Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

This recipe for Homemade Spaghetti Sauce is made with pantry staples yet is rich and flavorful. Whether prepared on the stove or in the crockpot, this simple spaghetti sauce recipe will quickly become a staple in your recipe box.

Use this basic spaghetti sauce for any recipe that calls for marinara or spaghetti sauce, like Instant Pot Spaghetti, Baked Rotini, and Homemade Lasagna.

Nothing compares to Homemade Spaghetti Sauce! Whether slathered over homemade meatballs, used to make Baked Ravioli, or served as a dipping sauce for Pizza Bread, this recipe for crockpot spaghetti sauce has been a staple recipe in my family for generations.

It is made with simple ingredients, yet the flavor of this homemade spaghetti sauce is so rich and deep! It is far superior to store-bought spaghetti sauce.

Notes on Ingredients

• Canned Tomatoes: I prefer canned crushed tomatoes for this recipe, but canned tomato puree or tomato sauce works as well.
• Tomato Paste: Tomato paste helps to thicken the sauce and also gives the spaghetti sauce a pronounced tomato flavor.
• Sweetener: Spaghetti sauce needs a bit of sugar of some sort to help balance the acidity of the tomatoes. You can sweeten the sauce with a bit of honey, or white or brown sugar.
• Seasoning: This recipe calls for dried parsley, oregano, basil, bay leaves, rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Fat: Adding a small amount of olive oil or butter to the sauce to help round out the flavors. Butter will give the sauce a more rich taste, but the olive oil will keep this Pasta Sauce dairy-free.

Recipe Modifications

• Add Wine: Replace ½ cup of water with dry red wine to the sauce for extra flavor and richness.
• Add Heat: Add ½ to 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes for a bit of heat. I love adding in ½ teaspoon for a bit more flavor and even my kids don't complain--and my daughter HATES spicy food.
• Add Veggies: You can also add a puree of orange vegetables to the spaghetti sauce for a dose of vitamins, fiber, and a bit of natural sweetness. Add in ½ cup pureed sweet potato, carrot, or pumpkin. No one will ever know! My mom said she did this all the time to us kids as we were growing up.
• Make it Richer: Use a full stick of butter in the sauce for a really rich, luscious sauce.
• Sugar-Free: If you need this recipe to be sugar-free, simply omit the honey/sugar. I find that adding ½ cup of carrot puree helps to naturally sweeten the sauce and balance out the acidity of the tomatoes without adding any sugar itself.
• Low-Sodium: Use salt-free canned tomato products and reduce the salt by half or omit the salt altogether.

Keys to the Best Spaghetti Sauce

• Simple is best. My recipe for tomato sauce for pasta is simple and tomato sauce should not be complicated. It is made with minimal spices, a bit of sweetness, a bit of fat, and canned tomatoes. It is easy to make this sauce using pantry staples.
• Cook low and slow. The longer you can let the sauce simmer the better, as the canned tomatoes need time to cook down to develop a rich flavor, becoming a luxuriously rich red sauce worthy of an Italian restaurant. You can either prepare this spaghetti sauce on the stove and simmer for hours on low OR you can use my favorite method--cooking in the slow cooker. This method is hands-off and perfect if you are away from home all day.

Storing Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

I recommend making a large batch of spaghetti sauce and freezing it in 1-2 cup portions for later use, as can be used in so many recipes ranging from soups, like Tortellini Soup, to casseroles, like Baked Ravioli, to simply a dipping sauce alongside Air Fryer Zucchini Fries.

• Refrigerate: Homemade tomato sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Freeze: To freeze spaghetti sauce, prepare the sauce as directed in the recipe and then allow it to cool to room temperature. Place in 1-2 cup portions in freezer-safe bags or containers. Freeze solid for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before using.

Recipes Using Spaghetti Sauce

• Slow Cooker Ziti
• Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan
• The Best Italian Stuffed Shells
• Baked Chicken Parmesan
• Instant Pot Lasagna
• Baked Eggplant Parmesan

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