When you need dinner fast, this quick and easy spaghetti sauce is your answer. It’s so full of flavor that you won’t even miss the garlic and onion. As an added bonus you can kiss whoever you’d like after eating.
My husband is only 1/4 Italian, but since that’s the part that gives us our last name, it’s obviously the most important part, haha! I don’t claim to be an expert on Italian cooking, but we do eat a lot of pasta in our house. But not every night is a let’s-simmer-bolognese-for-four-hours kind of night. This spaghetti sauce is a garlic and onion free adaptation of an authentic Italian family recipe that we were given as a wedding gift. And it also happens to be really fast and easy!
I use ground beef or turkey when I make this spaghetti sauce, but you can use whatever meat (or vegan crumbles) you’d like. You could even just bulk this up with extra vegetables like zucchini and bell peppers and leave the meat out entirely! When our garden and CSA are in full swing, I almost always have some odds and ends to use up. So feel free to adapt this recipe to your family’s tastes and leftovers.
Make Quick and Easy Spaghetti Sauce Allergy-Friendly for You!
As written, this recipe is dairy free, gluten free, garlic free, onion free, and top 9 allergen free. You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or pork, or even vegan crumbles. I use my own personal Italian seasoning blend, but feel free to use whatever safe mix you find in your local store! Make sure you double check your tomato products and Italian seasoning for any hidden allergens like garlic or “natural flavors.”
When tomatoes are in season, I make my own tomato puree and store it in the freezer in 3 cup portions. If you do that, you can substitute 3 cups homemade puree for the can of crushed tomatoes in this recipe!
Let me know in the comments how this quick and easy spaghetti sauce turned out for you! On social media, use the hashtag #coffeetableeats to share your creations!
Quick and Easy Spaghetti Sauce from Scratch
This sauce is almost as quick as opening a jar, but tastes infinitely better and is garlic and onion free! Keep an eye out for unsafe ingredients in your tomato products. Use whatever meat or meat substitute you prefer, if ground beef isn't your thing. Feel free to replace the meat with extra veggies like zucchini or bell peppers for a vegan option!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef (can substitute turkey or even meatless crumbles)
- 1 large carrot, minced
- 1 celery stalk, minced
- 1 (28 oz) can no-salt crushed tomatoes
- 1 (14 oz.) can no-salt diced tomatoes (or 1 1/2 c. fresh diced tomatoes)
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet with a lid, cook ground beef, carrot, and celery over medium high heat until the meat is browned and cooked through (5-10 minutes). Drain off any extra grease if desired. Turn the heat down to medium low.
- Add remaining ingredients into skillet and stir to combine. Place the lid on the skillet and simmer on medium low heat for 20 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened. Serve over your favorite pasta and enjoy!
Notes
Tomato Paste:
I never use an entire can of tomato paste for a recipe! Take out what you need for this sauce, and then package the rest up in 1-2 Tbsp portions wrapped in plastic wrap or in ice cube trays. Keep in the freezer to use for future recipes!
Freezing:
This spaghetti sauce freezes well! After cooking, let the sauce cool completely and then ladle into freezer-safe jars or plastic bags (leaving some space for expansion). Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1 Amount Per Serving: Calories: 185Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 234mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 17gNutrition facts may vary based on the ingredients, swaps, and products used.