You can turn two cans of plain tomato sauce into a well-seasoned spaghetti sauce in just 20 minutes. This spaghetti sauce using tomato sauce requires no tomato paste, chopping or fresh ingredients, making it especially helpful when the pantry is looking sparse or dinner needs to stay simple.
I created this recipe during the early days of 2020, when grocery shelves were unpredictable and many of us were cooking with whatever we already had.
The combination is intentionally uncomplicated: oregano and Italian seasoning provide the familiar herby flavor, garlic and onion powder eliminate extra chopping, and a small amount of sugar softens the acidity of the canned sauce.
It quickly became one of the most popular spaghetti sauce recipes on Pip and Ebby, and readers continue to make it years later. Keep it meatless, add cooked ground beef or spoon it over any pasta you have on hand for an affordable dinner that reliably fills hungry bellies.
Why This Recipe Works
- It turns basic tomato sauce into spaghetti sauce. If you have two 15-ounce cans of tomato sauce and a handful of common seasonings, you already have what you need.
- There is no chopping or sautéing. Onion powder and garlic powder add flavor without requiring fresh ingredients or additional prep.
- The sauce is ready in 20 minutes. A short simmer gives the dried herbs time to soften and allows the seasonings to blend into the tomato sauce.
- You control what goes into it. Adjust the sugar, salt and seasonings to suit your family instead of relying on the flavor of a jarred sauce.
- It is inexpensive and flexible. Serve it as a simple meatless pasta sauce, add browned ground beef or Italian sausage, or use it anywhere you need a quick red sauce.
Ingredients and Notes
- Tomato sauce: Two 15-ounce cans create the base of the sauce. Use plain, unseasoned tomato sauce so you can control the final flavor.
- Sugar: A small amount balances the acidity of the tomatoes without making the spaghetti sauce noticeably sweet. You can reduce or omit it if preferred.
- Oregano and Italian seasoning: Using both gives the sauce a fuller blend of familiar Italian herbs.
- Salt and black pepper: These simple seasonings enhance the tomatoes and bring the other flavors together. Adjust the salt to taste, especially if your canned tomato sauce contains added sodium.
- Onion powder and garlic powder: These pantry staples provide savory flavor without chopping or sautéing fresh onion and garlic.
How To Make Spaghetti Sauce With Tomato Sauce
- Combine the ingredients. Add the tomato sauce, sugar, oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder to a medium saucepan. Stir until combined.
- Bring the sauce to a boil. Cook over medium-high heat until the sauce begins to boil, stirring occasionally.
- Simmer for 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the sauce from scorching.
- Serve over pasta. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Spoon the sauce over cooked pasta and top with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Easy Recipe Variations
- Know what to expect. This recipe makes a smooth, simply seasoned spaghetti sauce rather than a thick, chunky sauce. For more texture, add diced, crushed or fresh tomatoes and allow the sauce to simmer a little longer.
- Make it meaty. Brown 1 pound of ground beef, ground turkey or Italian sausage in a large skillet. Drain any excess grease, add the sauce ingredients and simmer as directed.
- Use fresh onion or garlic. Sauté chopped onion or minced garlic in a little olive oil before adding the tomato sauce and seasonings. Cooking them first softens their texture and mellows their flavor.
- Add some heat. Stir in a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the other seasonings.
- Make it chunkier. Add diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes or chopped fresh tomatoes. The additional tomatoes will increase the amount of sauce and may require a slightly longer simmer.
- Add fresh flavor. Stir in chopped fresh basil or grated Parmesan shortly before serving. Dried basil can be added with the other seasonings.
- Adjust the sweetness. The 2 teaspoons of sugar balance the acidity without making the sauce noticeably sweet. Taste the sauce after it simmers, then add more sugar 1 teaspoon at a time if desired.
Storage and Freezing
Allow leftover spaghetti sauce to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. Refrigerate it for up to 5 days or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Thaw frozen sauce overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat it in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, or warm individual portions in the microwave.
Ways To Use Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
This simple sauce can replace a jar of store-bought pasta sauce in many of your favorite comfort-food recipes. Here are a few easy ways to use it:
- Spoon it over spaghetti or any cooked pasta and finish with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Use it to make Baked Spaghetti, Baked Ziti, Lasagna or Cheesy Manicotti.
- Pair it with Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs for an easy family dinner.
- Spoon it over cooked spaghetti squash for a lighter option.
- Serve it as a dipping sauce with breadsticks, garlic bread or mozzarella sticks.
- Use extra sauce for one of these recipes using leftover spaghetti sauce.
- And yes, I’ve been known to spoon leftover sauce over scrambled eggs. It may sound unusual, but it works!
FAQs
Can you make spaghetti sauce with tomato sauce?
Yes. Plain canned tomato sauce is an excellent shortcut base for spaghetti sauce. Add oregano, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and a small amount of sugar, then simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
If you have tomato paste instead, use this recipe for how to make spaghetti sauce with tomato paste.
How do you thicken tomato sauce for spaghetti?
Simmer the sauce uncovered so excess liquid can evaporate. If you prefer an even thicker spaghetti sauce, add tomato paste 1 tablespoon at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
Find additional solutions in my guide explaining how to thicken pasta sauce.
How much spaghetti sauce does this recipe make?
This recipe makes approximately 4 cups of spaghetti sauce, which is comparable to one large jar of store-bought pasta sauce. It is enough for about 1 pound of cooked pasta, depending on how saucy you like it.
What is the difference between marinara and spaghetti sauce?
Marinara is typically a simple tomato-based sauce made with garlic and herbs. Spaghetti sauce is a broader term and may include additional seasonings, vegetables or meat. Read more about marinara vs. spaghetti sauce before deciding which one works best in your recipe.
Can you freeze homemade spaghetti sauce?
Yes. Cool the sauce completely and freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, leaving room for expansion. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat.
Spaghetti Sauce Using Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 30 oz plain tomato sauce
- 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 sauce, sugar, oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder to a medium saucepan. Stir until combined.
- Bring to a boil. Cook over medium-high heat until the sauce begins to boil, stirring occasionally.
- Simmer the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Taste and serve. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Spoon over cooked pasta and top with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Video
Notes
- For a meat sauce: Brown 1 pound of ground beef, ground turkey or Italian sausage in a large skillet. Drain the grease, add the sauce ingredients and simmer as directed.
- For a chunkier sauce: Add diced, crushed or chopped fresh tomatoes. Simmer slightly longer if needed.
- For additional flavor: Add red pepper flakes, sautéed onion, minced garlic or dried basil with the seasonings. Fresh basil and grated Parmesan can be stirred in shortly before serving.
- Adjust the sweetness: The sugar balances the acidity of the tomato sauce. Reduce or omit it if preferred, or add more 1 teaspoon at a time after tasting.
- Storage: Refrigerate cooled sauce in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze it for up to 3 months.This recipe makes a smooth, simply seasoned spaghetti sauce. For a thicker or chunkier sauce, add tomato paste, diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes and simmer a little longer.
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.
I made this by putting it in the crock pot. Adjusted the spices and such and added ground turkey and chicken. It was really, really good. Thank you for the great recipe and idea!
Yay! You’re so welcome!
I made this, put turkey sausage and ground chicken in it and doubled the recipe, adjusted the seasonings to my liking. It came out great. And I put it in the crock pot for 3 hours. It was fantastic. Thanks for the recipe.
Love these changes! Glad it turned out!!
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!
Super easy and can can be adjusted to your taste. I added about a half teaspoon more of each spice/herb. Adding a pound of spicy Italian sausage. REALLY GOOD!
Thanks for sharing, Greg!
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!