Classic Tomato Sauce for Pasta

 Making pasta sauce from scratch is surprisingly easy. Once you try it, you'll wonder why you were so dependent on jarred pasta sauces. This recipe makes a stunning, full-bodied red sauce to star in your pasta dish. It relies on a few pantry staples, including(TODAY NEWS) , making it quick to whip up, even on a busy weeknight.

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Make It Your Own

There are as many recipes for tomato sauce as there are cooks who make it. Customizing this sauce to your taste or the meal you plan to use it in is a snap. For instance, tomato paste thickens the sauce and adds richness, but leaving it out creates a thinner sauce. You can change the seasoning to fit another recipe or add vegetables or meat for a more robust main dish. One family favorite is the classic spaghetti and meatballs. Just simmer meatballs (homemade or store-bought) in the sauce, add cooked spaghetti, and your meal is on the table in no time!

Control Freak

Tomato-based, homemade, and jarred pasta sauces are generally healthy and have fewer calories than creamy ones. The nice part about making your own is that you can control the ingredients. Jarred pasta sauces1 may include excess salt and preservatives, depending on the brand. With homemade sauce, you'll know exactly what you're eating and can make healthy decisions about what ingredients to include and what to leave out.

"This recipe was a cinch to make and requires very little prep work. As versatile as a jar of sauce, but cheaper to make and tasted fresher and better. We had it as-is one night and added crumbled hot Italian sausage to the rest of the sauce on a later night and it was delicious." ___(TODAY NEWS)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

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Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 large onion, finely chopped (about 2 cups)

• 2 medium cloves garlic, minced

• 2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes in puree

• 3 tablespoons tomato paste

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil

• 1 pinch red pepper flakes, optional

• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, more to taste

• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

1. Gather the ingredients.

   

   
   

2. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a(TODAY NEWS) , over medium heat. Add 1 large onion, finely chopped (about 2 cups), and cook until tender, about 7 minutes. Add 2 medium cloves minced garlic and cook until just fragrant.

   

   
   

3. Add 2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes in puree tomatoes, 3 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, and 1 pinch red pepper flakes, if using. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, more to taste, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Bring the sauce to a simmer.

   

   
   

4. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 20 minutes. Adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper, if desired.

   

   
   

5. Serve with your favorite pasta, and enjoy.   (NEW RECIPE)