Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

This is our quick and easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce recipe that has been a family favorite for years. It’s a simple meat sauce recipe that’s made with ground turkey and Italian turkey sausage, onion, garlic, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and classic Italian seasonings.

This is an easy meal to prepare that comes together in about 30 minutes, and it’s one of those simple recipes you can pretty much commit to memory.

 Why We Love This Recipe

• Quick and Easy. This is a quick and easy recipe that you can pull together on busy weeknights.
• Flavor. This simple spaghetti sauce is perfectly seasoned and loaded with flavor! It’s a great meat sauce to use for spaghetti, lasagna and baked pasta dishes.
• Simple Ingredients.  We use budget friendly ingredients for this simple recipe.

Spaghetti Sauce Recipe Ingredients

• Ground Turkey and Italian Sausage.  We use a combo of ground turkey and Italian chicken sausage for this meat sauce. Use 93% lean ground turkey. If you use 99% lean ground turkey, the meat will be dry.
• Olive Oil. We use extra-virgin olive oil to cook the turkey and sausage in. It also adds a little fat which makes the meat moist and flavorful.
• Aromatics. We saute a little onion and galric (finely minced) to add to the meat,  which also adds a lot of flavor. 
• Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning.  We use our homemade Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning for this meat sauce.
• Tomato Sauce and Paste. We use both to tomato sauce and tomato paste for this sauce.
• Water. We add a cup of water to thin out the tomato paste.
• Sugar. A little granulated sugar added to the sauce mellows the acidic nature of tomato sauce.

Find printable recipe with the measurements below.

Variation

• Cook 2 tablespoons of minced green bell pepper with the onion.
• Add 1/2 cup red wine to the pot after you have cooked the onion and garlic and have added the meat back to the pot. Simmer the wine 3-5 minutes so the alcohol can burn off before adding the tomato sauce, paste and seasonings.

 How To Make Meat Sauce

1. Cook Meat. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or a heavy pot. Add the ground turkey and sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula. Cook until meat is mostly cooked through, then transfer to a bowl. Add more oil to the pot and cook the onion 5-7 minutes or until golden and translucent. Add the garlic and cook another 2-3 minutes. Add the meat back to the pot.
2. Add Seasoning and Sauce. Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, water and seasoning to the meat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes
3. Enjoy. Serve the sauce with spaghetti noodles, rigatoni, or whatever pasta shape you like. Don’t drain the noodles after you’ve cooked them al dente. Also serve with plenty of freshly grated parmesan cheese. Garnish with finely chopped parsley or basil.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If properly stored, leftover sauce should last up to 5 days.

Can I Freeze Leftover Spaghetti Sauce?

Yes! Freeze the sauce in individual portions in freezer containers or freezer bags. Make sure that all of the air is pressed out of the bags before sealing. If you’re using freezer containers, you’ll want to leave about  1/2 inch to 1 inch at the top to allow for expansion which may occur when freezing.

Make sure to label the containers with the date.  If properly stored, frozen spaghetti sauce should last up to 6 months.

To reheat frozen spaghetti sauce, place the containers in the refrigerator to thaw overnight and then pour the contents into a saucepan and reheat on the stovetop. 

More Italian Dinner Recipes

• Italian Sausage Pasta
• One Pan Italian Chicken 
• Baked Rigatoni with Ricotta
• Ravioli Lasagna
• Marry Me Chicken Pasta

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Print

Yield: 4 servings

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

This is our quick and easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce recipe that has been a family favorite for years. It's a simple meat sauce recipe that's made with ground turkey and Italian turkey sausage, onion, garlic, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and classic Italian seasonings.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound Italian chicken sausage (hot or mild)
• 1/2 pound ground turkey (93% fat)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3-4 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
• 1 cup water or pasta water
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven. Add the ground turkey and sausage to the pan (be sure to remove the outer casing first) and break the links up into small pieces with a wooden spoon or spatula. Cook over medium-low heat for 7-10 minutes. Transfer the meat to a bowl and set aside.
2. Add more oil to the pot if needed, then stir in the onions and sauté over low heat for about 5 minutes or until golden and turning soft. Add the garlic and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
3. Return the cooked meat back to the pot (juice and all) and stir. Add in the tomato sauce, tomato paste and water. Stir in the seasoning and sugar. Place lid on pot and simmer the sauce for about 20 minutes.
4. While the sauce simmers, cook your pasta noodles. Don't drain the noodles after you've cooked them al dente.
5. Serve the sauce with cooked pasta and plenty of grated parmesan cheese.

Notes

Variations

• Cook 2 tablespoons of minced green bell pepper with the onion.
• Add 1/2 cup red wine to the pot after you have cooked the onion and garlic and have added the meat back to the pot. Simmer the wine 3-5 minutes so the alcohol can burn off before adding the tomato sauce, paste and seasonings.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 304Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 4gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 112mgSodium: 713mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 29g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations. See full disclaimer on About page.