Aimee'S Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
A hearty and flavorful spaghetti sauce with tomatoes, mushrooms, and herbs, perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings seeking rich, comforting flavors.
Ingredients
- 8 oz. cans whole tomatoes, cut in quarters ⓘ
- 6 oz. can stewed tomatoes ⓘ
- 5 oz. can tomato sauce ⓘ
- 6 oz. can tomato paste ⓘ
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped ⓘ
- 2 tsp. oregano ⓘ
- 1 Tbsp. butter ⓘ
- 1 1/2 tsp. basil ⓘ
- garlic cloves, finely chopped ⓘ
- 1 1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms ⓘ
- sprinkle of chili powder ⓘ
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar ⓘ
Instructions
- In a skillet, brown the ground meat; drain the fat.
- In a large pot, lightly sauté chopped onion and garlic in butter.
- Add the canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, basil, chili powder, and brown sugar; stir to combine.
- Add the cooked ground meat to the sauce.
- Add sliced fresh mushrooms.
- Simmer on low heat for 30 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Tips & Substitutions
For a richer flavor, try adding a splash of red wine while the sauce simmers. If you prefer a bit of heat, increase the chili powder. Fresh herbs like parsley or thyme can be used in place of dried herbs for brighter flavors. If you're out of fresh mushrooms, canned mushrooms work in a pinch, but add them later in the cooking process to prevent them from becoming mushy.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Aimee's Spaghetti Sauce over your favorite pasta, whether it's spaghetti, penne, or even zucchini noodles for a low-carb option. This sauce pairs beautifully with Quick Veal Parmigiana or a side salad and garlic bread for a complete meal. For a fun twist, use the sauce as a base for Pizza From Scratch or as a topping for baked potatoes.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze the sauce in portions, ideally for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and warm gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if needed to loosen the sauce.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Aimee'S Spaghetti Sauce Recipe contains roughly 731 calories, with 17g protein, 136g carbohydrates, and 21g fat. It is an excellent source of iron (155% of the Daily Value), dietary fiber (120% of the Daily Value), and calcium (80% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 1002mg per serving (44% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this sauce vegetarian?
Absolutely! Simply omit the ground meat and add more mushrooms or lentils for protein. You can also enhance the flavor by adding diced bell peppers or zucchini. This vegetarian version will still be hearty and flavorful, perfect for any pasta dish.
How can I thicken the sauce?
If your sauce is too thin, let it simmer uncovered for a while to allow excess liquid to evaporate. Alternatively, you can mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with water and stir it into the sauce, cooking for another few minutes until thickened.
Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned?
Yes, you can use fresh tomatoes! About 2-3 pounds of ripe tomatoes will work. Blanch them to remove the skins, then chop and add them to the sauce in place of the canned tomatoes. This will give you a fresher taste, especially in summer.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).