This spaghetti sauce is one of my favorite comfort foods to make and it reminds me of the sauce my grandmother used to make. It was always a treat when we got it because my grandmother only knew how to cook two things that I’m aware of- spaghetti sauce and shrimp salad. It’s very thick and full of ground beef, onions, and bell peppers. A hefty spoonful of sugar adds some sweetness and cuts any bitterness in the tomatoes. Two whole cans of tomato paste give it an extra intense flavor.
I like this sauce so much, I have been known to skip the pasta and just eat a bowl full of sauce with a spoon. With lots of Parmesan cheese on top- the kind in the green can. Usually I prefer fresh Parmesan on things, but maybe since I grew up eating spaghetti sauce like this one with grated Parmesan out of a can, it’s just what I crave.
Childhood food memories are the best aren’t they?
This sauce freezes really well and I’ll often make a double batch of it and freeze half for a second meal.
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar, the original recipe calls for 2 tablespoons, but I just add one
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup water
- Brown beef in a large heavy bottomed pot. Drain fat.
- Add onion and green pepper and saute until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute 30 seconds.
- Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, seasonings, and water.
- Simmer 3o minutes.
Note: If you're nervous about the amount of sugar, start with 1/2 tablespoon and add more if desired.
Recipe Source: adapted from Paula Deen
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how many servings in this?
I’m hoping 2 adults and a 4 year old and a 2 year old at least.
How many does this serve?
Just wanted to know, what makes this Southern? It’s a general pasta sauce recipe that has been around for years and is used throughout North America(Canada & USA). How do I know? My grandmothers made sauce that way and there’s nothing Southern in us. So, just because it’s adapted from Paula Dean, that makes a general sauce recipe Southern? Just sayin’
I think of the addition of quite a bit if sugar as being southern. I don’t really notice people in other parts of the country doing that to the degree that southerners do.
I have always put sugar in mine and I’m a northern girl. Born in Green Bay Wisconsin lived in Fairbank Alaska and Washington state and now living in Eau Claire Wisconsin.
It’s okay for someone in the south to post their Fav dish with the word Southern in it. I’m sure you’re not claiming the invention of the sauce. Don’t stress, everyone is a critic on the Internet. I think this dish looks/sounds AMAZING and I don’t care which region it’s from. 🙂
Thank you April 🙂
Your receipe is almost exactly like my except the sugar and Worcestershire sauce. I’m kinds afraid to try the two because my may not like it
Making this tonight. Thanks! My dad makes a shrimp spaghetti sauce with sugar. That little bit of sweetness is delish!
Your recipe is much like my own. One thing that I do different is using Chicken Broth instead of water, and a dry red wine. You may have to simmer a bit longer to get it as thick as yours. Carrots are also a good addition.
While reading through this recipe, I was forced to listen to an ad for Mucinex (? sp) and totally lost my appetite. I understand that blogs depend on ads but listening to someone go on about a phlemmy cough while I am looking for what to fix for supper is way too much!! YUCK.
I totally get that! And it was an audio ad? Those aren’t supposed to play at all on my site and it gets me so upset that they sneak through all the time. Sorry 🙁
Have made it this way for many years! Everyone, especially my daughter loves it!!!
This was delish!! I made the recipe exactly how it read and once the meat was done cooking with the veggies, I threw the meat and the rest of the ingredients in the crock pot. Cooked on low for 3 hours. Super yummy!!
Thank you for posting how long in the crockpot. I’m making meatballs in the oven and will throw them in around the 2 hour mark, started it off on high but will bring it down to low. Thought about putting a tsp of red pepper in it.
Thank you for this recipe – I have been looking for something like this for ages!
I always toss in some diced celery and mushrooms. MMMMMM.
It’s cold in Delaware and this looks like my dinner for tonight! 🙂
john
Hope you enjoy! Nothing better than spaghetti on a cold night 🙂
I make a sauce very similar to this that was given to me by my Mom. The only major differences are that I always add Italian sausage and I usually let it simmer all day either in a crock pot or simmer on the stovetop, if I know I will be home all day! Great spaghetti sauce!!
I love Italian sausage so I will have to try that!
Hi Christin
I made this for the 4th July and everybody loved it, they liked how thick it is and the flavor was spot on. I didn’t know whether to simmer the ground beef with the sauce, so I just threw it in there with the sauce. Thanks for sharing, I will be making this recipe over and over again.
So glad you enjoyed it Jackie 🙂
Sorry if I wasn’t clear about what to do with the ground beef.
This sounds fantastic! I’d love to have a batch in my freezer at all times. And yes, sometimes, you just need the canned cheese! No judgement! 🙂
This is definitely a judgement free zone when it comes to canned Parmesan 🙂
I would probably be skipping the pasta if I could eat me a bowl of this sauce!
Happy new year and thanks for sharing this mouthwatering sauce recipe
Love chunky spaghetti sauce! I’m drooling over that pic of the sauce piled high.
Yum – this sauce looks wonderful and I love how food can invoke those memories, especially of being a kid!
This sauce looks AMAZING! I’m totally with you on eating the sauce without the pasta- that’s the best part of a chunky sauce 🙂 I wish my hubby liked ground beef. I might just have to make it and eat it all myself…
Your recipe takes me back to the spaghetti sauce my mother used to make, right done to the cheese in the green can. 🙂
Looks delicious!
Thanks Matt!
This pasta dish looks fabulous, so meaty…yum!
Happy New Year and have a great week ahead Christin 😀
Thank you Juliana! Happy New Year to you too!
I could really use this right about now, it looks so good, and I am SO cold! I need something warm and hearty to slowly bring my body back to temp!
It must be hard to come back to cold weather after spending time in Mexico! Have a great week Nicole!
I just made a huge batch of spaghetti sauce after new years as there’s nothing better after ham, turkey, beef, etc. Your sauce sounds so good with all of that tomato paste and the green peppers. Looks delicious!
Thank you Marcie! I agree, after all the holiday foods, it’s nice just to have some regular old comfort foods 🙂
This sauce looks so delicious! I love how chunky it is! Pass some down!
Chunky sauces are my favorite 🙂
Have a great week Layla!
This looks delicious Christin. Spaghetti is our go-to food whenever we don’t know what else to eat. 🙂 To say we love it is an understatement! This recipe looks fabulous!
Thanks Krisit! I’ve never heard anyone complain about eating spaghetti. That’s for sure. Always a great go-to food 🙂
Wow this looks so thick and chunky and awesome! Childhood food memories are the best – I have a few things that I just won’t change even though I usually prefer other things etc… just because of the sentimental value they somehow taste better! Hope you’re having a great weekend!
I know what you mean! There’s only 1 food I can’t eat as an adult that I loved as a child and that’s beanie weanies! I think that’s how you spell it. LOL!
I still eat beanie weenies sometimes, but they don’t seem to taste as good as they did back then.
I agree. They don’t seem to taste as good anymore.
They’re many foods that don’t taste the same and this one is better!
I laughed when I read you ate the sauce and left the pasta. I would do that too. This looks remarkable!
This chunky sauce looks incredible Christin, I would totally eat a bowl full of this sauce alone too. It sounds so flavorful and tasty and I love that it reminds you of your grandmother’s version 🙂
Oh boy – this chunky, meaty sauce is calling out to me! I can see why you’d be satisfied with just the sauce itself! And how nice that it reminds you of your grandmother (even if she could only cook 2 things ; ).
Chunky spaghetti sauce is my favorite, and this one looks so so good that I’d definitely leave out the pasta ; )
Enjoy the rest of your weekend! xx
Beautiful and so delicious looking.
I love how chunky this sauce is. I can see why you eat it straight without the pasta. It’s so hearty and yummy, I’d do the same thing! Pinned. Happy New Year Christin! Looking forward to see more of your delicious recipes. 🙂