Quick Weeknight Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

1 pound ground beef, ground turkey, or ground pork (or a combination)
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon coarse, kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
8-ounce can tomato sauce
1-2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
Hot, cooked noodles, for serving
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)


In a large 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground meat, onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks, until the meat is not longer pink.
Drain any excess grease.
Stir in the tomato paste, basil, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, for about a minute, until the mixture smells fragrant.
Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, brown sugar and soy sauce. Stir to combine.
Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes (or as long as you like/need).
Serve over hot, cooked noodles.
NOTES:

To get a full spaghetti meal on the table fast, cook the noodles while you make the sauce. It probably goes without saying, but you could use ground sausage, if that’s your preference, or experiment making this meatless. Also, I won’t tell if you decide to opt for 1/2 or so teaspoon garlic powder in place of the minced, fresh garlic.

Like I mention in the post above, since the recipe calls for two tablespoons of tomato paste, you can freeze the remaining tomato sauce (from a can) to use later OR look for the tomato paste in the squeezable tubes (life changing!).

This sauce is obviously delicious as a quick spaghetti meal, but it’s also wonderful subbed in a multitude of pasta dishes, like this manicotti or these lasagna rolls.