This recipe is one that is near and dear to my heart. It’s one my grandmother made and then after her, my mom made it. A few years ago, after my mom stopped cooking, my dad asked if I would give it a try. Well of course we all know the answer to that. So I took my mom’s recipe home and gave it my best shot. It took me a few tries but soon my dad was saying that it tasted just like my mom’s. No higher compliment than that. This Homemade Microwave Spaghetti Sauce tastes like you cooked it all day but it only takes an hour…and you cook it in the microwave.
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 60 minutes |
| Servings |
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- 2 T. olive oil
- 3 T. minced onion I used dried
- 1 1/2 t. salt
- 1/2 t. garlic powder
- 1 t. sugar or 1 pkg. sweetener
- Pepper to taste
- 12 oz. can Contadina Tomato Paste
- 6 c. water
- 1 lb. pasta
Ingredients
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- In a large covered casserole combine olive oil, onion, salt, garlic powder, sugar, and pepper.
- Whisk to combine.
- Add tomato paste and whisk again.
- Add water in 2 c. increments gently whisking to combine between additions.
- Cook on high in the microwave for 1 hour.
- When finished, cook your pasta and add to sauce. Toss, add parmesan cheese and serve.
When cooking, set the microwave for three 20 min. sessions and whisk sauce well between cooking increments.
You can, of course, use other brands of tomato paste. My dad swears by Contadina so that's what I use.
I’m not sure when my mom started cooking this in the microwave. I know my grandmother used her stove top and I’m sure it took much longer. This makes the perfect amount of sauce for 1 pound of pasta. You can add ground meat or meatballs to the sauce when it’s finished. My kids like it that way but my dad likes it meatless. One of the best things about making this is the way the house smells after it’s cooked about half way. Just like an Italian Bistro.
You might notice that my blog looks a bit different. I’ve been working behind the scenes for months to update things and speed things up. I hope you find it more user-friendly and not so slow. I’d like to thank two women who have pretty much held my hand through the whole thing. MaAnna Stephenson from Blogaid.net helped with necessary maintenance and Cyndi Papia from Office To-Go developed the new design. I did all the graphics and helped where I could. There is still a bit more to do but I’m looking forward to just being able to blog again. The techy stuff gives me a headache!
Thanks for stopping by…see you soon.
I definitely pinned this one. Have a Pinterest board with your name on it and all your tips and recipes!!! Thank you for all you do!
Hi! I wanted to tell you I love your new format. Great job by everyone involved. My retired husband is the cook in our family; I’ll be asking him if he’d like to try homemade sauce.
Love your new look :) So glad you had a good experience and things are working as they should now.
YumI will be trying this very soon. Luv your new look but have always enjoyed your blog.
Ann, love the new design! Your blog is one of my favorites. I’ll be trying this recipe for sure. Thank you for sharing it. Lori Swearingen :)
Well, WHO KNEW you could make sauce in the microwave? NOT ME! I usually simmer my own all day. This sounds delicious and I am saving the recipe over to my files. xo Diana
I’m so excited! I used to have a recipe similar to this when my kids were little –20 years ago *cough*. I lost it somewhere over the years, but I remember it had sugar in it and it had to have Contadina tomato paste (so apparently your dad is not alone in this opinion!) Mine was a stove top recipe, so I am thrilled that this is new and improved. Thanks so much for sharing!
Spaghetti with meatless sauce is one of my favorite meals. I’ll surely be trying your recipe. Thanks for sharing.
That is AMAZING! It takes me two days to make my sauce. It is such a process. This sounds delicious and I will be trying it.
Your sauce recipe is in the microwave bubbling away! Timing is everything…Got home from work and reached for a jar of Trader Joe’s Marinara but the cupboard was bare. Opened email and there you were! Fortunately, I had all the ingredients for your recipe. Don’t you just love it when that happens? The house smells wonderfully Italian! Thanks for your perfect timing Ann! The blog looks great and I continue to enjoy your posts. Keep up the good work. Deb
The new look is very clean and crisp!! This recipe looks like a winner and the nicest part is that you pleased your father!!
Your website did load much faster…and it looks sharper…so all your hard work paid off. That spaghetti sauce looks delicious….I’ll have to try it! Thanks! ;)
I will certainly be trying the spaghetti sauce recipe! “Easy” is my motto in the kitchen! Would rather be sewing for the new grandbaby on the way! New site looks wonderful!
Loving your website. Thank you Ann.
Ann, I will try this sauce for my grandson who loves spaghetti. He could eat it every day. I miss my grandmother’s homemade sauce. I remember watching her make homemade gnocchi, spaghetti, and other pastas. Thanks for sharing. As you know, I read blogs, don’t write one. I had all the tech seminars as a long time teacher. Now my grandkids demonstrate activities on my IPad for me.
I second MaAnna’s sentiment. You are a dream client and someone I will also call now a friend….and now a fan!
By the way, my family swears by Contadina too and my Sicilian grandmother always put sugar in her sauce, it just adds its little magic to the flavor!
Ann, it is an absolute pleasure to work with you on this site. And delighted that all of the changes have had immediate positive impact. Looking forward to tweaking even more as we go.