- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Servings: 6
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Calories: Approximately 245 per serving
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound (450 g) ground beef (optional)
- 2 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ cup water or beef broth
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Fresh basil for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
Step 1: Sauté the Vegetables
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Step 2: Brown the Meat
If using ground beef, add it to the pot and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it into small pieces until browned. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
Step 3: Add the Tomatoes
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes and water or broth, stirring until well combined.
Step 4: Season the Sauce
Add the sugar, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, thyme, red pepper flakes, and bay leaves. Mix well.
Step 5: Simmer
Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 60 minutes, stirring every 10–15 minutes. This allows the flavors to blend and the sauce to thicken.
Step 6: Finish the Sauce
Remove the bay leaves. Stir in the fresh parsley and taste the sauce. Adjust the seasoning with additional salt or pepper if desired.
Step 7: Serve
Serve the sauce over freshly cooked spaghetti and garnish with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Recipe Tips
- Simmering the sauce longer creates a richer flavor.
- Fresh herbs can be substituted for dried herbs.
- Add mushrooms, bell peppers, or carrots for extra vegetables.
- For a meatless version, simply omit the ground beef.
- Leftover sauce tastes even better the next day.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Nutrition Information (Per Serving)
- Calories: 245
- Protein: 15 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Cholesterol: 35 mg