Erin’s Recipe Rundown
I love cooking up a big pot of homemade spaghetti sauce for dinner. It’s hearty, flavorful and always a hit with kids and adults alike.
This spaghetti sauce recipe is one of the first things I learned to cook. I’ve been making it for as long as I can remember!
Why You’ll Love It: This recipe use simple ingredients to make an easy homemade sauce that everyone loves! With the perfect balance of herbs and spices, this meat sauce is the perfect topping for your favorite gluten-free noodles.
Top Tip: I love to pair this gluten-free spaghetti sauce with my favorite gluten-free spaghetti noodles from Jovial Foods.
For more gluten-free comfort food recipes, try this gluten-free mac and cheese, gluten-free Alfredo sauce, gluten-free lasagna, gluten-free chicken parmesan, or these gluten-free meatballs.
xoxo erin
Featured Comment
From Laynee: “OK the sauce was so amazing! I made a double batch so we could freeze some for a quick dinner another night since my family has already requested it again.”
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are a few notes on some of the key ingredients to make this gluten-free spaghetti sauce. Jump to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Tomato sauce/crushed tomatoes: Combining a high-quality tomato sauce with crushed tomatoes is an easy way to make a smooth, flavorful sauce. I really like Trader Joe’s Tomato Basil jarred marinara sauce!
- Tomato Paste: The paste is super concentrated which adds a deep, savory tomato flavor beyond what the other tomato products offer.
- Red pepper flakes: This recipe adds just enough red pepper flakes to enhance the overall flavor and add a subtle heat without making it spicy.
- Sugar: Even though this is a savory sauce, a little sugar balances the sharp tomato flavor and enhances the richness without making the sauce overly sweet.
Serve this gluten-free spaghetti with gluten-free garlic bread or gluten-free breadsticks!
How to Make the Gluten-Free Spaghetti Sauce
Here’s an overview of how to make this recipe. You can jump to the recipe for the full instructions!
A great one-pot recipe: Prep the veggies and throw them into a large pot with the raw ground beef.
Brown and drain: Break up the beef as it cooks with the veggies. You want all the pink gone before moving on. Don’t forget to drain the excess grease!
Add some flavor: Let the garlic and tomato paste cook with the meat for a good minute or so to bring out those delicious flavors. Stir constantly!
Add the rest: Throw in the jarred tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, sugar, and remaining seasoning. Bring the sauce to a boil.
Simmer and serve: Reduce to a simmer and stir occasionally. Always remove the bay leaves before serving. You can add more salt and pepper to taste too!
How to Cook Gluten-Free Spaghetti
Here are a few tips for cooking gluten-free noodles. My favorite brand is Jovial foods. I even use their pasta in my cold gluten-free pasta salad!
- Make sure you use plenty of water. Gluten-free noodles release more starch as they cook. It’s important to use plenty of water so they don’t get gummy on the outside.
- Cook according to the package instructions. There’s less wiggle-room with the cook time for gluten-free pasta. Set a timer and stick to the time the brand recommends.
- Don’t add olive oil to the noodles. It will add a starchy/slimy film on the outside of the noodles. Instead, toss the pasta with some of this sauce right after cooking!
Gluten-Free Spaghetti Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large onion, finely diced
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 26 ounce jar good store-bought marinara sauce I like Trader Joe's Tomato Basil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 whole bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a large pot, add the ground beef, onions and peppers. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking into small pieces, until the meat is no longer pink, 6-7 minutes. Drain excess grease.
- Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly for a minute or so. Pour in the remaining ingredients.
- Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the bay leaves and season to taste with salt and pepper before serving. Enjoy!
OK the sauce was so amazing! I made a double batch so we could freeze some for a quick dinner another night since my family has already requested it again.