Turn Your Canned Tomatoes Into A Quick Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

Here’s an idea for using your pantry staples to make a last minute spaghetti sauce to serve over pasta. If you don’t have a jar of Ragu or Prego around, then a can of diced tomatoes, a can of tomato paste and a few spices will do the trick. If you have a jar of the diced tomatoes that are Italian Style, it will be even easier.

Idea #1 for Quick Spaghetti Sauce
1 – 6 oz can tomato paste
1 – tomato paste can of water (equal to 2/3 cup of water)
1 – 14.5 oz can Italian flavored diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion (optional)

Put the tomato paste and the water in a small sauce pan and stir until well combined. Then stir in the can of Italian style diced tomatoes, and the minced onion if using. Simmer on the stove for 10 to 15 minutes so the sauce is heated through. Serve over cooked spaghetti or other pasta.

Idea #2 for Quick Spaghetti Sauce
1 – 6 oz can tomato paste
1 – tomato paste can of water (equal to 2/3 cup of water)
1 – 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon prepared minced garlic (sold in small jars)

Put the tomato paste and the water in a small sauce pan and stir until well combined. Then stir in the can of diced tomatoes. Finally stir in the spices and minced garlic. Simmer on the stove for 10 to 15 minutes so the sauce is heated through and the spices have a chance to mingle. Serve over cooked spaghetti or other pasta.

OTHER NOTES:

• Some people also like to add a teaspoon or two of sugar to homemade tomato based sauces to cut down on the acidity. I cut back on sugar wherever possible so I skip that step.
• Although there are already seasonings in the Italian style tomatoes, you can still add extra spices or minced garlic to punch it up a bit.
• Garlic powder or garlic salt could also be substituted for the minced garlic.