This easy homemade pasta sauce recipe is sooooo good! It’s rich, meaty, and perfectly thick. Loaded with fresh veggies, it’s a great healthy option for your pasta dinner. The kind of thing you put on the stove on a lazy Sunday so you have it ready whenever you need it.
Why is homemade sauce so good?
This pasta sauce is so delicious because it’s made in the old style, meaning it isn’t rushed. While lots of recipes are great because they are quick to make, this one develops flavour over time, so allowing it to blip away on the stovetop for a few hours is important.
The good thing is this homemade pasta sauce recipe can be made in advance. It can be stored for days in the fridge, or in the freezer for up to three months.
It’s also made with simple, whole ingredients, making it a great, healthy option.
So when you’re craving a perfect pasta dinner, have this sauce on hand and you’ll be good to go!
What is in homemade pasta sauce?
Here’s what we use in our easy homemade pasta sauce:
- Carrots – we prefer to grate the carrots, as they melt nicely into the sauce, and kids are more inclined to eat them 😉
- Onions
- Celery
- Fresh garlic
- Italian sausage & ground beef – you can use a blend or all of one or the other. We love the blend and the rich flavour it gives.
- Tomato paste – this is an important ingredient, as it adds rich tomato flavour. It is important to cook it off a bit to bring out its caramelized sweet notes.
- Beef bouillon or concentrated beef stock base. This is important! It adds a rich beef flavour to the sauce. This is the one we use (you can also find it at Costco), but shop around your local grocers. You can also sprinkle good-quality powdered bouillon into the sauce as a substitute.
- Fire-roasted tomatoes – these canned tomatoes are fire-roasted to impart even more depth of flavour.
- Tomato sauce – the main liquid for this homemade pasta sauce. Be sure to buy plain tomato sauce, not pasta sauce!
- Seasonings – we keep it basic here, with Italian seasoning and bay leaf. Sometimes classic is just the way to go 🙂
- Milk – a splash of milk (or cream) adds a final touch to this sauce. Don’t skimp on this step! If you can’t have dairy, feel free to try a dairy-free substitute such as oat milk.
How do I make homemade pasta sauce?
Our easy homemade pasta sauce recipe starts with the classic mirepoix – a blend of chopped celery, onions, and carrots. These aromatics, paired with fresh garlic, act as a base for this indulgent sauce.
Slowly cook the veggies in a large dutch oven (until softened but not browned). Add the ground meats, cooking until browned.
Stir in tomato paste, bullion, bay leaf, and seasonings. Cook for a few minutes until the sauce begins to sizzle slightly.
Stir in tomato sauce and fire-roasted tomatoes, and water. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 2-3 hours, simmering very gently, until reduced and thickened. If it bubbles too much, cover it partially with a lid.
Taste and season. Add 2 tsp sugar, if desired. Stir in milk or cream. Serve over rigatoni, spaghetti, or other ‘sturdy’ pasta shapes and top with either parmesan or asiago cheese. Enjoy!
What type of pasta is good for meat sauce?
Generally speaking, because meat sauces are so hearty, sturdy pasta shapes are best. Our family loves rigatoni or penne, but if we are craving a spaghetti night, this sauce holds up well to that, too.
Just try to avoid fine pasta like spaghettini. It will break under the weight of a meat sauce.
Easy Homemade Pasta Sauce Recipe
Easy Homemade Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 ribs celery, finely chopped
- 2 large carrots, grated
- 4-6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- ½ lb ground beef *see notes
- 3 italian sausages, casings removed *see notes
- 156 ml tomato paste (1 can)
- 2 heaping tbsp concentrated beef base or beef bouillon
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- 680 ml can tomato sauce
- 1½ cups fire roasted tomatoes use one 398ml can if available
- 1½ cups water
- ¾ cup milk substitue cream if needed
- 1 tsp each salt & pepper
- 2 tsp sugar, optional
- ½ tsp chili flakes, optional
- parmesan or asiago cheese, for serving
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, celery, carrot, and garlic stirring to soften, being carful not to brown the vegetables.
- Move softened vegetables to the edge of the pan. Add sausage (casings removed) and ground beef, breaking up with a spoon. Cook, stirring, until meats are browned.
- Stir in tomato paste, beef concentrate, Italian seasoning, and bay leaf. Cook until tomato paste begins to sizzle and cook through.
- Stir in fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, and chilli flakes (if using). Bring to a gentle boil, stirring.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 2-3 hours, or until sauce is thickened and reduced slightly. If sauce begins to bubble, cover paritally with a lid.
- Stir in milk. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Add sugar if desired.
- Serve over rigatoni, spaghetti, or other sturdy pasta. Season with parmesan or asiago cheese, if desired.
Notes
If you love this recipe as much as we do, please leave a comment and give this recipe 5 stars to share the love!
And check out these other recipes from A Little Hint of This!
Spring Asparagus, Lemon, and Bacon Pasta
Sausage, White Bean, & Rapini Soup
Sticky & Sweet Baked Chicken Drumsticks
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