This homemade spaghetti sauce with ground beef is a rich, slow-simmered meat sauce made with simple pantry ingredients and layered tomato flavor. Browning the beef with onions and garlic builds a savory base, while tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce create depth and body.
A Quick Look at the Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
🕒 Ready In: ~45 minutes
👪 Serves: 4 servings
🍽 Calories: ~260 per serving (estimated)
🥣 Main Ingredients: Ground beef, onions, garlic, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce
📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free; dairy-free
👌 Difficulty: Easy - simple stovetop simmer using pantry staples
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
Designed to be both reliable and versatile, this spaghetti meat sauce works just as well for busy weeknights as it does for make-ahead meals. It simmers into a thick, flavorful sauce that clings to pasta and holds up beautifully in baked dishes, making it a go-to option for classic comfort meals.
If you enjoy easy, homemade sauces, try other favorites like our Steak with Mushroom Sauce, Creamy Lemon Chicken, or Firecracker Meatballs for more simple, make-ahead dinner option.
Jump to:
- A Quick Look at the Recipe
- Why You'll Love this Homemade Spaghetti Sauce:
- Key Ingredients:
- Easy Substitutions & Variations:
- How to Make Homemade Spaghetti Sauce:
- Recipe Notes & Tips:
- How to Store:
- Homemade Spaghetti Sauce FAQs:
- More Easy Dinner Recipes You'll Love
- Get a FREE Healthy Meal Planning Ebook
- Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Why You'll Love this Homemade Spaghetti Sauce:
Rich, classic flavor: Browning the ground beef with onions and garlic creates a savory base that tastes slow-simmered and comforting.
Balanced and not too acidic: A combination of tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce delivers depth, while a small touch of honey smooths everything out.
Reliable and versatile: This sauce works just as well for spaghetti night as it does for lasagna, baked ziti, or stuffed shells.
Great for meal prep: It reheats beautifully and freezes well, making it perfect for make-ahead dinners.
Key Ingredients:
- ground beef: Forms the hearty, savory base of the sauce and adds richness and protein.
- diced tomatoes: Use canned tomatoes with their juices; no need to drain. They provide the body of the sauce.
- beef broth: Enhances the richness of the sauce. Substitute with Chicken Bone Broth or vegetable broth if needed.
- tomato paste: Adds concentrated tomato flavor and helps thicken the sauce.
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this page for exact quantities.
Easy Substitutions & Variations:
- Use a different protein: Swap ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage for a lighter or more seasoned sauce.
- Make it vegetarian: Skip the meat and add sautéed mushrooms, lentils, or finely chopped zucchini for a hearty meatless option.
- Adjust the sweetness: Replace honey with a pinch of sugar or maple syrup, or omit it entirely if your tomatoes are already sweet.
- Spice it up: Increase the red chili flakes or add a dash of crushed red pepper or cayenne for more heat.
- Thicker sauce: Let the sauce simmer uncovered for the last 10 minutes, or add an extra tablespoon of tomato paste.
How to Make Homemade Spaghetti Sauce:
- Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add the diced onions to the pot and cook for 4-5 minutes, until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, honey, oregano, basil, and red chili flakes. Stir well to combine.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover loosely and simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and flavorful.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm over pasta or use in your favorite recipes.
Recipe Notes & Tips:
- Brown the beef well: Let the ground beef cook until deeply browned before adding other ingredients to build the best flavor.
- Cook the tomato paste: Briefly cooking the tomato paste before adding liquids helps remove any raw taste and deepens the sauce.
- Simmer gently: Keep the sauce at a low simmer to prevent scorching and allow the flavors to fully develop.
- Taste near the end: Tomatoes vary in acidity, so adjust salt, pepper, or sweetness after the sauce has simmered.
- Make it ahead: This sauce tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld.
- Serving suggestions: We love pairing this sauce with a side of Italian Chopped Salad and Gluten-Free Focaccia.
Save this Recipe
Enter your email address and we'll send it straight to your inbox.
How to Store:
Refrigerator: Let the sauce cool completely, then store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through.
Freezer: Freeze in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 3 months. For easy use, portion into smaller containers before freezing. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Make ahead tip: This sauce holds up well to reheating and tastes even better after a day in the fridge, making it ideal for prepping ahead of time.
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce FAQs:
For best flavor, simmer the sauce for at least 30-40 minutes. If you have extra time, letting it simmer for up to an hour on low heat will deepen the flavor and thicken the sauce naturally.
Tomatoes can vary in acidity. If your spaghetti sauce tastes acidic, add a small amount of honey or sugar and simmer a few more minutes. This balances the acidity without making the sauce sweet.
Yes. Homemade spaghetti sauce with ground beef is ideal for making ahead. After simmering, let the sauce cool completely, then store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The flavor actually improves as it sits, making it perfect for meal prep.
Grab your free copy
Get a FREE Healthy Meal Planning Ebook
Tips, Tricks, and Recipes for Stress Free Meal Planning
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 onions, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 jar tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
Instructions
- Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add the diced onions to the pot and cook for 4-5 minutes, until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes to deepen the flavor.
- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, honey, oregano, basil, and red chili flakes. Stir well to combine.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover loosely and simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and flavorful.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm over pasta or use in your favorite recipes.
Nutrition
Notes
- Brown the beef well: Let the ground beef cook until deeply browned before adding other ingredients to build the best flavor.
- Cook the tomato paste: Briefly cooking the tomato paste before adding liquids helps remove any raw taste and deepens the sauce.
- Simmer gently: Keep the sauce at a low simmer to prevent scorching and allow the flavors to fully develop.
- Taste near the end: Tomatoes vary in acidity, so adjust salt, pepper, or sweetness after the sauce has simmered.
- Make it ahead: This sauce tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to meld.
- Serving suggestions: We love pairing this sauce with a side of Italian Chopped Salad and Gluten-Free Focaccia.
Emily Bolster says
this was so yummy! thanks s much for sharing this.
Roché Woodworth says
Glad you liked it! Thanks so much for your feedback!
Yvonne says
I enjoyed this a lot! Thanks for sharing