Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Homemade spaghetti sauce doesn’t need to be intimidating! A simple sauce of crushed tomatoes makes for a rustic and easy weeknight meal, and one I wish I had learned long before I grew reliant on jars of sauce.
Homemade spaghetti sauce doesn’t need to be intimidating! A simple sauce made of crushed tomatoes, parmigiano reggiano, and fresh basil makes for a rustic and easy weeknight meal, and one I wish I had learned long before I grew reliant on jars of sauce.
This post first appeared in July 2012 as a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Wayfair and All Clad. All opinions are, as always, 100% mine. I hope you enjoy this favorite from my kitchen!
The Infamous Marinara Sauce Jar
There was a time when cooking looked like this: Grab jar of marinara sauce. Grab box of pasta. Get really fancy and cook ground beef in onions and garlic, then add marinara sauce. Boil water, salt, and drop in pasta. Drain pasta and serve with sauce.
Yes, that was then. And I will admit, that is also sometimes now. But the difference is that back then, that jar of sauce was as mysterious as the Shroud of Turin.
I used to think that a good homemade spaghetti sauce could only be achieved after hours and hours of mentoring from an Italian nonna. Preferably, an adorable, huggable nonna. The truth is, the mystery in a jar of sauce is really not that mysterious after all. It’s really all about simple ingredients.
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce – Made Simple
So now, cooking looks more like this: Grab the ripest tomatoes. Snip the basil. Crush the garlic. And before you know it, a simple homemade spaghetti sauce is bubbling on the stove.
A simple sauce of crushed tomatoes makes for a rustic and easy weeknight meal, and one I wish I had learned long before I grew reliant on jars of sauce. Perhaps if I grew up in an Italian family, right?
As I toss spaghetti into the sauté pan, I like to imagine that this is one of the first things a child learns in the kitchen. In my case, I didn’t learn this until after I was first married, but you can be sure that it is an easy meal I like to enjoy often.
More Favorite Pasta Recipes
Spaghetti with Chicken Sausage and Lentil Bolognese
Fettuccine with Chicken Sausage, Kale, and Cannellini Beans
Spaghetti with Mascarpone Alfredo Sauce and Sugar Snap Peas
Vegetarian Pasta Puttanesca
Spaghetti Squash Shakshuka
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Ingredients
- 8 Roma tomatoes quartered
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 5-6 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup fresh basil coarsely chopped
- 1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese plus more for garnish
- 1 lb spaghetti
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot, boil water to cook your spaghetti.
- Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- When the garlic is a light golden color, add the sliced tomatoes and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- The tomatoes will begin to cook down; lower the heat to a simmer and let it cook until it is a chunky sauce, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta al’dente according to package directions. Drain, reserving the liquid, and place into the sauté pan, allowing it to finish cooking in the sauce.
- Toss in the basil and cheese.
- Add some of the reserved pasta liquid if the sauce appears too dry.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with additional Parmigiano Reggiano grated on top.
Nutrition
Comments
COOKBOOK
Can this sauce be frozen? I LOVED it fresh!
So glad you liked it, Samantha! Yes, it can definitely be frozen!
When I make this pasta, it turns out really cheesy and the cheese sticks to your fork as you eat. I don’t particularly mind this, but the past in your photo doesn’t look really cheesy. I use exactly as much cheese you say to use. I wonder what I’m doing different?
Thank you!
Penne alla Vodka
I would make all kinds of sauces!!
I would load it up with brussel sprouts and give them a light bath in bacon fat! Booyah!
Such a beautiful pan. Hmmm, I would make some stir fry!
I would fry an egg!
The first thing I would cook in this pan is this recipe! It looks wonderful. I have tried several of your recipes and they are amazing every time. Thanks for being a reliable source of deliciousness! (The lemon curd is my favorite so far)
Shared on Facebook as Liz Morgan
Would love to make spaghetti in this pan…thanks for doing this giveaway.
I would make fettucini Alfredo
I love making homemade pasta sauce…this pan would make it soooo easy!
I would cook veggies!
I would sauté summer squash bit a touch of garlic and a splash of olive oil!
Great giveaway! I would cook lentils!
Shared on my facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/xkate13x
I would make a pasta dish with a Bolognese sauce.