Make this homemade spaghetti sauce recipe and have dinner on the table in an hour. Cooks in the microwave for an easy and fresh family dinner!
This homemade spaghetti sauce recipe is near and dear to my heart. It started with my grandmother, and then my mom made it as well. After my mom became ill and stopped cooking, my dad asked if I would try making it. Of course, I said yes. I took her recipe home and gave it my best shot. It took a few tries, but eventually, my dad told me it tasted just like hers. To me, there’s no higher compliment than that.
Why This Recipe Works
This homemade pasta sauce recipe tastes like you cooked it all day, but it only takes an hour…and you cook it in the microwave. One of the best things about making this spaghetti sauce is that about halfway through the cooking time, as the flavors come together, your house will begin to smell like an Italian bistro!
Ingredient Notes + Variations
- My dad swears by Contadina tomato paste, but any kind of tomato paste can be used. (Contadina also makes pizza sauce that is delicious.)
- This tomato sauce recipe is meatless, but one pound of cooked meat (ground beef, ground turkey, chicken, pork, italian sausage) or cooked meatballs can be added at the end of the cooking time.
- I use dried minced onions, but finely diced fresh onion is fine. Finely diced bell peppers can also be added.
- Fresh garlic cloves can be substituted for the garlic powder.
- We prefer linguine, but use your favorite spaghetti noodles, or whatever pasta you have on hand.
- A heaping tablespoon of fresh chopped basil can be added during the last five minutes of cooking time.
- Other spices and fresh herbs that can be added: oregano, dried basil, chopped fresh parsley, red pepper flakes.
- For a chunkier pasta sauce, a 15 oz. can of crushed tomatoes can be added after the tomato paste and before the water.
How to Make
- In a large casserole dish, combine olive oil, onion, salt, garlic powder, sugar, and pepper.
- Whisk to combine.
- Add tomato paste and whisk again.
- Add water in 2 cup increments, gently whisking to combine between additions.
- Cook on high in the microwave for 1 hour, covered. Set the microwave for three 20-minute increments and stir well in between.
- During last 20 minute cooking increment, boil 1 lb. pasta according to package directions.
- When pasta and sauce are done, toss together. Garnish with fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately with grated parmesan cheese.
Tips
- This homemade spaghetti sauce recipe makes the perfect amount of sauce for one pound of pasta.
- To cook it in the microwave, I use a lidded 2 1/2 quart oval casserole dish.
- During the cooking time, condensation may appear in your microwave. Don’t worry about this until the sauce is finished cooking. Then thoroughly wipe your microwave with a clean towel. It will shine like new!
- Any unused sauce can be stored in the fridge in a jar or airtight container for up to a week.
- This is a low calorie meal. Check out the nutritional information in the printable recipe card.
- Basil tip: during certain times of the year, home-grown fresh basil isn’t available. If what you find at the grocery store is wilted and less than beautiful, here’s what to do. Fill a bowl or glass with cool water. Snip the ends of the basil, and soak it in the water for 30 minutes. It will revive, and look wonderful.
FAQ’s
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Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons minced onion (I used dried)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar or 1 pkg. sweetener (Equal or Stevia)
- Pepper to taste
- 12 oz. can Contadina Tomato Paste
- 6 cups water
- 1 lb. pasta
Instructions
- In a large casserole dish, combine olive oil, onion, salt, garlic powder, sugar, and pepper.
- Whisk to combine.
- Add tomato paste and whisk again.
- Add water in 2 cup increments, gently whisking to combine between additions.
- Cook on high in the microwave for 1 hour, covered. Set the microwave for three 20-minute increments and stir well in between.
- During last 20 minute cooking increment, boil 1 lb. pasta according to package directions.
- When pasta and sauce are done, toss together. Garnish with basil if desired. Serve immediately with grated parmesan cheese.
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If you make this recipe, and love it, please come back to leave a comment and a 5-star review. I would really appreciate it, and it would help me so much. Thank you!
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I guess I should also note that I do not make this in a microwave. I rather use a large deep pot that is put on the stove top. After making the sauce, whatever pasta is used is also added to the pot.
I’ve been making sauce like this my whole life! I have never made it any other way. My Italian Aunt taught me how to do this and I’ve been making like this ever since. There are so many dishes to be made with this method. Not only easy to achieve but also very cost effective. I’m glad to see someone actually shared this as others should benefit from this as well. Thank you for sharing!
I live in B.C. Canada, if I can’t find contatina can I use hunts?
Yes! Any kind of tomato paste can be used. Enjoy!
Thanks, Ann, for sharing your Mom’s Spaghetti Sauce recipe with us. I am making Spaghetti this week and will be using this recipe.
Have a great week!
Ann, I have been meaning to tell you how cute that picture is of you and your little dog!
Ann, have you frozen this sauce? Clearly an easy recipe but I do like to batch cook. Looks like it should freeze well. Love your content and relaxed esthetic.
Yes! We freeze it all the time. It freezes beautifully. Enjoy!
Thank you so much for your personal and very readable directions. I will enjoy making this – (at my ripe old age, I’d never figured out how much sauce for spaghetti, before this)
ps – I made your chicken vegetable marinara to RAVE reviews!!!!! It’s a keeper!!!
This is my kind of easy cooking! Think I’ll sauté some mushrooms to add. Thanks for keeping up your site so nicely!
This is a simple recipe I will gladly use in a pot on the stove! I prefer not to use my microwave for this for health reason! Thank you!
I made your microwave sauce. I admit that I was a little skeptical. I added some grated cheese and chopped peppers. OMG, it might be the best sauce I have ever made! I will definitely make it again. Thanks so much for sharing!
I’m so glad you liked it…it’s my dad’s favorite!
Could this be made in a crockpot or on the stove? I don’t like to use my microwave for cooking.
Hi Sue…it can definitely be made on the stove, but not in the crockpot. It has to boil in order to reduce down. If you want to make it on the stove, bring it to a boil, and then lower the heat. Gently boil it until it reduces and thickens. I can’t tell you exactly how long to cook it because I’ve never tried it on the stove!
Sounds great.
This Spaghetti Dish looks wonderfully scrumptious! Thanks for sharing!!
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!
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.
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
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.