I love a good pasta sauce! I like mine rich, perfectly seasoned, slightly sweet but not too sweet, and maybe with a little kick of heat. Now don’t get alarmed when you see the word sweet, I’m not one of those people who drenches my pasta sauce in sugar but I do like to balance the acid and flavors. I’ve spent a few months searching for an easy and homemade pasta sauce because I love having sauce on hand but I’m also very picky about sauce, so making this recipe was an adventure and also confirmed that I am very hard to please but thankfully this sauce does not disappoint.
This is one of those sauces that I like to make on a Saturday afternoon and just let it simmer while I’m cleaning the house and vibin’ to 90s R&B. I’m such an old school R&B girl y’all, if you ask me to name a song playing on radio today…no clue! Good music and good food just go together. So of course this another easy recipe, however depending on your flavor preferences I encourage you to season the way you like. I love taking recipes and making them my own once I’ve gotten the key steps down, I think it makes it even more special and unique.
The recipe makes bout two and a half quarts of sauce so it’s excellent for large parties, meal prep, and it freezes well. Because I’m usually cooking for one I freeze the sauce and in small freezer bags and pull out a bag when I’m ready to warm it up. My go-to pasta and always spaghetti but this sauce is perfect for all of your red sauce dishes such as lasagne, it’s great with spaghetti squash and chicken parmesan. I added ground turkey but you certainly do not have to.
How to make an easy homemade pasta sauce:
Step 1
In a large dutch oven or heavy bottom pot, sauté the onions and peppers until they are tender and then add in the ground turkey. Add in the dry seasonings (except the bay leaf), stir, and cook until the ground turkey is fully cooked.
Step 2
Add the fire roasted tomatoes, tomato paste, and brown sugar and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. I like to add in a pinch of baking soda at this point. This helps to reduce some of the acid from the tomatoes. I also like to add in a squirt of anchovy paste for richness and depth of flavor. If you have some or want to try it, I think you’ll enjoy it but if not, that’s cool too.
Step 3
Reduce the heat to low and add in the bay leaf, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce and let the sauce simmer for 1.5 -2 hours. Remove the bay leaf when the sauce is done cooking and you now have an easy homemade pasta sauce. Enjoy!
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Easy Homemade Pasta Sauce
- Prep Time: 30 minuts
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Total Time: 16 minute
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
Description
The best red pasta sauce you will ever make!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 sweet yellow pepper, diced
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 2 teaspoons of ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon creole seasoning
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 3 –14.5 oz cans diced fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 – 6 oz can of tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- In a heavy bottomed pot on medium heat, heat the olive oil and butter. Add in the onions and peppers and saute until they are tender, 3-5 minutes. Stirring occasionally.
- Add in the ground turkey and cook fully.
- While the ground turkey is cooking add in the black pepper, garlic salt, smoked paprika, creole seasoning, dried basil, and dried thyme. Mix everything together well.
- Add in the diced tomatoes (do not drain), tomato paste, and brown sugar. Stir everything together.
- Reduce to low heat and add the bay leaf, simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce.
- Let the sauce simmer for 1 hour and 30 minutes- 2 hours
- Remove the bay leaf and serve over your favorite pasta or use in a lasagne.
Notes
- You can freeze the sauce for up to 4 months in an air tight container or freezer bag.
- Feel free to use whatever meat you prefer or omit the meat if desired
Keywords: Easy homemade pasta sauce