How to Make Spaghetti Sauce Using Tomato Sauce

According to EatPasta.org, a website from the National Pasta Association dedicated to providing interesting facts about pasta, more than 1.4 billion pounds of dry pasta was consumed in the United States in 2009. Though Americans do love their pasta, Italians consume more than 51 pounds of pasta a year, according to the website. If spaghetti is your favorite meal, there are plenty of sauces you can enjoy with that pile of noodles, including homemade spaghetti sauce.

Spaghetti with tomato sauce, on a fork and ready to be eaten. (Image: al62/iStock/Getty Images)

Step 1

Gently mash the lean ground beef with your hands and fingers so that it is no longer one large slab of meat.

Step 2

Sprinkle various seasonings, such as a pinch of salt and pepper, paprika, oregano or Italian seasoning, onto the meat as you mash it to add a little flavor.

Step 3

Place the prepared meat on a separate, clean plate and set it aside. Do not brown the meat prior to mixing together with the sauce; the meat will actually cook within the sauce.

Step 4

Place the sliced mushrooms in a colander and run cool water over them as you wash and scrub away any dirt or other impurities.

Step 5

Set the cleaned mushrooms onto a separate plate and pat dry with a paper towel.

Step 6

Pull out a medium-sized onion and garlic clove and peel off their skins.

Step 7

Mince the garlic and onion and set aside.

Step 8

Set a large pot onto your stove over low heat.

Step 9

Empty both the tomato sauce and tomato paste into the pot and add 1 cup water to the pot. Bring to a gentle boil.

Step 10

Pour the mushrooms, chopped onions and 1 tsp. sugar into the pot. Stir to fully incorporate the ingredients.

Step 11

Add the ground beef carefully to the pot and mix well with a wooden spoon.

Step 12

Cover the pot with its lid and let the sauce simmer over low heat for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

Step 13

Boil a pot of noodles within 15 minutes of the end of the cooking time, drain and serve with the sauce.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. extra lean ground beef

• Pinch of salt and pepper

• Seasonings

• Plates

• 1, 1/2-lb box of fresh mushrooms

• 1 medium-sized onion

• 1 garlic clove

• 1, 12-oz can spaghetti sauce

• 1, 6 1/2-oz can spaghetti paste

• 1 tsp. sugar

Tip

Vegetables help boost the nutritional value of homemade spaghetti sauce as well as add a little bit of extra flavor.

Warning

Since you will be cooking the meat within the sauce, this recipe will yield a rich-tasting spaghetti sauce.