Southern Spaghetti Sauce

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?

How To Make

(More detailed instructions and video in recipe card below.)

1. Brown the ground beef. Drain the fat.
   
2. Add onion and green pepper and cook until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
   
3. Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, seasonings, and water.
   
4. Simmer 30 minutes.

Freeze For Later

This sauce freezes really well and I’ll often make a double batch of it and freeze half for a second meal.

More Italian Dinners

• Southern Sausage Spaghetti Sauce
• Spaghetti Casserole
• Spicy Tomato Cream Pasta
• Italian Sausage Rigatoni with Spicy Cream Sauce

Watch the short video below to see how easy this sauce is to make.

Recipe Source: adapted from Paula Deen