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Ingredients for easy spaghetti sauce including sausage and marinara in a Dutch oven

Easy Spaghetti Sauce

A quick 30 minute meal that upgrades store bought marinara into a rich flavorful meat sauce.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 494

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 6 cloves garlic smashed and minced
  • 1 pound mild Italian sausage bulk or casings removed
  • 28 ounce can marinara sauce
  • 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes or petite diced tomatoes with juice
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon Beef Base
  • 1 pound dry spaghetti noodles
  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt to season pasta water
  • Fresh basil or parsley to garnish
  • Parmesan cheese grated

Equipment

  • Large Dutch oven or soup pot
  • Wooden spoon
  • Large pot for pasta

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, salt, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, and black pepper. Saute for 5 minutes until the onion turns translucent.
  2. Add the minced garlic to the pot. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant, adding a splash of oil if the pan looks dry to prevent burning.
  3. Stir in the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until fully browned. Drain excess grease if needed.
  4. Pour in the marinara sauce and crushed tomatoes with their juice. Increase the heat to medium high until it reaches a simmer.
  5. Add the water, balsamic vinegar, and beef base. Lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer for 10 to 30 minutes.
  6. About 10 minutes before eating, boil the spaghetti in heavily salted water. Cook the noodles for 8 to 9 minutes until al dente. Do not overcook. Drain, toss with olive oil, and top with the hot sauce.

Notes

Let the sauce simmer longer if you have time to allow the flavors to deepen and the sauce to thicken.