I grew up eating some version of “homemade” spaghetti sauce at least once a week. It was one of my dad’s favorite dinners to prepare (and it was one of my favorite things to eat). Not much has changed in the past two-plus decades. I still love carbs and hearty meat sauces, and my dad still loves to make his very own spaghetti sauce creations. In this recipe, you’ll find all the things you’d expect in a homemade spaghetti sauce: ground beef, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and simple Italian seasonings. No wild fillers or preservatives, just simple, delicious, meaty homemade sauce perfect for all your favorite recipes.
Brown the ground beef: Add the olive oil to a large pot or Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef and use a wooden spoon or spatula to break it apart into smaller crumbles. After the meat is fully cooked, transfer it to a clean plate and set aside.
Cook the onions, green pepper, and garlic: Add the remaining olive oil to the same pot set over medium heat. Cook the onions until soft and translucent, stirring often. Stir in the diced bell pepper and continue to cook. Sprinkle with salt and stir in the minced garlic cloves. Cook, stirring continuously.
Tomato paste and seasoning: Combine the tomato paste with the vegetables. Mix well to combine before adding the dried basil, thyme, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
Spaghetti sauce needs tomatoes: Pour the canned diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and water into the pot and return the cooked ground meat back to the pot. Bring sauce to a low boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and allow the sauce to simmer.
Season and Serve: Season with additional salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, or sugar, to taste. Serve with cooked spaghetti noodles or other pasta of choice. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and shredded parmesan cheese, if desired.