This Homemade Spaghetti Sauce recipe is super easy, full of flavor and a great recipe to have in your repertoire of quick weeknight dinners. This recipe strays slightly from the classic Italian dish and is a more Americanized version that my mom always made for us growing up. Now I make it for my kids, and they’re always asking for Ma Susu’s Spaghetti! It’s filled with peppers and onions, ground turkey and a fresh tomato sauce that’s absolutely delicious.
Why I Love This Easy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Besides chopping an onion and bell pepper, there’s not a ton of prep that goes into this spaghetti sauce recipe. It comes together really quickly making it a perfect option for an easy weeknight family dinner!
- Family Friendly and Kid-Approved: This homemade spaghetti sauce is a huge hit with both adults and kids alike! With its mild yet flavorful profile, it’s a great way to introduce kids to new flavors while still satisfying the whole family.
- Healthier Twist: Ma Susu’s spaghetti meat sauce recipe swaps out traditional ground beef for lean ground turkey, cutting down on saturated fats while still delivering tons of flavor.
Ingredients For Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
- Onion
- Garlic
- Green bell pepper
- Olive oil
- Lean ground turkey
- Tomato paste
- Canned chopped tomatoes, in juice
- Water
- Salt & Pepper
How to Make the Best Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
1. Sauté Onion, Garlic and Bell Pepper
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the onion, garlic and bell pepper and sauté for 5 minutes.
2. Brown the Turkey:
- Add the ground turkey, and use a spoon to break into small pieces. Cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Make the Sauce:
- Add the can of tomato paste, chopped tomatoes, water, salt and pepper. Stir and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 20-30 minutes until sauce is thickened.
4. Finish and Serve Homemade Spaghetti Sauce:
- Toss with cooked spaghetti noodles or pasta of choice. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes if desired.
Tips for Success:
1. Don’t skimp on the sautéing step! Cooking the onions, garlic, and bell pepper until they’re soft and fragrant helps to develop the flavor base of the sauce.
2. Consider making a double batch of sauce and freezing half for future use! Having homemade sauce on hand can be a real time-saver on busy nights. Freezing and storage instructions are below.
3. Feel free to experiment with ingredient substitutions to suit your dietary preferences or what you have on hand in your pantry. For instance, you can use ground beef instead of turkey or gluten-free pasta or crushed tomatoes instead of chopped or diced tomatoes.
FAQs
- Can I substitute the ground turkey?
- 100%! If you happen to have ground beef or even Italian sausage on hand instead of turkey, you can use those as a substitute. Just keep in mind different meats will have different cook times. Also, feel free to use ground seitan, another meat substitute or leave out the meat entirely if you have a vegetarian in the mix. You may want to beef up the herbs and spices if you go meatless but it will still be tasty and satisfying.
- Can I add other veggies to the sauce?
- If you wanted to add additional vegetables to this sauce, be my guest! Mushrooms or even finely chopped carrots could be good options.
- Can I substitute crushed tomatoes for chopped tomatoes, or fresh tomatoes for canned tomatoes?
- Absolutely! Crushed tomatoes can be used interchangeably with chopped tomatoes in this recipe, providing a smoother texture to the sauce. If substituting fresh tomatoes for canned, peel and chop them before adding, adjusting seasoning and cooking time as needed.
Storage/Freezing Instructions
- Refrigeration: Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days once it has cooled completely. Reheat leftovers gradually on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- Freezing: Cool sauce completely, then portion into freezer bags or containers, removing excess air before sealing. Add a label and date. Freeze for up to 4 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat.
- Thawing: Transfer frozen sauce to the refrigerator overnight for gradual thawing. Alternatively, place sealed container or bag in cold water, changing water every 30 minutes until thawed.
- Reheating: Reheat thawed sauce on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally, or in the microwave, stirring halfway through until warmed through.
Creative Ways to Use Leftover Meat Sauce
Sometimes you want to jazz things up a bit and enjoy this spaghetti meat sauce in a different way than on top of spaghetti noodles. Here are some of my favorite creative ways to use leftover meat sauce:
- In these Pizza Stuffed Potatoes!
- As the sauce for these Lasagna Rolls.
- Use it as a dip for bread sticks instead of marinara sauce.
- Put it in Pizza Quesadillas with tons of mozzarella cheese!
- Make Spaghetti Pie with this sauce!
- Use it in this Spaghetti Squash Marinara recipe.
- As a pizza sauce substitute for extra flavor on your homemade pizzas!
More Spaghetti Recipes
While Ma Susu’s homemade spaghetti sauce is still my kid’s favorite, here are some additional easy recipes with spaghetti that we also love!
- Crock Pot Spaghetti
- Spaghetti Pie
- Lemon Spaghetti
- Pesto Spaghetti with Cherry Tomatoes
Next time you’re craving a comforting bowl of pasta that’s nutitious and delicious, try Ma Susu’s homemade spaghetti sauce! Having it ready to go in the freezer will save you so much time and stress knowing you can whip up a home cooked meal for your family with very little effort. Let me know in the comments what you think of this recipe and tag me on social media if you make it!
Images by Ivan Solis
Ma Susu’s Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Equipment
- large sauté pan
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1 28-ounce can chopped tomatoes, in juice
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- pepper, to taste (optional)
- cooked spaghetti noodles, for serving
Instructions
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the onion, garlic and bell pepper and sauté for 5 minutes.
- Add the ground turkey, and use a spoon to break into small pieces. Cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the can of tomato paste, chopped tomatoes, water, salt and pepper. Stir and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 20-30 minutes until sauce is thickened.
- Toss with cooked spaghetti noodles or pasts of choice. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes if desired.
So glad it was a hit!
Such and easy and tasty recipe. Read it day before yesterday and made it today. It is tasty and my colleague says thanks to you for the recipe. 🙂
You can try ground seitan or another meat substitute!
Hi! I’m a vegetarian. What can I add instead of turkey. And if I leave it out altogether, would it change the measurements and taste of the recipe? But I would def like to know if I can substitute it for something else. Thank you!
So glad you liked it!
Yum – nice and simple. Thank you,.