Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
This homemade spaghetti sauce with ground beef is a rich, slow-simmered meat sauce made with simple pantry ingredients and layered tomato flavor.
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.
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