My family is somewhat picky about spaghetti sauce. In fact, we only buy one particular brand. When we purchase the “family size” container, it is just enough for one meal and costs over $4.00.
In an effort to trim our ever-growing grocery budget, I decided it was time to start making homemade spaghetti sauce. This version is my favorite so far. Using a commercial-size can of tomato sauce, I can make enough spaghetti sauce for two meals for our family for about $5.00. And it’s delicious, too!
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce {Batch Cooking}
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 1/4 c. oil
- 1 T. parsley
- 1 T. oregano
- 1 T. basil
- 1 T. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. pepper
- 1 #10 can tomato sauce
- 1 (12 oz.) can tomato paste
- 1/4 c. brown sugar
Instructions
- Saute onion and green pepper in oil until translucent; remove from heat. Add seasonings; allow to sit for 10-15 minutes for flavors to blend.
- Combine tomato sauce, tomato paste, and brown sugar in large pot. Add vegetable/seasoning mixture; stir until combined. Simmer for 1-2 hours.
- (Alternatively, this sauce could be cooked in a slow cooker for about 4 hours on low heat.)
- Allow to cool completely. Freeze as desired.
Linked to Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Try a New Recipe Tuesday, and Works for Me Wednesday.
Renee says
GREAT! I have been wanting to try this when Jacob’s gets enough tomatoes that are ready for picking 🙂
I am going to link back to this post 🙂
Jen says
Thanks for sharing! I am going to pin this one to try. WE love spaghetti and I’m trying for healthier versions. Sounds yummy!!
Judy says
Thanks for pinning, Jen! It is much appreciated!
Carrie- young living oil lady says
Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Kids in the Kitchen. Anytime a recipe is given homemade, I definitely try it. So thanks! 🙂 Hope to see you again next week. Blessings!
Judy says
Thanks for co-hosting, Carrie! I’m hoping to be back again next week. 🙂
Sharon says
I am curious where you are able to get your #10 cans of sauce? I have checked around some places and no one seems to carry that quantity. Do you by chance have Sam’s Club membership? We do, so if that were something they carry, I could get it there. Thanks for your help. I’m enjoying your “batch-cooking” ideas. Already did a crockpot of chicken breasts and plan to do more things.
Judy says
Sharon, I am able to get the #10 cans at our local Walmart Supercenter for $2.97. Have you checked there? I’m pretty certain that Sam’s Club would also carry that size. (I’d LOVE to have a membership!)
I’m glad that batch cooking is working for you–way to go on doing the chicken breasts in the crockpot! 🙂
Wendy Kelly says
Thank you!! Love a good tomato sauce recipe. My latest addition to the pasta sauce in bulk is to buy huge cans of tomatoes — and make just enormous quantities & freeze it. But that may be because of the fact that I am feeding 4 growing boys : )
Judy says
I totally understand the growing boy thing! It’s so hard to keep ahead of growing appetites sometimes. 🙂
Sharon says
Thanks Judy! Yes, I checked our local Walmart supercenter earlier for the cans for your pizza sauce recipe and they didn’t seem to have them. Unless they’re somewhere else besides where the rest of the bulk items are. Maybe I need to ask someone there. But we can likely find them at Sam’s. Blessings, Sharon
p.s. Interesting about your attending IWS! My mother-in-law Denise Knight went there also and my husband just recently had second cousins still there last year!
Judy says
I hope you can find the #10 cans, Sharon–they are much less expensive than buying the same quantity in regular-size cans. Another reader commented that Sams’s Club does carry the large cans. I hope that helps!
So glad you mentioned your mother-in-law’s name–I’m thinking my dad may actually have had her as a student at IWS “way back when”! Now I’m wondering if perhaps you and I have crossed paths before (Stoneboro, maybe?). It’s truly a “small” world! 🙂
Jenny K. says
FYI, I have seen the large cans of tomato sauce at SAM’S CLUB. Your recipes are great! Keep them coming! 🙂
Lisa says
Thanks so much for linking up, Judy! We make all of ours homemade, too. It makes such a difference in cost and taste! 🙂
Judy says
Thanks for hosting, Lisa! 🙂
Andrea H says
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was searching around today for a good, easy spaghetti sauce recipe I could do in the crock pot for dinner tonight. Yours was the one I picked for the simplicity and ingredients. I will let you know that it is totally AWESOME!!! Those family members that are home all tried it and all they could say is WOW, that is really good! I so very much agree! Thank you again.
Judy Hoch says
You just made my night, Andrea! I’m so glad that your family enjoyed the spaghetti sauce. It’s always great when EVERYONE likes a new recipe. 🙂
Beth says
the #10 cans, are they actually ten pounds??? i wanna make sure i do it right before i venture into making my own! Im feeding 5 people, and my 3 kiddos eat like full grown loggers. I can’t fill them up! A giant pot of spaghetti is exactly what i need 🙂
Judy Hoch says
Hi Beth,
The #10 cans are not actually 10 pounds. They are the commercial cans that you can get at places like Sam’s Club or some Walmart stores. I believe they are around 6 pounds, but don’t quote me on that. 😉