Mom’s Homemade Spaghetti Sauce (A Family Favorite)
Some recipes are more than just a list of ingredients. They carry memories of the people who first taught us how to make them, the kitchens where they were prepared, and the meals shared around the family table.
This homemade spaghetti sauce is one of those recipes for me.
My mom gave me this recipe when I was in high school, right around the time I was becoming very serious about cooking from scratch. My love for cooking actually goes back to childhood, but high school was when things really started to take shape.
In Home Economics, we occasionally had homework assignments that involved preparing a meal for our family and reporting back on how it went. Honestly, I thought that was pretty wonderful homework!
I was eager to learn, and my mom began sharing her recipes with me. These were the recipes that helped build my confidence in the kitchen and eventually became some of the most loved dishes in my own home.
Her spaghetti sauce was one of them.
It has been a family favorite ever since.
A Simple Homemade Spaghetti Sauce for Busy Weeknights
There is something so comforting about a pot of homemade spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove. The aroma fills the kitchen, everyone starts asking when supper will be ready, and you know something good is coming.
This recipe uses ground beef and comes together without hours of simmering, making it a wonderful option for a busy weeknight when you still want to serve a homemade meal.
It’s hearty, flavorful, and made with simple ingredients. No need to plan your entire afternoon around dinner!
While there are plenty of convenient jarred sauces available, making your own from scratch is surprisingly simple. And when a recipe has been passed down from your mom, it becomes something a little more special than just another Tuesday night supper.
Ingredients for Mom’s Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
One of the things I love about this recipe is that it uses simple, everyday ingredients. Nothing fancy or hard to find, just a handful of pantry staples that come together to make a delicious homemade meat sauce.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Ground beef: The hearty base of this sauce. I use ground beef from our own beef, but any ground beef will work.
- Onion and garlic: These build the flavor right from the beginning.
- Stewed tomatoes: Add wonderful tomato flavor and texture.
- Tomato sauce: Creates the rich sauce that brings everything together.
- Parsley and basil: Classic herbs that give the sauce its familiar Italian-inspired flavor.
- Sugar: Helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Salt: Brings all the flavors together.
How to Make Mom’s Spaghetti Sauce
This homemade spaghetti sauce comes together in one pot, making cleanup just as easy as preparation.
1. Brown the ground beef and onion.
Add the ground beef and chopped onion to a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven. Cook over medium-high heat until the onion is tender and the beef is browned.
2. Add the garlic.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook just until fragrant.
3. Drain the fat.
Carefully drain any excess fat from the browned beef mixture.
4. Add the tomatoes.
Add the stewed tomatoes, breaking them up with a fork as you stir them into the beef.
5. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
Add the tomato sauce, parsley, sugar, salt, and crushed basil. Stir everything together until well combined.
6. Let the sauce simmer.
Simmer uncovered for approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how thick you like your spaghetti sauce. Stir occasionally as the flavors come together.
Serve over your favorite pasta and enjoy a simple, homemade meal!
What to Serve With Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
A big bowl of spaghetti with this homemade meat sauce is a meal all on its own, but a few simple sides make it feel like a proper family dinner.
- Garlic bread or homemade bread for soaking up every last bit of sauce.
- A simple green salad.
- Roasted vegetables.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
And if you happen to make extra sauce, save some for another family favorite: my Mom’s Homemade Lasagna!
This is the sauce I use for Mom’s Homemade Lasagna recipe!
Make Ahead and Freezer Tips
This is one of those recipes I almost always double. It freezes beautifully, and having homemade spaghetti sauce tucked away in the freezer makes getting dinner on the table so much easier.
Once the sauce has cooled, divide it into meal-sized portions and transfer to freezer-safe containers or freezer bags. Be sure to label them with the recipe name and date before placing them in the freezer.
When you’re ready to use it, thaw the sauce overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop, stirring occasionally until heated through.
It’s such a simple way to have a homemade meal ready to go, even on the busiest of evenings. Your future self will thank you!
A Recipe From Mom’s Kitchen
I still love that this recipe came to me during those high school Home Economics days, when making dinner for the family was homework I actually looked forward to.
My mom shared more than a recipe with me. She helped nurture something that has remained a big part of my life: the joy of preparing good food for the people I love.
And now, years later, I get to share one of her recipes with you.
I hope it becomes a favorite in your kitchen, too.
From my Mom’s kitchen to yours, enjoy!
Mom’s Spaghetti Sauce
Ingredients
Method
- Cook ground beef and onion in a heavy sauce pot over medium-high heat. Cook until onion is tender and meat is browned
- Add garlic to sauce pot and cook until fragrant.
- Drain fat.
- Add stewed tomatoes & break up with a fork.
- Stir in tomato sauce, parsley, sugar, salt & basil.
- Simmer uncovered until mixture is as thick as good spaghetti sauce (about 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on how you like it)
