I first made this spaghetti sauce during the pandemic, when we weren’t making many trips to the grocery store and I needed to work with what we already had in the pantry.
With one can of tomato paste, a few seasonings and about 25 minutes, I discovered I could make a rich, savory sauce without a jar of pasta sauce or any other canned tomatoes.
To make spaghetti sauce from tomato paste, whisk the paste with water, sugar and seasonings, then let everything simmer for 20 minutes until smooth and flavorful. Spoon it over cooked spaghetti for an inexpensive, filling dinner made entirely from pantry staples.
This recipe makes approximately 2 cups of spaghetti sauce, enough for about 8 ounces of pasta.
Why This Recipe Works
- It turns one can of tomato paste into a complete spaghetti sauce. You don’t need canned tomatoes, fresh tomatoes or a jar of pasta sauce. If you have more ingredients and time, try my homemade pasta sauce for a more robust, slow-simmered version.
- It uses simple pantry ingredients. Water, sugar and dried seasonings transform concentrated tomato paste into a rich, savory sauce.
- Dinner is ready in about 25 minutes. The sauce requires only a few minutes of prep followed by a 20-minute simmer, giving the seasonings time to blend while creating a smooth, spoonable consistency.
- It’s easy to adjust. Add a little more water for a thinner sauce, simmer it longer to thicken it or tweak the seasonings to suit your family.
Ingredient Notes
Tomato paste – One 6-ounce can of tomato paste forms the rich tomato base of this sauce. No canned tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes or fresh tomatoes are needed.
Water – Mixing 1 1/2 cups of water with the tomato paste gives the sauce a smooth, spoonable consistency. If the sauce becomes thicker than you prefer as it simmers, stir in a little additional water.
Sugar – Sugar balances the acidity and concentrated flavor of the tomato paste. You can reduce or omit it for a more savory sauce.
Seasonings – Oregano, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper give the sauce its classic Italian-inspired flavor.
How To Make Spaghetti Sauce From Tomato Paste
- Combine the ingredients. Add the tomato paste, water, sugar, oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder to a medium saucepan.
- Stir until smooth. Whisk or stir until the tomato paste is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Bring the sauce to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce will thicken slightly and deepen in color as it cooks. Taste and adjust the seasonings, adding a splash of water if the sauce is thicker than you prefer.
Spoon the sauce over al dente pasta and top with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Recipe Variations
- Add ground meat. Brown ground beef, Italian sausage or ground turkey and drain off any excess grease. Add the remaining sauce ingredients directly to the skillet and continue cooking as directed.
- Add some heat. Stir in a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne pepper.
- Add vegetables. Sauté chopped onion, bell peppers or mushrooms in a small amount of olive oil until softened. Add the remaining sauce ingredients to the skillet and continue cooking as directed.
- Make it extra garlicky. Add an additional 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder, then taste the finished sauce and adjust as needed.
How To Store and Reheat Spaghetti Sauce
Refrigerate. Allow the sauce to cool slightly, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Freeze. Let the sauce cool completely, then freeze it in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat. Warm the sauce in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. If it has thickened during storage, stir in a splash of water until it reaches your preferred consistency.
FAQ About Making Spaghetti Sauce From Tomato Paste
Can you use tomato paste to make spaghetti sauce?
Yes. Tomato paste creates a rich, concentrated base for spaghetti sauce when combined with water and seasonings. Simmering the mixture for 20 minutes gives it a smooth, spoonable consistency and allows the flavors to blend.
How do you make tomato sauce out of tomato paste?
Combine one 6-ounce can of tomato paste with 1 1/2 cups of water to give it a tomato sauce consistency. To turn it into a flavorful spaghetti sauce, add sugar and seasonings, then simmer the mixture for 20 minutes.
How much water should I add to a 6-ounce can of tomato paste?
This spaghetti sauce recipe uses 1 1/2 cups of water for one 6-ounce can of tomato paste. If you prefer a thinner pasta sauce, stir in additional water a few tablespoons at a time until it reaches the consistency you like.
Can spaghetti sauce made from tomato paste be frozen?
Yes. Spaghetti sauce made from tomato paste can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Ways To Use Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
Once you know how to make pasta sauce from tomato paste, you can use it anywhere you would normally use a jar of spaghetti sauce. Here are a few easy ideas:
- Spoon it over cooked spaghetti or your favorite pasta.
- Use it in baked spaghetti, baked ziti, lasagna or cheesy manicotti.
- Make a batch of slow cooker spaghetti and meatballs.
- Use it to make stuffed spaghetti squash for a hearty, veggie-packed meal.
- Serve it as a warm dipping sauce for breadsticks or garlic bread.
More Homemade Pasta Sauce Resources
- Have tomato sauce instead? Learn how to make spaghetti sauce using tomato sauce.
- If your sauce is too thin, try these simple ways to thicken pasta sauce.
- Put extra sauce to good use with these leftover pasta sauce recipes.
- For even more ideas, browse my collection of easy homemade sauces, including both savory and sweet options.
- Have canned tomatoes on hand? Try my homemade marinara sauce for a more traditional tomato-based option.
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How To Make Spaghetti Sauce From Tomato Paste
Ingredients
- 6 oz tomato paste 1 can
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients. Add the tomato paste, water, sugar, oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder to a medium saucepan. Whisk or stir until the tomato paste is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
- Simmer the sauce. Bring the sauce to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce will thicken slightly and deepen in color as it cooks.
- Taste and serve. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. If the sauce is thicker than you prefer, stir in a splash of water. Spoon over al dente pasta and top with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in additional water a few tablespoons at a time.
- For a meat sauce, brown 1 pound of ground beef, Italian sausage or ground turkey and drain off any excess grease. Add the sauce ingredients directly to the skillet and cook as directed.
- Refrigerate leftover sauce in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freeze cooled sauce in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.Whisk the tomato paste and water together thoroughly before bringing the sauce to a boil. This creates a smooth consistency and prevents small lumps of tomato paste from remaining in the finished sauce.
Nutrition
Megan Porta is a comfort food recipe creator who specializes in easy family meals and Instant Pot desserts, and the founder of Pip and Ebby. She has been cooking for three decades and developing recipes for over fifteen years, helping home cooks make reliable, cozy recipes for real life.
So good! I’d never made my own sauce before and was a bit intimidated but this is a good, simple recipe. I made it with meat as suggested and I also added finely chopped carrots and zucchini to get some veggies in there. The 2 tsp of sugar was a bit much for my taste but it was nothing that some more salt and garlic powder couldn’t fix! Thank you for such an easy recipe
Making sauce from scratch definitely sounds more intimidating than it is! I’m glad you tried it and liked it. Thanks, Brianna!
This recipe makes a quick and easy sauce!
my brother and I made this when we were out of jarred sauce. thanks for the recipe! we added orange bell pepper, tomato sauce to make a larger batch, and added minced garlic since we didn’t have garlic powder. so yummy!
Thanks for sharing Diana!
I think a notation that the sauce comes out spicy with that much pepper would be thoughtful. I used half and it still had a kick! There are many beginning cooks utilizing your site who may not know that the pepper equals heat. (And who may not have ingredients for another batch) All in all, good recipe though!
I followed this recipe and it’s way too spicy. Too much pepper for me is hella spicy so I had to add more sugar and some vinegar to cut that down. I say start with 1/2 a teaspoon of pepper and keep elevating to where you like your spice.
Fair enough. That’s the beauty of cooking – I provide an outline, you serve it how you like. We would probably intensify the heat if we didn’t have kids. Both ways are good and no one is wrong!
Great recipe. We ran out of bottled spaghetti sauce so I just made it, though without pepper as we don’t really use black pepper much. Thanks
This might be a dumb question but I’m not the most experienced cook. lol. I’m wanting to use this for pasta. but I’m not sure how much pasta to cook for the amount of sauce this recipe will make.
This can differ from person to person but the general recommendation is 2oz of dry pasta per person is what to plan for serving. This spaghetti recipe is set to serve 4 so 8oz would be the minimum.
I tried making your sauce today after I had just boiled a big pot of spaghetti and discovered that I didn’t have a bit of Preggo Sauce in the cabinet.
The sauce I prepared, using your recipe was absolutely delicious, so I saved the recipe in case I get stuck without sauce ever again. Absolutely delicious. Mmm Mmm good
So glad you enjoyed it, Tonya. Thanks for sharing!
This sauce was so incredibly easy and delicious! Thank you for the recipe!
I’m glad it was a hit, Erin. Thank you for sharing!
Made this tonight and loved it!! I’ve made it a couple times now and it’s been a hit with my little crew.
Easy! Delicious! I had everything on hand! I may never buy sauce again! Best sauce ever! Thank you!!!
Hey, thanks Tracy! I agree, it always just seemed easier to grab a jar but this is easy and tastier. I’m hooked too!
I haven’t tried the recipe yet but i’ve been having a really rough day and forgot to get sauce. Knowing that I can go in my kitchen and do it myself is definitely gonna make me have a better day!
Laura, sorry you’re having a rough day! Hang in there. A delicious meal is comforting but I things will look up!
Delicious! So quick and easy. I had run out of spaghetti sauce. No time to go to the store. I had all the ingredients for your recipe. I also added green pepper,celery and onion. I’m always looking for ways to save money at the grocery store,never buying prepared spaghetti sauce again.
You made great additions with adding those veggies. And I agree wholeheartedly – it’s so much easier to make a memorable, flavorful sauce at home, better than anything jarred! Thanks for sharing, Charlotte!
toddler approved!! quick & easy!! very versatile!! I added a little chopped up bell pepper, onion & tomato!! it was perfecto will definitely be our household go-to red sauce!! thank you so much for sharing your recipe ❤
So glad to hear it was a win for all! I agree, bell peppers and onions are great in this recipe. Thanks for sharing!
this was amazing. definitely a money saver. you can literally customize however you want.
This is so delicious and so cheap and easy to make! Never going back to jarred spaghetti sauce!
It is true – this is the way to make it – always better with a homemade touch! Thanks, Natalie!
Great sauce and so easy to make.
Thank you, Barb! I’m glad it was enjoyed. One of my go-to recipes too.
Great sauce and suggestions!
Thank you Angie! It’s been fun to see what we can make from products and feed our families well.
havent tasted it yet but boy it smells so good. thanks for the recipe, needed sauce for my meat balls
Yes! Perfect recipe with easy ingredients usually on hand to make it. Thanks Shalee!
Easy and tasty
So glad you liked it Ellie!
Way too much pepper, I’d half the pepper content. It completely over powered the sauce. I’d also do an extra tsp of sugar.
If you don’t love pepper, that’s an easy tweak Leann. Glad you figured out what works for you!