Nothing elevates a meal quite like a rich, flavorful homemade pasta sauce. As the clock ticks down toward the dinner hour, you might be tempted to enjoy the convenience of opening a jar, but store-bought sauces often lack the depth and character of a homemade pasta sauce crafted with care and quality ingredients.
Creating your own spaghetti sauce recipe from scratch can be a rewarding experience, with the aroma of simmering tomatoes, garlic and fresh herbs filling the kitchen and promising a satisfying meal to come. And as you dig into these recipes, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly they come together, using a variety of canned tomato products and then adding the perfect blend of herbs and spices for enhanced taste.
The flexibility of homemade sauce allows you to tailor it to your preference and leaves room for your own original spins. Try your hand at creating your own signature pasta sauces with virtually endless add-ins—from classics like Parmesan and Italian sausage to more upscale alternatives like burrata and pancetta.
Try out these pasta sauce recipes to find your new favorites.
ITALIAN MEAT SAUCE
This is homemade Bolognese sauce just like your grandma used to make…that is, if your grandma was an Italian nonna with a secret family recipe. For the rest of us, it’s what we picture a grandma making, carefully stirring a pot of rich spaghetti sauce with a wooden spoon in a quaint kitchen. You can achieve the same old-world taste in a new-world fashion, with canned tomatoes spiced up with McCormick Garlic Powder, McCormick Oregano Leaves, McCormick Pure Ground Black Pepper and your own “secret”— McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning. This version simmers for just 30 minutes for those who are more of the on-the-go pickleball-playing glamma types.
SPAGHETTI WITH CHUNKY TOMATO SAUCE
This versatile homemade spaghetti sauce can be the base of a myriad of Italian meals—ideal for lasagna or pizza or as a dipping sauce for meatballs or a hearty rustic bread. Of course, it also sings as a pasta topper. While a lighter sauce is best paired with a dainty strand like spaghetti, capellini or angel hair, this robust sauce stars diced tomatoes thickened with tomato paste and highlighted with McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning, McCormick Garlic Powder and McCormick Onion Salt. This full-bodied texture means it can stand up to a heartier noodle—think rigatoni, ziti or penne—or you can get a little fancier with an orecchiette, gemelli or cavatappi. Don't forget to explore the world of gluten-free pastas, as well.
SHRIMP PASTA RECIPE
This tangy tomato sauce brings just the right amount of heat, thanks to McCormick Crushed Red Pepper, which blends perfectly with more traditional Italian spices of McCormick Basil Leaves, McCormick Garlic Powder, McCormick Oregano Leaves, salt and just enough sugar to mellow the acidity of tomatoes and enhance the melding flavors. You’ll add succulent shrimp to the pasta water—no sauté pan needed. This substantial dish is sophisticated enough for a special occasion, but also ideal as a quick weeknight staple. (And after all, shouldn’t every evening feel special?)
VEGGIE SPAGHETTI SAUCE
While most pasta meals rely on a side salad to check the vegetable box, this one has a delightful mélange of squash, zucchini, red onion and mushrooms. You’ll do a quick sauté until they’re tender-crisp and then add tomato paste and an envelope of McCormick Thick And Zesty Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning Mix to make the sauce in minutes. For an even more veggie-centric presentation, serve over zoodles (zucchini noodles) or, of course, complement it with the pasta shape of your choice. (And, yes, definitely add a salad, too.)
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN IN ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE
Do you typically add ground beef or Italian sausage to your red sauce? Shake it up with tender pieces of chicken that bathe for hours in a sauce that’s a snap to put together before you head out for your busy day: stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce, punched up with McCormick Italian Mushroom Spaghetti Sauce Seasoning Mix, McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning, McCormick Garlic Powder. The slow cooker will work its magic, and you’ll walk into the aroma of an impressive home-cooked meal with minimal effort. While you can serve it over hot, cooked pasta, try subbing in crusty bread, rice or even a baked potato for a delightful twist.
More Homemade Pasta Sauce Recipes
Want even more homemade spaghetti sauce recipe variations? Check out these options:
