Southern Spaghetti Sauce is a thick, flavorful sauce with lots of ground beef, onion, and bell pepper. It has a hint of sweetness to it which really brings out the tomato flavor. Freezes well.
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.
Watch the short video below to see how easy this sauce is to make.
Southern Spaghetti Sauce
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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 30 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Source: adapted from Paula Deen
Absolutely amazing !! I ate it plaine even lol !!
Looks delicious! Can you add other veggies like mushroom and black olives to this recipe?
Yes! 🙂
Your pics of this are hilarious. I ALWAYS demand more sauce in my pasta, and my wife frequently teases me about it. I do the same thing with my cornbread dressing. I add four more cups of chicken stock not listed in the recipe, and it comes out perfect every time. I guess people in the south will do whatever it takes to stay hydrated. 🙂
LOL 🙂
Absolutely reminds me of the spaghetti I grew up with, it is delicious.
I made this recipe with herbs out of my garden, and tomatoes I canned?
I am going to have a lot to freeze.
This is now my go to pasta it’s wonderful!
( no sugar)
Your spaghetti sauce is differently southern . So far I have lived in 3 states. North Carolina where I was born moved to Maryland when I got married now in VA in each state all the woman I knew if they anything with tomatoes in it they put sugar in it . I make that way, my daughters. 3 of them , my mama,my grandma, my great grandma and my great great grandma are so I was told made their sauce that too. That’s alot of people. All of them lived in the south.
As far as your memories of your mama enjoy ever one of them.
My mama died back in 2009. I still miss her and I enjoy ever memory I have of her includeing the one of me when I was 8-9 maybe 10 years old standing on a chair beside my mama as she was teaching to cook and standing in that same chair doing the dishes. I’m now 71 so I’ve been cooking along time.
Sorry about making this so long but do I do get a little upset when it comes to my southern roots.
I have made several of dishes and have enjoyed making and eating everyone.
Thank you , keep making those southern dishes lol
I’m from Arkansas & my dad roots are Kentucky hill country.
There’s a reason for the sugar, it helps with the acid (heartburn) on your stomach from the tomatoes & oil from the ground beef etc. after sauce is done put it on a light simmer just sprinkle very lightly the Sugar once it’s melted mostly on top then stir it into the sauce.
sauce very delicious looking..
thanks
really sauce looks so delicious..!
I add a pinch (a slight dusting) of cinnamon powder to my sauce…skipping the sugar completely and think it adds a nice tinge of flavorful sweetness enhancing the tomato notes and creating a lovely smell in the kitchen.
I loved this sauce. I kept everything the same except I added a few more veggies (mushrooms, zucchini and red bellpepper). Thanks for this. ❤️