I am all for making a great pasta sauce from scratch, but sometimes there is just no time for all of that! I love a hearty meat sauce and I have found some really great marinara sauces that come in a jar. Nine times out of ten when I make spaghetti I do a semi-homemade sauce and then “church it up” as John would describe. So for those times when you just don't have time to go through the process here is how to make the best jar spaghetti sauce taste homemade.
Set a medium-sized Dutch oven on the stove on medium-high heat and add about a tablespoon of olive oil. Next roughly chop a medium-sized sweet onion and add it to the Dutch oven. You can find my exact 5.5 quart dutch oven here.
Next, chop one bell pepper of any color and add it to the onions.
Season the onion and bell pepper combo with 1 TB of garlic and 1Tb of Italian spices.When the onions are translucent and fragrant (about 5 minutes) add one pound of lean ground beef or turkey.While the meat is browning, add the other 1TB of roasted garlic and 1 TB of Italian Seasoning. When the meat is cooked completely, drain if necessary. After, add your favorite jar of marinara sauce. I like the Thrive Market Organic Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce. Don't be a crazy person like me and wear a white top to make marina sauce… One day I will learn!After you stir in your favorite jar of sauce, let the sauce simmer for a few minutes. Now it's time for the good part. Either layer up your sauce in a serving bowl with all of your noodles or serve up plates individually. Top with a little bit of parsley are you have a jar of pasta sauce that tastes homemade.
Semi-Homemade Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- One Medium Sweet Onion
- One Bell Pepper
- 1 lb Lean Ground Beef or Turkey
- 2 TB Italian Spices
- 1 TB Roasted Granulated Garlic
- Your Favorite Jar of Pasta Sauce
- 1 TB olive oil
Instructions
Set a medium sized Dutch oven on the stove on medium high heat.
Olive oil to dutch oven.
Roughly chop onion and add to the dutch oven.
Roughly chop bell pepper add to the dutch oven.
Add 1TB of Italian spices and 1TB of roasted garlic to the onion and bell pepper mixture.
After the onions are translucent and fragrant (about 5 minutes) add the ground meat.
Brown the ground meat and add the remainder of the Italian spices and roasted garlic.
After the meat is browned and cooked thoroughly, add your favorite jar of pasta sauce.
Allow sauce to simmer for a few minutes and serve over pasta!