Super Easy Spaghetti Sauce
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I love store bought spaghetti sauce, even though my mother didn’t even know it existed until we were nearly teens. Once she tried it, she was hooked on the ease and the quality. She says “I figure those companies put thousands and thousands of dollars and years of research into perfecting those recipes and who are we not to use them!”. Of course, I love that way of thinking! Still, I like to dress mine up a bit. This both customizes the flavor a bit but also serves to make your sauce go further.
Making your sauce go further is important because I REALLY want you to have some leftover spaghetti sauce. It is VERY important for my next tutorial that you have some leftover because I am going to bring you a great recipe for using it up that everyone in my family loves.
You’ll need: 2 Jars or cans of spaghetti sauce, can of diced tomatoes, can of tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning. I am absolutely not loyal to any particular brand of sauce. I got this on sale, buy one get one free.
You’ll also need ground beef. Mine is already cooked, drained, and waiting in the freezer. I use a little more ground beef for this larger batch of sauce. I am using about a pound and a half.
If you’d rather, you can substitute sausage or shredded chicken for the beef. This will work fine for this recipe as well as the other one I’m going to give you for the leftovers.
Dump everything in the slow cooker. Sauce, tomato sauce, tomatoes, and beef. If you have fresh tomatoes, by all means cut up a few of those and put them in there instead of the canned.
You absolutely do not have to cook this in a slow cooker. I just like the convenience of having it cook all day and then all I have to do is boil my pasta to have supper!
Be sure you put a few tablespoons of water in the sauce jar and give it a good shake to get the last bits out, too! Now you’ll want to save this jar because spring is here (in Alabama at least!) and you know the kids are going need something to catch bugs in soon…
~clears her throat and steps up onto her soap box~
Catching bugs is a great past time and all kids need to do it. When I was a little girl, I had an entire “zoo” in the back yard made up of various plastic butter bowls filled with the critters I had found. I used to love it when I got my mama to visit my little zoo! I was big time, I’m tellin’ ya!
Here is a bit of advice though, don’t let your kids bring their zoo into the house. My son slipped a container of yard critters past me a few summers back. After being awakened in the night when some exotic beetle ventured into our bedroom and proceeded to get trapped between the headboard and the wall, we learned this the hard way. We also learned that certain beetles are a wee bit claustrophobic and set into a fluttering, buzzing panic mode when trapped.
Meanwhile, back in the kitchen…
Add some Italian seasoning. I am using about a tablespoon and a half.
And I always add about a tablespoon of sugar to help bring out the sweetness of the tomatoes.
Give it a stir, cover and cook on low all day.
If you’d rather cook this on the stove top, I recommend bringing it to a boil and then reducing the heat to low and simmering for about thirty minutes.
Super Easy Spaghetti Sauce
- 2 cans or jars of Spaghetti Sauce
- 1 – 15 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 – 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 1/2 T Italian Seasoning
- 1 T sugar
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef, browned and drained
Dump all ingredients into slow cooker. Cover and cook on low all day. Serve over freshly cooked pasta.
Print This Recipe
Reserve about two cups of this for my next tutorial!
Posted by Christy Jordan
on Mar 9 2009. Filed under Crock Pot, Main Course, Quick&Easy.
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Are you sure we aren’t sisters Christy??? Except for the slow cooker, I do my “shortcut version” of sauce near about identical! I usually buy the cheapo canned sauces because once you enhance it, it really doesn’t make much difference. Fast and easy!
I used to do Once a Month freezer cooking a long time ago – can’t wait to see what you post!!
I think we are!
I used to teach the once a month freezer cooking! lol
I LOVE the canned spaghetti sauce, especially Del Monte. Its yum!!!!
Definitely sisters, definitely!
(That means I get to eat at your house!)
~giggle~
Christy
Yep, Del Monte is the one I use most – it’s cheap!
I truly think we were separated at birth, I swear!!!
And you can come eat at my house anytime so long as I can come and eat some sweets at yours!!!! After Lent, of course.
Inexpensive meals.. YES PLEASE! My dad used to dump about a cup or two of mild Pace picante sauce in with a jar of sauce. I thought it was it was pretty good but I’m weird. Can’t wait for the “cheap meals” tutorials. Everyone needs that!
Not so weird! We like spicy spaghetti sauce, too! I’ve never tried adding salsa, but a couple of weeks ago, I did add a can of jalapeno black olives to a jar of spicy spaghetti sauce. That sauce really had a kick!
I sometimes add Cajun seasoning and hot sauce to mine!
I love a little bit of spice in my pasta sauce! I usually just add ground chilli powder though.
This sounds like a winner for 2 old people. I like to cook big and freeze for later meals.
Hey Christy,
I typically make my sauce like that (shh don’t tell my italian grandmother, gravy does not come from a jar), but I add a few boneless pork chops and some sweet sausage (I just cut up the raw sausage, and leave the chops whole, just throw it in the crock pot)
Its cooks and soaks up all of the yummy flavors from the sauce.
I am looking forward to your freezer and monthly cooking.
Cathy
Cathy, adding the pork chops and sausage has been officially moved to the top of my list of “Most Brilliant Ideas Ever”.
Seriously.
I feel like you just altered my life – its THAT Brilliant!!!!
~Christy
P.S. BRILLIANT!
I am SOO going to be stalking your blog for the money saving ideas, Im going to do this spaghetti sauce one YAyy, great idea, Thanks, Carm
YUM…sounds really good and easy! I’m making ur lasagna tonight for dinner!
Can’t wait! I’ve made it once already and it was awesome! Thanks, hope u have an awesome day today!
I am so excited about this week of posts. I LOVE saving money. It is an obsession. I can’t wait to learn about the freezer cooking. I LOVE your website.
Sounds wonderful!
I do pretty much the same thing. Except my DH and sons ARE brand specific. If I don’t use Ragu Chunky – Tomato, Garlic, & Onion style, they can tell – and they revolt! I dress mine up by browning the ground beef and sauteeing onion and bell pepper and garlic together, then adding those along with a bay leaf. I never take out the bay leaf before serving because in our family, whoever gets the leaf on their plate is King (or Queen) of dinner. Which really means nothing except you get bragging rights…
I always get such nice compliments on my spaghetti sauce!
Can’t wait for frugal week! It’s getting harder living on one income these days, but I feel so blessed to be able to be a stay at home mom. You’re doing your part to help those of us who live this way- be proud, sister!
Blessings,
Becky
My H must be King of the local Italian restaurant. He always finds a bay leaf in his food!
great idea!!! thanks so much for this wonderful idea! i absolutely LOVE your blog! thanks so much for sharing!!!
Christy, I am just betting that your grandmother says “Italian” just like my granny always did–”I-talian”!!
Does your grandmother say “Freench” for “French”, too?
This is so funny that you say that. You HAVE to check out my post on slow cooker lasagna from back in August of last year now!!!!
http://www.southernplate.com/2008/08/crock-pot-lasagna-its-italian-yall.html
~GRINS~
Love the idea of being frugal with both os us being retired and on limited income.
My husband like spicey foods so I am going to try the spaghetti sauce but use 1/2 ground hot sausage and the rest ground beef.
I guess a better way to explain how my granny would say “Italian” is “Eye-talian”!! Hope that clarifies things for you!
Best Regards,
Lisa
I am so happy to have found your site! My grocery bills are sky high and climbing, although I still would rather pay a grocery bill than a Doctor bill I am at the point that I almost need a Doctor visit after grocery shopping. My hubby has mandated that our grocery bill has to be reduced (he’s talking beans and potatoes for Breakfast,lunch and dinner)so your site is a BLESSING because I need to learn to feed my family on alot less! We need to put some kind of cushion between us and devastation in case of a job loss. Thank you so much for sharing your efforts with everyone! I will be visiting your site religiously! I would love to know if anybody would like to share their alternate favorite site’s that can help transform me into a well informed, resourceful and frugal domestic engineer? Well, maybe just a go-fur for now!!
Thanks a bunch,
Larraine
I have a whole list of things for next week, including TONS of great resources for you! Get your pen and paper out or get that printer ready and hang on to your hats! We’re gonna save us some money!
Can’t wait for the next tutorial! I just bought spag-stuffs last night! I usually do all steps at once for dinner (brown meat, make sauce, boil noodles) but this would be a nice change:)
I love reading the comments from different subscribers! I, too, put sliced olives in my sauce. They really add a richness, also I put a can of mushrooms in mine. I usually use Lawry’s dry mix as a starter for the sauce because I have never found one in a jar (or can) that I liked. I am going to try the Ragu and Del Monte sauces you other ladies use. And of course, garlic!!
When I was little I liked ladybugs and caterpillars oh and rolly-polys. I am looking forward to the upcoming tutorials.
I am hooked on this idea!
It will be on the table tonite!
Thanx
I’m all for anything that helps me save money and time when it comes to cooking and/or grocery shopping. With the ecomony like it is we all need to be frugal.
Try adding some chopped up pepperoni in the sauce. It’s amazing!
I usually saute chopped onion and add that too. We love us some onions!
And grated carrot sauteed along with the onion can take the place of most or all the added sugar. Practically invisible once it cooks in the sauce, the carrot adds the mellow sweetness that tames any tomato acidity – and you get extra fiber, vitamins, etc. TOO!
The sauce looks great! I can’t wait for this weeks posts! Always looking for ways to stretch the penny.
Oh yay! I can’t wait for this week! I’m always looking for ways to save money.
[...] Want to spice up your jarred sauce and make it taste like you slaved for hours making it from scratch? Christy has a great recipe this week for us! Check out her Super Easy Spaghetti Sauce. [...]
I also use a little bit of water to get all the sauce out of the jar, my husband suggested using a little wine instead, he says it will add to the flavor! I tried it and it does help . I do not drink wine so I never done that before I met him.( still don’t drink wine, we cook with it more. He drinks it. I just can not get past the smell and the taste! I eat my grapes fresh!
I just love your cooking!! Thanks… I really do need to get a crockpot!
I love this easy and simple recipe. It looks yummy! Our versions are very similar.
I basically do the same thing! I use the jars (usually Ragu, since it comes in super-size) and add diced onions, and bell peppers (the more colorful, the better!) and some minced garlic and whatever seasonings look good from the pantry. I leave out the meat these days, though, since my house-mate is going veggie. I saw that someone else uses wine to get the last drops of sauce out of the jar – now I am going to have to try that! And the crock-pot – never thought of that either!
Can’t wait for the money saving tips. I guess we all need some more money saving ideas these days.
[...] Super Easy Spaghetti Sauce: I love store bought spaghetti sauce, even though my mother didn’t even know it existed until we were nearly teens. Once she tried it, she was hooked on the ease and the quality. She says “I figure those companies put thousands and thousands of dollars and years of research into perfecting those recipes and who are we not to use them!”. Of course, I love that way of thinking! Still, I like to dress mine up a bit. This both customizes the flavor a bit but also serves to make your sauce go further. Recipe found at Southern Plate. [...]
I made this sauce last night. It was so good!!! Our Publix has been offering several “buy one get one free” on both spaghetti sauce and pasta, so I felt like I was really getting a bargin. I served the sauce over Barilla Mostaccioli pasta which my teenagers really liked. I have the spaghetti soup cooking now. Oh, and I bought a huge package of hamburger meat! The extra is in packages in the freezer!!! Yeah me!!!
Thanks for all of your great recipes. I look so forward to your emails and have your blog added in Facebook!!
since I worked long hours most of my life and now cooking more than ever, I love your recipes, especially the slow cooker ones.. I have my favorites- Chili- spaghetti sauce.. of course many more. Look forward to your e-mails…I started doing chicken in the slow cooker with carrots/ celery/onions on bottom of cooker- and use my homemade chicken stock. Yumo.
You can add about a teaspoon of baking soda, and it will kill some of the acid and sweeten the sauce as well. I also sometimes put in a pinch of nutmeg in mine.
Pardon me, I meant a HALF TEASPOON of baking soda!!
I had this cooking all day yesterday and saved it for dinner tonight since my folks were coming to visit. They loved it! I used 2 jars of chunky mushroom sauce, a can of mushroom pieces, and Italian style sauce & tomatoes. Forgot to add sugar while cooking, so I had to add it at the end. Used about 4 Tbl. sugar, which sounds like a lot…but since I used both Italian sauce and diced tomatoes, it was on the salty side. Thanks Christy! This was so much better than just browning up meat and opening a jar of sauce (which I normally do!).
[...] Spaghetti: Store bought Marinara Sauce or my Super Easy Spaghetti Sauce [...]
Substitute the can of tomatoes with a can of spicy Rotel tomatoes and the ground beef with cube steak, and you have a fisherman’s spaghetti sauce.
Until I was in high school I thought most people bought spaghetti sauce. My dad often made spaghetti for dinner on nights when my mom had to work late and always used Prego sauce. I went through a few years where I tried to make all kinds of spaghetti sauces, but none of them were quite right… Then I tried several different brands of sauces. “Fancier” ones, cheap ones. None of them were quite right either. Then I bought a jar of Prego. Hadn’t had it in a good 10 years. And you know what? The taste and consistency was perfect to me! That probably doesn’t sound too surprising since it’s the brand I grew up on, but I sure was surprised that I liked it better than most homemade sauces and all the other brands! I’ve since found a recipe for spaghetti sauce that I love, but it’s really labor intensive so I only make it a couple times a year. I’ve embraced good ol’ Prego Mushroom spaghetti sauce and always have it in the pantry for when dinner plans change and I need something fast.
I’m going to have to try your recipe for dressing up my beloved Prego here pretty soon though
I ended up using 1 jar of spaghetti sauce, a 28 oz can tomato sauce (unseasoned), a regular can of diced tomatoes, and a small can of tomato paste. Instead of ground beef, 1/2 lb cooked ground turkey from the freezer and also 1/2 cup red wine. It turned out fantastic, one of the best spaghetti sauces I’ve had. I think the key was that I cooked it on high in the crock pot for about 2 hours to thaw the ground meat, then I removed the lid and put a splatter screen on top and let it cook on high for a few more hours, stirring every hour or so. This allowed the excess liquid to cook off. The resulting sauce was thick (which is how we prefer it) and flavorful. Yum yum! I will use this method from now on, it requires much less babysitting than a big dutch oven on the stove of spaghetti sauce.
Hi Christy, Instead of adding a little water to the empty jar of sauce to rinse it out, try adding a dollop of dry red wine instead (the cheaper the better). Oh my does that add flavor!
You know, you’re gonna think this is funny but I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a drop of red wine in all my life!
It sure sounds like a great idea though!