The Best Homemade spaghetti Sauce You’ll Ever Make

Our family eats a lot of pasta and when it comes to sauce, we all love this homemade red pasta sauce. It’s easy to make and tastes as good, if not better, than your favorite jarred spaghetti sauce. My Family clearly enjoys this sauce—you’ll know why!

Ingredients

• Olive oil
• 2 finely chopped shallots or onion
• 1 heaping tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 large cans of whole tomatoes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Lots of fresh basil

Method

1. Start by cooking finely chopped shallots or onion in olive oil.
2. When they are soft, stir in a heaping tablespoon of minced garlic, a tablespoon of Italian seasoning, a 1/4 teaspoon of Aleppo pepper or crushed red pepper flakes, and 2 tablespoons of tomato paste. Cook for about a minute.
3. Pour in two large cans of whole tomatoes. Add salt and pepper. Cook the sauce, breaking the tomatoes up with a spoon so it’s chunky.
4. Simmer until reduced by a third.
5. Stir in lots of fresh basil.

It’s totally up to you how chunky you’d like your sauce. I leave it as is, but you can always blend for a smoother sauce.

Dishes That Go Perfectly with Homemade Red Pasta Sauce

Pasta Dishes

• Fettuccine or Linguine: The sauce clings wonderfully to wider noodles too.
• Pasta Bakes: Mix with penne or rigatoni, top with mozzarella, and bake for a comforting casserole.

Chicken Dishes

• Chicken Parmesan: Breaded chicken topped with sauce and melted cheese—pure comfort food.
• Chicken Cacciatore: Simmer chicken thighs in the sauce with bell peppers and onions.

Vegetarian Favorites

• Eggplant Parmesan: Layers of eggplant, sauce, and cheese baked to perfection.
• Stuffed Peppers: Bell peppers stuffed with rice, veggies, and sauce.
• Vegetable Lasagna: Layer sauce with roasted veggies, ricotta, and noodles.

Breakfast or Brunch Ideas

• Shakshuka Style Eggs: Poach eggs directly in the sauce for a flavorful breakfast.
• Savory Crepes: Fill crepes with ricotta or mozzarella and spoon sauce on top.

Pizza & More

• Homemade Pizza: Use the sauce as a base instead of jarred tomato sauce.
• Meatball Subs: Smother meatballs in sauce and top with cheese.
• Baked Ziti: Combine pasta, sauce, and cheese for an easy baked pasta dish.