If you’ve ever said no to pasta, we can’t be friends. I can’t count how many times I’ve made this Spaghetti Sauce. It’s tempting to reach for the jarred stuff when you’re in a hurry, but OMG, the sodium.
Homemade sauce is not only healthier, but it’s so much more flavorful. Plus, it’s a breeze to throw together — it just takes a little planning ahead. And since I’m only cooking for two, this recipe is an awesome way to prep sauce for future dinners. (Speaking of planning ahead, have you checked out my tips for weekly meal planning?)
This Spaghetti Sauce recipe doesn’t use meat, so it’s perfect for Meatless Monday. But you could easily turn it into a meat sauce (which I often do). Just add the meat after the onions and garlic and brown before adding the rest of the ingredients.
Note: I always use cans of tomatoes with no salt added so I can control the sodium content.
Ingredients
1 medium onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 14 1/2-ounce can petite diced tomatoes
2 30-ounce cans tomato sauce
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1 cup water
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Directions
1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, saute onion over medium heat until translucent, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
2. Add garlic and stir. Cook until fragrant.
3. Add all other ingredients and stir. Note: Use the cup of water to get any excess tomatoes out of the cans. Just pour a portion of the water into the bottom of each empty can, swish to break up excess, and pour into pot.
4. Partially cover pot and bring to a gentle boil (a rapid boil is likely to cause burning on the bottom). Stir, partially cover again, and turn heat to low. Simmer for about two hours, stirring occasionally.
5. Remove and discard bay leaves. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
6. Serve Spaghetti Sauce with pasta, layered in lasagna, or topped on a meatball sub.
