Making Tomato Sauce from Scratch
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.
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.
- 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 Italian meatballs 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.
- Make a double batch of Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara.
📋 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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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
Equipment
- Large stock pot
Hi Ang! This is my go-to spaghetti sauce now. It’s really good and since there are only 2 of us I can put a bunch in the freezer for other meals. Your husband is a good cook!
This recipe is so awesome, even the picky little-ones love it! I want to try it again and add some cream to make cream rosa, too.
I love this sauce with meatballs. It’s easy and tastes great. My Grandmother used to process her own tomatoes but that’s too much work for me since I have a full time job.
I made this and it made a lot so I used the leftovers for pizza sauce and that was very good.
I don’t like oregano so I left that out but followed the rest of the recipe. it was good and I will make this again. thanks
Can I make this with a different sweetener? Also can I double the recipe and can it.
Yes you can use whatever sweetener you like. I often double the recipe and freeze half for a future meal. Enjoy!