Julie's Spaghetti Sauce

Experience the heartwarming flavors of "Julie's Spaghetti Sauce," a rich and savory homemade sauce that will transport your taste buds straight to an Italian grandmother’s kitchen. Perfectly balanced with the sweetness of crushed tomatoes and tomato paste, this sauce comes alive with aromatic herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme, plus a subtle kick from crushed red pepper flakes. Featuring tender ground beef, caramelized onions, and a touch of fresh parsley and basil added at the end, this sauce achieves a depth of flavor that only 45 minutes of simmering can provide. Whether served over spaghetti or your favorite pasta, Julie's Spaghetti Sauce is a comforting, crowd-pleasing meal that’s easy enough for weeknights yet impressive for dinner parties. Don’t forget to finish it with a sprinkle of Parmesan or an extra basil garnish for a truly restaurant-quality experience!

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium, finely diced yellow onion
• 4 minced garlic cloves
• 1 pound ground beef
• 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
• 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 cup, chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons, chopped fresh basil leaves
• 0.5 cup water or beef broth

Directions

Step 1

Heat a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and allow it to warm up.

Step 2

Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened and translucent.

Step 3

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn.

Step 4

Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 5–7 minutes. Drain any excess fat if needed.

Step 5

Pour in the crushed tomatoes and stir in the tomato paste to combine evenly.

Step 6

Add the sugar, dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to incorporate the seasoning into the sauce.

Step 7

Add the water or beef broth to thin out the sauce slightly. Bring the mixture to a simmer.

Step 8

Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let the sauce simmer gently for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Step 9

After 30 minutes, uncover the skillet and stir in the fresh parsley and fresh basil. Allow the sauce to simmer for another 5 minutes.

Step 10

Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed with additional salt or pepper.

Step 11

Serve hot over cooked spaghetti or your favorite pasta, garnished with extra fresh basil or Parmesan cheese if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1580.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1573.7

Total Fat 110.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 36.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 321.1mg	0%
Sodium 3689.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 74.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 18.4g	0%
Total Sugars 46.2g
Protein 90.4g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 345.9mg	0%
Iron 17.2mg	0%
Potassium 4440.4mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 60.2%

Protein: 21.9%

Carbs: 17.9%