Transform 2 cans of tomato sauce (plus a few spices) into a delicious, savory spaghetti sauce that’ll fill all the bellies around your table tonight! Pasta sauce has never been easier or more affordable.
Hey, friends! Are you weathering the storms ok? Times are tough right now all around. I think we’re all feeling it on some level. There is currently some food hoarding going on, which has depleted the grocery shelves a bit. Hopefully, though, you have a few cans of tomato sauce sitting in your pantry because that is all you need to create a delicious and filling spaghetti sauce for tonight’s dinner!
I truly hope you are doing well and staying healthy during this uncertain time. If there is ever anything you would like me to cover that relates to food or recipe creation, I’m all ears! This is a great recipe that my family loves and I hope yours does, too.
How To Make Spaghetti Sauce From Tomato Sauce
Step 1
Combine all of the following in a medium saucepan:
- Two 15-oz. cans tomato sauce
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp each oregano, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper
- 1/2 tsp each onion powder and garlic powder
Step 2
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Pour over cooked pasta and top with Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Recipe Notes
- For a meaty sauce, add 1 pound of ground beef, turkey or sausage. If you go this route, cook the meat in a skillet first and drain grease. Add the remaining ingredients to the skillet and cook as directed.
- Spruce up the sauce by using any or all of the following: red pepper flakes, fresh tomatoes or diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, olive oil, fresh basil or dried basil, grated Parmesan, a few minced garlic cloves or fresh chopped onions.
- Add sugar 1 teaspoon at a time for a sweeter sauce.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge. Use within 4-5 days.
How To Thicken Tomato Sauce
Tomato sauce is a bold, delicious base for many recipes such as soup, chili and sauces. Learn how to thicken tomato sauce to create a robust texture for your next recipe.
Other Easy Homemade Sauces to Make This Week
If you are looking for other easy sauces to make from scratch, check out this helpful list of 18 homemade sauces you can use now or freeze for later. Inside this roundup, you’ll find savory sauces like pizza sauce and marinara sauce as well as sweet ones such as hot fudge sauce and blueberry, too!
Make Pasta Sauce Using a Can of Tomato Paste
And if you have paste on hand instead of sauce, try this super easy way to transform tomato paste into pasta sauce!
Make Homemade Spaghetti Sauce With Fresh or Frozen Tomatoes
If your pasta is already cooked and you just need a delicious, savory sauce to top your noodles with, consider making this delicious homemade pasta sauce with fresh or frozen tomatoes!
How To Thicken Pasta Sauce
If you make or purchase a batch of pasta sauce and find that is thin and lacks substance, there are ways to fix it! Read on for tips about how to make thick spaghetti sauce.
Marinara vs Spaghetti Sauce
So close in texture, color and flavor that you could call them cousins! Let’s get to the heart of the issue and explore marinara vs spaghetti sauce. What are the differences?!
Recipes To Make Using Pasta Sauce
Aside from the obvious reason (the amazing FLAVOR!), my favorite thing about pasta sauce is that it is so versatile. Here are a few ideas for ways to enjoy it!
- Pour it over the top of cooked noodles of any kind.
- If you have extras on hand, check out these ideas for recipes to make using leftover spaghetti sauce so nothing goes to waste.
- Use in place of store-bought sauce in your next pan of Baked Spaghetti or Baked Ziti!
- Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Lasagna and Cheesy Manicotti are both sooo good when made with Instant Pot spaghetti sauce!
- Use it as an ingredient to stuff spaghetti squash with!
- Add it to your morning eggs because everything tastes great with eggs.
- Top scrambled eggs with a few spoonfuls!
- Use it as a dip for breadsticks or garlic bread.
Other Recipes To Make With Tomato Sauce
- Add them to your next batch of scrambled eggs.
- Replace pasta sauce with it for your next plate of spaghetti.
- Use as an ingredient in your next vat of amazing chili.
- Use it as a salad dressing (seriously, I did this and it ROCKED).
- Stir it into a bowl of comforting mac and cheese.
Spaghetti Sauce Made Using Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 30 oz tomato sauce
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Pour over cooked pasta and top with Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Video
Notes
- For a meaty sauce, add 1 pound of ground beef, turkey or sausage. If you go this route, cook the meat in a skillet first and drain grease. Add the remaining ingredients to the skillet and cook as directed.
- Spruce up the sauce by using any or all of the following: red pepper flakes, fresh tomatoes or diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, olive oil, fresh basil or dried basil, grated Parmesan, a few minced garlic cloves or fresh chopped onions.
- Add sugar 1 teaspoon at a time for a sweeter sauce.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge. Use within 4-5 days.
- Add this sauce to your next Pizza Pasta Bake!
This is my go to recipe. Last fall we jarred around 32 jars of tomato sauce with our neighbours from fresh tomatoes! I just had no idea how I was going to use them all.. but I found this recipe and we’ve gone through so many of them with it!! It’s my family’s favourite. Haven’t bought store sauce since. I have a toddler, so I cut back on the pepper by about half, because as the recipe is, it gives a bit too much kick for my little one. I pump up the onion and garlic and sub basil for oregano. It’s fantastic! I will use this recipe forever. Thank you!!
I really love hearing this, Megan! Made my day. Thanks for taking the time to share!
I have made this twice. I love how easy it is and how you can add various ingredients like mushrooms, onions, and extra spices. A 5 star recipe for sure!
That’s exactly what I was going for and I love to hear it! Thanks for sharing, Linda.
I have been wondering what to do with too many Costco cans of tomato sauce! Then I found this recipe and it’s amazing- will never buy canned sauce again! Thank you!
Same here, Bridget! Isn’t it great?!
I. making this tonight for supper
I cannot find a good jar sauce that is favorable and not expensive. Tried this for the first time today. So delicious and you can really adjust the seasonings as you desire. One question, can this sauce be frozen?
Hi Barb – Yes, tomato-based spaghetti sauce can be frozen. Freezing is a good way to preserve fresh sauce and use it later.
How much sauce does this recipe yield?
Hey Karen! This recipe yields 30 oz and serves 4.
I did not have a jar of spaghetti sauce on hand, so I googled recipes real quick and this was the first one I came across. And I’m so glad I did! It was delicious, my family loved it, and told me to save the recipe and forget buying it at the store ever again. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
This recipe was absolutely delicious. I will NOT by jarred sauce again.
The only change I made was I cut the salt & pepper to 1/2 tsp.
Thanks again. This is a keeper for me. Making it again today.
I use this to feed my toddler to cut down on sugar and salt, it’s cheaper and so good! Using in pierogis for lunch today.
YAY! This one is a delicious keeper! Thank you so much for the recipe!
Aww Amy! So glad you liked it so much. Thanks for sharing the love!
Thank you for this recipe. I added a pinch of ground cayenne pepper. I think it outshines store bought pasta sauce. It was delicious. Made it with spaghetti and sweet Italian sausage.
Yes Diane – A pinch of cayenne sounds divine! and the sweet Italian sausage…chefs kiss! 🙂
Can I pressure can this recipe?
Hi Kathy! Thanks for the question. Yes you can definitely pressure can this recipe if you’d like.
Wow! Not what I expected. This turned out great! One thing I did extra was add a wee splash of balsamic vinegar. I might not buy jarred sauce again.
I used this with an eggplant pasta with capers. Fantastic.
That sounds like a great dinner, Jack. I’m glad it was enjoyed. I’m in agreement, now that I can spruce up tomato sauce, it’s more appealing to make more often. The balsamic vinegar is a great option. I’m sure others will also appreciate it.
I tried this and it came out great my family loved it thanks for the recipe
Glad to hear it, Jose. Thank you for sharing!