Description
Homemade Spaghettios is a quick, comforting, and nostalgic pasta dish made from scratch using fresh tomatoes and real pasta. Perfect for busy weeknights, this wholesome recipe delivers a rich tomato sauce with classic Italian flavors, customizable to suit various dietary preferences, and freezer-friendly for convenient future meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz spaghetti pasta (thin spaghetti noodles)
Tomato Sauce
- 2 cups fresh crushed tomatoes or canned crushed tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 to 1 cup water or vegetable broth (to adjust sauce consistency)
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta: Start by boiling a large pot of salted water. Cook the spaghetti noodles until just al dente, typically around 7 to 8 minutes. Drain well and set aside while you prepare the sauce.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add finely chopped onions and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Next, stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Build the Sauce: Add the tomato paste and cook it for 2 minutes to deepen its flavor. Pour in the fresh crushed tomatoes (or canned if using), then add brown sugar or honey, salt, pepper, and dried herbs. Simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to thicken the sauce and blend the flavors.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: If the sauce feels too thick, gradually stir in water or vegetable broth until it reaches a smooth, spoonable texture that resembles classic Spaghettios sauce.
- Combine and Serve: Stir the cooked spaghetti noodles into the warm sauce, ensuring every bit is coated with the rich tomato goodness. Serve immediately, or keep warm while preparing any sides or garnishes.
Notes
- Use dried herbs over fresh for a more intense flavor during simmering.
- Cook pasta slightly underdone to prevent overcooking when combined with the sauce.
- Simmer sauce low and slow to deepen flavors without breaking down the tomatoes too much.
- Blend the sauce with an immersion blender for a smoother, traditional texture.
- Adjust sweetness carefully by adding sugar or honey gradually to balance acidity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg