tomato sauce with garlic, olive oil and herbs. Spaghetti sauce often means a longer-simmered pasta sauce and may include meat, vegetables or both. This page covers a homemade tomato spaghetti sauce and a meat sauce variation; our marinara sauce page is the fast 30-minute classic.
Do I need sugar in spaghetti sauce? You do not always need sugar in spaghetti sauce. Taste the tomatoes after 15 minutes. If they are sharp, add ½ to 1 teaspoon of sugar or a shredded carrot while the sauce simmers. Ripe canned tomatoes often need little or no sugar.
How long should spaghetti sauce simmer? A simple tomato spaghetti sauce should simmer 20 to 30 minutes, or 45 to 60 minutes for deeper flavor. Meat sauce benefits from at least 30 to 45 minutes so the flavors blend. Stir now and then so it does not scorch.
Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned? Yes, you can use fresh tomatoes instead of canned. Use about 3 pounds of ripe tomatoes, peeled and crushed, in place of two 28 oz cans. Fresh summer tomatoes may need a longer simmer to thicken. Canned whole peeled or crushed tomatoes are more consistent year-round.
How do I thicken spaghetti sauce? Simmer uncovered to reduce, stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste, or mash some of the tomatoes against the pot. Avoid flour if you can; reduction keeps the flavor cleaner.
Can you freeze homemade spaghetti sauce? Yes, you can freeze homemade spaghetti sauce. Cool quickly, pack in freezer containers with a little headspace and freeze up to 3 months for best quality. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat until steaming hot, at least 165°F for meat sauce.
How long does homemade spaghetti sauce last in the fridge? Tomato sauce without meat keeps about 4 to 5 days refrigerated; meat sauce keeps 3 to 4 days. Cool within 2 hours and store in shallow containers per USDA leftovers guidance.
Is spaghetti sauce the same as tomato sauce? Plain tomato sauce is a smooth, lightly seasoned base. Spaghetti sauce is usually that tomato base taken further with herbs, garlic, onion and sometimes meat. You can cover homemade tomato spaghetti sauce on this page; we are not creating a separate tomato-sauce URL.
How do I plan pasta night around homemade sauce? The Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. puts pasta night on the weekly menu with an aisle-sorted list for tomatoes, pasta and meat.
Where can I save my spaghetti sauce recipe? The Family Recipe Binder ($6.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. has fillable recipe pages for simmer times, spice levels and meat-versus-marinara notes.
Sources
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety fsis.usda.gov
- FoodSafety.gov: Cold food storage charts foodsafety.gov
- FoodSafety.gov: Safe minimum internal temperatures foodsafety.gov