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
The first thing that popped into my mind was fried rice. This recipe would be next!
I have met the love of my life and he is cajun so I want to cook up some etouffee for him preferably shrimp or crawfish
I think any sauce taste much better when made at home. I never buy sauce or dressing but yes, there was a time when I used to :) Love the raw tomato photo with those pasta lying casually next to it!
What a gorgeous simple dish Liren! I love recipes like this, simple ingredients really do shine. I love your gorgeous photos too.
Good luck to everyone entering the give away. :)
I would make some slow braised short ribs.
I’ve been in a curry mood so shrimp in green curry!
I’d make some spaghetti with clams! :)
shared on facebook. thanks so much!
i’d make this sauce! it sounds wonderful. thx!
Gorgeous plate of pasta, Liren! I love the fresh tomato basil sauce. I’d make a fresh sauce with tomatoes, summer squash, and lemon ricotta.
I’d make my mother’s recipe for tomato pan sauce, with lots of basil!
What gorgeous photos! I’d definitely make killer breakfasts with that pan. Bacon, eggs, potatoes…. the works!
The first thing I would probably make is carbonara. yum!
Yum, I make a similar recipe but usually add a glug of red wine to the sauce while it’s cooking.
Contest- I would totally cook up some shaved brussel sprouts in cream sauce. :) My fav!
Can I make jam in this pan? No? Then I will likely make many chicken stir frys given that us our go to meal on busy weeknights!
This is fabulously beautiful Liren! I love fresh tomato sauces. I think the first thing that I would make would be some alfredo sauce, I have been craving it lately!
Your first sentence most likely rang true for a lot of people; I know it did for me. Now that I make my own sauce and know it’s not an all day affair, there simply is nothing better. Love the fresh basil; my poor basil is suffering from the heat but I’m hoping for enough this weekend for a dish…one guess what I’m thinking it must be?
I love All Clad and would saute onions, garlic and sundried tomatoes. To top more pasta. Since I have a full set; please don’t count me in your giveaway Liren, I just had to comment though!
I shared this recipe on Facebook, too.
I would make Emeril’s Shrimp and Sausage Pasta in Essence Cream Sauce in my new pan!! I struggle to make it now because my saute pan is not quite big enough. It’s an awesome recipe!!
I would saute up some zucchini as we have tons of it!
shared on facebook too, thank you!
something with lots of garlic and butter ;)
I would make lots of pasta sauces.
hello, pasta! I am meant to live in Italy at some point in my life. This looks so simple, and satisfying. I love keeping things that way. All clad pans are the best!! I would love using it to make this recipe :) plus sauteed potatoes, shrimp, and much more.
I would make fajitas!
I would make Chicken Piccata first!
I shared on Facebook (Becca Heflin)
I would love to use that pan to braise some tenderloin!
I would cook my husband’s favorite meal, Chicken Parmesan in my new pan!
I’d love to make some bombay potatoes in the pan!