Making Tomato Sauce from Scratch is easier than you think! This simple and tasty family recipe was handed down from my husband's Italian grandparents, and our homemade Italian meatballs!
This sauce starts with onions, peppers and garlic, then you added cans of tomato puree and crushed tomatoes. Add a little bit of honey or brown sugar to cut the acidity, season with herbs and you have yourself the best spaghetti sauce ever.
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Okay, so this isn't exactly tomato sauce from scratch since we're using canned tomatoes instead of fresh ripe tomatoes, but it's an amazing recipe for tomato sauce.
Hear me out here... do you really want to boil and peel tomatoes? I didn't think so. You're going to love the taste of our sauce. Trust me!
Ingredients
- tomato puree
- tomato sauce OR crushed tomatoes
- sweet onion
- green pepper
- fresh garlic
From the pantry: granulated garlic (garlic powder), red pepper flake, basil, parsley, honey, salt and black pepper
🔪Instructions
This is meant to be a brief overview of the pasta sauce recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below or Jump to Recipe.
- Set your burner to medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once the oil is glistening, reduce the heat to medium and add the diced onions and green peppers.
- Once the onions start to become translucent, add the minced garlic and cook 1-2 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce and tomato puree to the pot
- Season with basil, oregano, granulated garlic, and parsley. Stir to combine.
- Let the sauce cook about 30 minutes on medium, then add 2 tablespoons honey and taste. If the sauce is too acidic, add more honey to taste.
- Add salt and pepper and a pinch of red pepper flake to taste.
- Reduce the heat and let simmer another 1-2 hours, stirring frequently.
This family recipe is both simple and delicious! See just how easy it is to make tomato sauce from scratch for your family holiday get togethers! And don't stop at the sauce - make from scratch in just 30 minutes. They pair really well together, too.
Equipment
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- Cutting Board
- Santoku Knife
- Measuring Spoons
- Large stock pot
- Wooden Spoon
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📖 Variations
We recommend that you try our homemade tomato sauce for the first time just as it is written for the best results, because that is how the recipe has been tested.
However, the next time you make it, you might consider one of these different ways of making this great recipe.
- Remove the pot from the heat and add 1 cup cream to create a Rosa sauce.
- In a large skillet, brown a pound of ground beef and add it to the sauce for a hearty meat sauce.
- If you like your sauce a bit spicier, add an extra pinch or two of red pepper flakes.
🍴 Serving Suggestions
Serve this flavorful sauce with your favorite pasta! It's perfect with Italian sausage or our Authentic Italian Meatballs, but it can also be used as pizza sauce or as a dipping sauce for these Easy Italian Bread Sticks or Pull-Apart Pizza Bread.
Here are some other ideas:
- Make our Mini Meatballs and serve with your favorite pasta.
- Use the sauce to make Quick Lasagna Soup or Chicken Tortilla Soup.
- Serve with Homemade Spinach Pasta or Eggplant Parmesan.
- Use it to make American Goulash.
- Whip up some Chicken Meatball Subs.
📋 Italian Tomato Sauce Recipe
Not ready to make this homemade spaghetti sauce recipe yet? Don’t forget to pin the recipe for later!
When you do make it, please be sure to tag me on Instagram @jugglingactmama or #jugglingactmama – I’d love to see your pictures! And finally, if you get a chance, please comment and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!
Tomato Sauce
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Equipment
- Large stock pot
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- large sweet onion diced fine
- large green pepper diced fine
- 3-4 fresh garlic cloves minced
- 1 29oz can canned tomato sauce
- 1 29oz can tomato puree
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 pinch red pepper flake (optional)
- 1 tablespoon dried or fresh parsley
- 2-3 tablespoons honey, to taste
- salt and pepper, to taste
For Garnish/Serving
- fresh basil
- grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Set your burner to medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once the oil is glistening, reduce the heat to medium and add the diced onions and green peppers.1 tablespoon olive oil, large sweet onion, large green pepper
- Once the onions start to become translucent, add the minced garlic and cook 1-2 minutes.3-4 fresh garlic cloves
- Add the tomato sauce and tomato puree to the pot1 29oz can canned tomato sauce, 1 29oz can tomato puree
- Season with basil, oregano, granulated garlic, and parsley. Stir to combine.1 tablespoon dried basil, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon granulated garlic, 1 tablespoon dried or fresh parsley
- Let the sauce cook about 30 minutes on medium, then add 2 tablespoons honey, salt, and pepper and taste. If the sauce is too acidic, add more honey to taste.2-3 tablespoons honey, to taste, salt and pepper, to taste
- Add salt and pepper and a pinch of red pepper flake to taste.1 pinch red pepper flake (optional)
- Reduce the heat and let simmer another 1-2 hours, stirring frequently.
- Serve with fresh basil and parmesan cheese if desired.fresh basil, grated parmesan cheese
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Barrie says
Um, not sure where I am going that I would take someone with me but anywhere I go, my hubby goes with me. He is the BEST shopping cart pusher. LOL. I love the look of this cookware set. The first thing that I would make would be beef stroganoff, a family favorite!
Anne says
I love making cornbread for potlucks! Sometimes I do a few different small loafs - plain, herb, bacon shallot, I love to get creative with it.
Mary Stewart says
A Spaghetti salad is always requested by my children!
Sharon Rooney says
Homemade baked macaroni and cheese is my go to meal when attending a family potluck dinner.
Denise says
For potlucks I usually make either a fruit salad or a baked vegetable dish.
Kim Cowgar says
Some type of cookie or brownie for dessert
Leslie says
If I need to supply a meal, I will make meatloaf. If a side is wanted, I like to make potato salad or broccoli salad.
Debbie Welchert says
We have a hamburger/vegetable casserole that I like to make for potlucks.
Nancy Shaw says
Macaroni and Cheese
Pat Schwab says
Hi, I'm not sure if I entered the right URL for the Tweet entry so here it is https://twitter.com/schwabmom/status/1069347383321026561. We have a copper frying pan and love it. I have been wanting to replace my old pots with copper because I love the frying pan. Thanks
Angelica Dimeo says
I like pot roast the best
Nidhi Chauhan says
My go to family meal for potlucks is Apple-Banana pecan bread.
Faith Nichols says
I love making spaghetti and meatballs, sweet and sour meatballs for an appetizer or a meatloaf!
Sherry Wooten says
My go-to potluck contribution is hash brown casserole.
Nancy K Sadewater says
We make egg salad and transport it in a cooler in its container. We make the sandwiches when we are ready to eat.
paol trenny says
My go to is beef stew.
Sharon Aurora says
mashed potatoes with carrots.
Amy C. says
I make a crockpot mac & cheese that is always requested for family get-togethers.
Tamra Phelps says
I like to make Cornbread Salad for potlucks. It might be a Southern thing, lol.
Jeff Jones says
My go to for potlucks is cheesy potatoes or lasagna depending on the meal.
June S. says
My go to pot luck food is my lasagna, I have been making it since the seventies and it is always a great crowd pleaser for any sized group of people.
Tina says
I love to bring macaroni and cheese. During the summer, I bring macaroni salad.
Carole R-B says
My go to family potluck is a big Asian Rice Salad
Sara Zielinski says
We like to make chicken wing dip, everyone likes it and its easy to eat and transport.
Debbie Yoder says
omemade macaroni salad is my go to recipe for ptolucks!
Sue D says
Go to is crock pot macaroni and cheese.
Deanna Marissa says
My go to potluck dish is spaghetti and meatballs.
Deborah W. says
My go-to for pot lucks is chicken and homemade noodles or lasagna.
Danielle says
Cheesey Spaghetti Bake!!
This recipe is so awesome, even the picky little-ones love it!
Calshondra Williams says
Me and the family go to potluck meal is a Meatloaf.
Dana Rodriguez says
Our go to potluck meal is meatballs!
Nancy Shaw says
RMCy husband's CMeatballs. Everyone asks for them.
Mary Gardner says
My go to for family pot lucks is either baked chicken or lasagna.
Laurie Nykaza says
I always do a fresh fruit platter since my son has Celiacs and cant have gluten he can always enjoy it and not worry about gluten in the fruits.
Leela says
Baked rigatoni or zucchini parmigianna plus cheesecakes.
Gabrielle says
My Mom's deviled eggs were always a big hit.
Heidi says
I make an Indian spiced cabbage dish that is my go to potluck meal.
AMY says
My go-to is stuffed cheese bread
Maryann D. says
Baked Ziti is a super pot luck dinner for all of us.
Christina Sparks says
Chicken, it is so verstile
Sandy says
Sloppy Joes
Stephanie M Henson says
This sauce would go great with those meatballs!
Rebecca Weiss says
I like to make a casserole or enchiladas for church potlucks. Church ladies make the best food!
Tina W says
I'm usually asked to bring my Cowboy Beans.
Karen D says
My go to is macaroni and cheese
ae minx says
My go to is a pot roast
Lauryn R says
My go to for a pot luck is my homemade potato salad or pasta salad. For the holidays I like to make sweet potato casserole.
Jennifer Keating says
Every Pot Luck that I go to I'm always told to make my Bacon Fried Cabbage, everyone loves it. Every time I think I made enough, I don't, lol. People take leftovers of it home too. It's not even that hard to make!
Cassandra D says
Caprese Pasta Salad and garlic mashed potatoes.
elicia P says
Go to for potlucks.. pasta salad