Best 9 Grandmas Spaghetti Sauce Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

**Grandma's Spaghetti Sauce: A Culinary Journey Through Time**

In the realm of Italian cuisine, few dishes hold a more cherished place than spaghetti with tomato sauce. This classic combination has captured hearts and taste buds for generations, becoming an integral part of family gatherings, romantic dinners, and casual weeknight meals alike.

Our collection of grandma's spaghetti sauce recipes takes you on a culinary journey through time, showcasing variations that have been passed down from generation to generation. From the traditional Italian "Sunday Sauce" simmered for hours with a rich blend of tomatoes, herbs, and meat, to the quick and easy weeknight version that uses canned tomatoes and pantry staples, these recipes offer a taste of nostalgia and comfort.

Whether you're a seasoned cook looking to elevate your pasta game or a novice seeking a foolproof recipe, our collection has something for everyone. Discover the secrets behind the perfect balance of tangy tomatoes, aromatic herbs, and savory spices. Learn how to choose the best tomatoes, whether fresh, canned, or crushed, and master the art of simmering the sauce to achieve a velvety texture and depth of flavor.

With step-by-step instructions and helpful tips, these recipes will guide you through the process of creating a homemade spaghetti sauce that will transport you to the heart of Italy. So gather your ingredients, put on your apron, and prepare to embark on a culinary adventure that celebrates the timeless tradition of grandma's spaghetti sauce.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

GREAT GRANDMA'S PASTA SAUCE



Great Grandma's Pasta Sauce image

If you want to taste what the Italians are so blessed with over in Italy, I suggest you give this pasta sauce a try. You won't ever go back to your plain 'ol marinara that you thought was good. This sauce here is beyond genuine and you will love it!

Provided by Julie Chiou

Categories     Main Course     Main Entree

Time 2h10m

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 pound 80/20 ground beef OR 90/10 ground beef
6 ounce can tomato paste
6 ounce water
24 ounce jar tomato puree
5-6 cloves garlic (minced)
2 tablespoon granulated sugar
Pinch of dried oregano
Pinch of onion powder
Pinch of garlic powder
Handful of fresh basil (chopped)
Salt and pepper (to taste)

Steps:

  • In a large stockpot, saute garlic until soft and fragrant in 2 tbsp. of olive oil, about 2 minutes.
  • Throw your meat in with the garlic and brown until meat has been thoroughly cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Pour in the tomato paste, tomato puree, and seasoning, including the fresh basil and sugar. Stir to mix well. With the 6 oz. can from the tomato paste, fill that with water and pour it in the stockpot as well.
  • Let mixture simmer, uncovered, for 2 or more hours (the longer the better, but minimum 2 hours), stirring occasionally.
  • Serve hot over fresh pasta.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 263 kcal, Carbohydrate 24 g, Protein 23 g, Fat 9 g, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 15 g

GRANDMA'S SPAGHETTI SAUCE



Grandma's Spaghetti Sauce image

This is a recipe my grandma made for years and she never wrote it down until I was learning how to make it. It is a sweet meat sauce. I love it and just wanted to share it with everyone else. Let me know what you think. This recipe makes a lot of sauce. I usually put 4 cups in a resealable plastic bag and freeze for later use.

Provided by Michelle

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes     Pasta Sauce Recipes     Tomato

Time 50m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 pounds ground beef, or more to taste
1 large onion, chopped, or more to taste
2 (16 ounce) cans tomato sauce, or more to taste
2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
ground black pepper to taste
1 (16 ounce) can tomato puree, or more to taste
½ cup ketchup
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
1 tablespoon celery salt
1 tablespoon onion salt
1 tablespoon garlic salt
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Cook and stir ground beef and onion in a large pot until beef is no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Drain excess grease.
  • Pour tomato sauce and tomato paste into the pot; season with pepper. Stir in tomato puree and ketchup. Add brown sugar, mustard, celery salt, onion salt, and garlic salt, stirring after each addition.
  • Simmer sauce over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until flavors combine, 30 to 45 minutes. Sprinkle in Parmesan cheese during the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 397.1 calories, Carbohydrate 35.1 g, Cholesterol 72.6 mg, Fat 19.1 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 23.3 g, SaturatedFat 7.6 g, Sodium 2296.6 mg, Sugar 28.9 g

GRANDMA'S HOMEMADE SPAGHETTI SAUCE RECIPE



Grandma's Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe image

This traditional spaghetti sauce from scratch recipe is so simple and easy that you will never need another! It has been passed down through the generations in my family, and it is a real winner! We've always made it using fresh tomatoes, but you can also use canned.

Provided by Tara Ziegmont

Categories     Gluten-free     Main Course

Time 4h

Number Of Ingredients 14

4 quart tomatoes (this is a volume, so use 128 fluid ounces if using canned tomatoes)
5 sweet onions (chopped coarsely, divided)
1½ stalks celery (chopped coarsely)
1/2 green pepper (chopped coarsely)
6 cloves garlic (pressed)
½ tablespoon oregano
2 bay leaves
2½ teaspoons basil
½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoons salt
9 ounces tomato paste
16 ounces mushrooms (sliced)

Steps:

  • Blend tomatoes, half of onions, celery, garlic, and green pepper in blender to desired level of chunkiness. We like our sauce fairly smooth, so we blend ours for a good long while on the chop setting.
  • Transfer blended vegetables to a very large pot (at least 8 quarts). Add spices, tomato paste, mushrooms, and remaining onions. Cook for 3 hours, or until desired consistency is reached.
  • Remove bay leaves.
  • Preserve as desired. Makes 2 to 3 quarts.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 74 kcal, Carbohydrate 17 g, Protein 3 g, Fat 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Sodium 391 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 11 g, UnsaturatedFat 2 g, ServingSize 1 serving

MY GRANDMA'S SPAGHETTI SAUCE



My Grandma's Spaghetti Sauce image

As this old-fashioned spaghetti sauce simmers on your stove all day it will make your house smell amazing. This sauce is thick and full of meat. Fresh onions and bell peppers cook down to almost nothing but add so much flavor. There's just enough Italian seasoning added to the sauce. We chose to use one spicy sausage and one...

Provided by Stacy Hutchinson

Categories     Other Sauces

Time 4h

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 can(s) tomato sauce (14.5 oz each)
1 can(s) stewed tomatoes (14.5 oz)
1 can(s) tomato paste (6 oz)
2 c water
2 pkg mild Italian sausage (you can use one pkg of hot and one pkg of mild for a spicer sauce)
2 lb hamburger
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 beef boullion cubes
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp sugar
2 Tbsp garllic powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 can(s) mushrooms, drained (4 oz; optional)

Steps:

  • 1. Brown hamburger well, drain, set aside.
  • 2. Remove Italian sausage from the casing. Break sausage and brown well; drain.
  • 3. In a large pot, add all the ingredients together.
  • 4. Simmer for 3 hours.
  • 5. Use over your favorite pasta noodles.

GRANDMA MAGGIO'S SPAGHETTI SAUCE



Grandma Maggio's Spaghetti Sauce image

This is one that was recited to me out of memory alone, and described as a hand of garlic, etc., though the ingredient quantities should be accurate. I encourage buying the cheapest versions of these ingredients you can find; it will feed an army for about $15 without ruining the taste. You should add more seasonings based on preference. A great vegetarian sauce, and with meatballs...it makes great meatball sandwiches.

Provided by Sarah Garland

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes     Pasta Sauce Recipes     Tomato

Time 55m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 whole head garlic, peeled and chopped
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
½ cup chopped fresh basil leaves, or to taste
1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
¾ cup Merlot wine
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons dried oregano
¼ cup white sugar

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, and cook and stir the onion and garlic until translucent but not browned, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms and basil, and cook and stir until the basil is wilted and the mushrooms are cooked through and have given up their juices, about 10 minutes.
  • Pour in the whole peeled tomatoes, and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring and chopping the tomatoes into pieces with a spoon. Pour in the tomato sauce and stir, crushing any large pieces of tomato left, and bring to a simmer. Let the sauce simmer until slightly thickened and bubbling, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
  • Stir the tomato paste into the sauce, and fill the empty tomato paste can with Merlot wine, stirring to dissolve any remaining tomato paste in the can. Pour the Merlot wine into the sauce, and stir well to combine. Bring the sauce back to a simmer, and stir in the salt, pepper, dried oregano, and sugar. Let the sauce simmer until the seasonings are blended and the sauce is heated through, about 3 more minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 114.4 calories, Carbohydrate 18 g, Fat 3.1 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 3.1 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Sodium 934.9 mg, Sugar 11.6 g

MY GRANDMOTHER'S SPAGHETTI



My Grandmother's Spaghetti image

Provided by Valerie Kraus

Categories     Beef     Pasta     Tomato     Sauté     Bon Appétit     California

Yield 4 to 6 servings (Makes about 8 3/4 cups sauce)

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon, crumbled
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon dried basil, crumbled
1 28-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes, undrained
3 1/2 cups water
2 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1 pound spaghetti
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Heat oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onion is translucent, about 4 minutes. Add ground beef and cook until brown, breaking up with fork, about 8 minutes. Drain drippings from Dutch oven. Mix parsley, bay leaves and basil into beef and cook 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, water, tomato sauce and tomato paste. Simmer until reduced to sauce consistency, breaking up tomatoes with spoon, about 2 hours. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm sauce over medium-low heat before using.)
  • Cook spaghetti in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain well. Place spaghetti in serving bowl. Pour half of sauce over. Serve immediately, passing Parmesan cheese separately. (Refrigerate or freeze remaining sauce for another use.)

GRANDMA'S SPAGHETTI SAUCE



Grandma's Spaghetti Sauce image

This is my great grandma's spaghetti sauce recipe. My mom made this growing up and I could sit and eat it by the spoonful. With a nice chunk of garlic bread. This is my absolute favorite spaghetti sauce of all time. Additional veggies can be added. This recipe also freezes very well.

Provided by Chef on the coast

Categories     Sauces

Time 4h20m

Yield 4 quarts, 30 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

36 ounces ketchup
28 ounces diced tomatoes in puree
28 ounces tomato puree
1 lb hamburger
1 dash Tabasco sauce
garlic
oregano
1 medium onion, diced
1 (9 ounce) can mushroom pieces, drained

Steps:

  • Brown hamburger and onion in Dutch oven. Drain fat.
  • Combine remaining ingredients in pot.
  • Let simmer 3-4 hours stirring occasionally.
  • *Use meatballs instead of hamburger for a tasty variation.

GRANDMA SHANNON'S AMAZING SPAGHETTI SAUCE



Grandma Shannon's Amazing Spaghetti Sauce image

Be sure to make a triple batch of this sauce... it is tried and true and been around for generations. My 90 year-old Croatian grandmother still makes this every Wednesday night for the family... absolutely and perfectly delicious, with just the right blend of savory and slightly sweet. Serve with green salad and homemade French or Italian bread. Yum!

Provided by Amy Dyke

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 20m

Yield 6-8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 fresh garlic cloves, minced
1 lb ground beef (I'll sometimes substitute ground turkey, Italian sausage, or do a mixture of the three.)
28 ounces crushed tomatoes
28 ounces water
15 ounces tomato sauce
6 ounces tomato paste
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup fresh basil (or use 1 T. dried basil)
1/4 teaspoon fennel seed, ground
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, ground
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • In a large pot, over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and saute the onion, garlic and meat together. (It's best to add the garlic after the onion and meat have been sauteed for 4-5 min.). Saute for 8-10 minutes altogether. Drain the fat.
  • Add the remaining ingredients and let simmer for 1 hour or more. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking. I sometimes add a teaspoon of sugar to make it a bit sweeter, if need be. Serve over your favorite cooked pasta and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 288.1, Fat 15.3, SaturatedFat 5.6, Cholesterol 55.1, Sodium 1194.4, Carbohydrate 20.8, Fiber 4.5, Sugar 11.9, Protein 19.1

GREAT GRANDMA'S PASTA SAUCE RECIPE - (4.4/5)



Great Grandma's Pasta Sauce Recipe - (4.4/5) image

Provided by kayjayjohnson

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 pound 80/20 ground beef
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
6 ounces water
1 (24-ounce) jar tomato puree
5 to 6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Pinch of dried oregano
Pinch of onion powder
Pinch of garlic powder
Handful of fresh basil, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste

Steps:

  • In a large stockpot, saute garlic until soft and fragrant in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, about 2 minutes. Throw your meat in with the garlic and brown until meat has been thoroughly cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in the tomato paste, tomato puree, and seasoning, including the fresh basil. Stir to mix well. Fill the empty tomato paste can will water, and pour it in the stockpot. Let mixture simmer, uncovered, for 2 or more hours (the longer the better, but minimum 2 hours), stirring occasionally. Serve hot over fresh pasta.

Tips:

  • Use fresh ingredients whenever possible. This will give your sauce the best flavor.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different ingredients. There are many ways to make a great spaghetti sauce, so don't be afraid to try different things until you find a recipe that you love.
  • Simmer your sauce for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld together and develop.
  • Add some fresh herbs to your sauce at the end of cooking. This will give it a bright, fresh flavor.
  • Serve your sauce over your favorite pasta. Spaghetti, linguine, and fettuccine are all great choices.

Conclusion:

Grandma's spaghetti sauce is a classic recipe that is loved by people of all ages. It is a simple recipe to make, but it is packed with flavor. With just a few fresh ingredients and a little bit of time, you can make a delicious spaghetti sauce that your whole family will love. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give Grandma's spaghetti sauce a try. You won't be disappointed.

Related Topics