Healthy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (2024)

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This healthy spaghetti sauce recipe is quick and easy! Fresh basil, olive oil, onions, garlic, and no added sugar make this recipe one of my favorites to make for my family.

I love how quickly this recipe comes together, and how it can be tweaked for your specific tastes–you can add red pepper to make it spicy, Parmesan cheese to make it cheesy, or even some red wine.

This homemade spaghetti sauce recipe is healthier than store bought sauce because it contains no preservatives, sugar, or highly processed oils.

Healthy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (1)

Where’s the recipe?

Here at My Crazy Good Life, we write recipes so that anyone can make them. Whether this is the first time you’ve followed a recipe or you’ve been cooking for your entire life, you’ll have no problem following this recipe.

To read all of the detailed instructions including recipe tips, ingredient and substitute information, or special counts for healthy eating plans, you’ll want to read the article below. To skip right to the quick instructions, scroll down to the bottom of the article to the printable recipe for this Healthy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce.

Table of Contents

Ingredients needed for this Healthy Spaghetti Sauce

  • Olive Oil If you don’t have olive oil, any unprocessed oil will do.
  • Red Onion I prefer red for this recipe, but you can use any onion you have on hand
  • Fresh Garlic
  • Tomato Paste This helps to thicken the sauce
  • Canned Whole Tomatoes If you’re not a fan of chunky tomato sauce, you can blend these. You could also use fresh tomatoes if you prefer.
  • Honey (optional) You can use any sweetener you prefer, or none at all
  • Fresh Basil Fresh will taste best, but if all you have is dry that’s ok too!
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

How to make this Spaghetti Sauce

  1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat.
  2. Add diced onion to the hot pot, stirring frequently. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, until the onion is translucent.
  3. If you’d rather have smooth pasta sauce, blend the whole tomatoes in a blender now.
  4. Add tomato paste and garlic. Continuously stir this, if this sticks to the pot it’s a mess to clean up and will burn a little.
  5. Add tomatoes, honey (if using), and salt and black pepper (optional), then bring to a boil (more of a low boil or a simmer). Stir for 3-5 minutes.
  6. Add the chopped basil and stir the sauce. Allow this sauce to simmer for 10-15 minutes or longer if you’d like. The longer it simmers, the better it will taste.
Healthy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (2)

Recipe Tips

  • If you’d like to increase the amount of spicy heat in this recipe, add 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
  • This recipe is naturally gluten free, with no added sugar.
  • Looking for more herbs and spices? Add 1 tbsp of Italian seasoning.
  • If you’d like to add meat to this sauce, you can brown ground beef, ground turkey, or ground Italian sausage before making the recipe and then adding it to the sauce. Use the sauce with meat within 5 days if stored in the fridge.
Healthy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (3)

Healthy Eating Plans

This 21 Day Fix Spaghetti Sauce counts as 1 1/2 Green Container & 1 sweetener teaspoon for 1 cup. If this recipe looks familiar, it’s because it’s very similar to the Fixate Grandma’s Tomato Sauce recipe. The Fixate Spaghetti Sauce recipe has inaccurate counts in the first version or two of the cookbook and I’m aware that my counts above are a little different than the Fixate version–I’m confident in my counts.

For Weight Watchers: 1 cup counts as 3 Points on the 2023 Plan | 6 Freestyle Smart Points | 6 Blue Points | 6 Green Points | 6 Purple Points

Enjoy this sauce recipe in these recipes:

  • Instant Pot Spaghetti
  • Instant Pot Lasagna
  • Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Recipe
  • Lasagna Stacks
  • Mini BBQ Meatloaf Bombs
  • Instant Pot Meatloaf Bites
  • Instant Pot Turkey Goulash Recipe

Healthy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (4)

4.62 from 34 ratings

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Healthy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

Created by: Becca Ludlum

Prep Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 24 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 29 minutes mins

Approximate Serving Size: 1 cup

Servings 4 servings

This healthy spaghetti sauce recipe is delicious and light. It's a 21 Day Fix spaghetti sauce so you can make this for your favorite pasta recipes.

Equipment

  • Stock Pot

  • Kitchen Knife

  • Cutting Board

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 6 oz can tomato paste no salt added
  • 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 2 28 oz cans whole tomatoes peeled
  • 2 tbsp honey or agave
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 3 tbsp basil finely chopped

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat. 2 tbsp olive oil

  • Add onion to the hot pot, stirring frequently. Cook 5 to 6 minutes until the onion is translucent. 1 medium onion

  • Add tomato paste and garlic. Stir often, if this sticks to the pot it makes a mess. Cook for 3-4 minutes. 1 6 oz can tomato paste, 4 cloves garlic

  • Feel free to blend or chop tomatoes to your liking before the next step. If you prefer chunky sauce, leave it as is right out of the can. 2 28 oz cans whole tomatoes

  • Add remaining ingredients (except basil) and bring to a rolling boil. After you boil, reduce the heat and let simmer while stirring for about 3 minutes. 2 tbsp honey, 1/4 tsp black pepper

  • Garnish with the basil and mix together. The longer you let this sauce simmer, the better the tastes blend together. Ideally, let the sauce simmer for 10-15 minutes. 3 tbsp basil

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 52mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 105IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

Make This Recipe?

Make sure to follow on Pinterest @bludlum and on Instagram @beccaludlum

Healthy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (5)

Becca Ludlum

Healthy recipe creator, self-confessed food snob, and certified Level 1 Precision Nutrition Coach. I create healthy recipes with minimally processed ingredients, but have never turned down a homemade brownie. ;)

Healthy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest spaghetti sauce to eat? ›

Our Marinara Sauce Recommendations
  • Best Low-Sodium: Victoria Low-Sodium Marinara Sauce.
  • Best for Garlic Lovers: Barilla Traditional Tomato Sauce.
  • Best for Added Veggies: Ragú Simply Chunky Garden Vegetable.
  • Best Sweeter Sauce: Bertolli Traditional Marinara.
Feb 12, 2024

What is the one ingredient that makes spaghetti sauce so much better? ›

Nutmeg. Nutmeg is the key to boosting earthiness and adding a touch of nuttiness to your spaghetti sauce. Nutmeg also has a slightly sweet flavor, which we know goes great with acidic canned tomatoes. Overall, it accentuates the other ingredients in the sauce and adds complexity.

What can I add to spaghetti to make it healthier? ›

Here's a variety of tasty vegetables you can load into your pasta for their flavor, fiber, and nutrients.
  1. Broccoli. Broccoli is a nutritious and versatile vegetable that makes a great addition to any pasta dish. ...
  2. Mushrooms. ...
  3. Peas. ...
  4. Spinach. ...
  5. Tomatoes. ...
  6. Asparagus.
Apr 11, 2022

What is a healthy substitute for spaghetti sauce? ›

Carrot and Beet Sauce

Similar to marinara but with a different flavor, carrots, and beets offer a ton of nutrition and can be supplemented in many dishes that use tomato sauce. Try sauteeing the vegetables with onion, garlic, and olive oil, then blend to desired texture. Add seasonings to taste.

What is the best healthy sauce? ›

Top 5 Easy + Healthy Sauces
  • Golden Tahini Sauce.
  • Almond Butter Romesco.
  • Green Tahini Sauce.
  • Creamy Garlic Sauce.
Sep 9, 2022

What gives spaghetti sauce the best flavor? ›

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.

What is the secret to good sauce? ›

Starting with good quality tomatoes and crushing them by hand offers great flavor and texture later on. The combination of butter and oil releases fat-soluble aromatics and gives the sauce a creamy texture. Slowly cooking the sauce in the oven creates rich caramelization without burning.

Why do Italians put sugar in spaghetti sauce? ›

It is widely held that Italian immigrants began adding sugar to their sauce to make up for the overly acidic tomatoes they were forced to work with in their new home.

How can I eat spaghetti without gaining weight? ›

Eating simple pasta without any veggies would mean loading up on carbs. Instead, add lots of sautéed veggies to your pasta, such as corn, broccoli, zucchini, bell peppers, onions, olives and jalapeños. This will also reduce your overall consumption of carbs-loaded pasta and increase your fiber intake.

Is there a healthy spaghetti? ›

When eaten in moderation, pasta can be part of a healthy diet. Whole-grain pasta may be a better choice for many, as it is lower in calories and carbs but higher in fiber and nutrients. However, in addition to the type of pasta you pick, what you top it with is just as important.

What spaghetti sauce is closest to homemade? ›

Best Tomato Sauce That Could Pass As Homemade: Rao's

It's a little pricier than the others but considering it could easily pass as homemade, it's worth it.

What can you put on spaghetti instead of tomato sauce? ›

Some options include:
  • **Pesto Sauce:** A flavorful blend of basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil.
  • **Alfredo Sauce:** A creamy sauce made with butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese.
  • **Olive Oil and Garlic Sauce:** Sauté garlic in olive oil for a simple, aromatic alternative.
Jan 26, 2023

What can I use instead of spaghetti sauce for spaghetti? ›

Here are a few ideas:
  • Pesto: A flavorful sauce made from fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, pesto is a popular alternative to tomato-based pasta sauces. ...
  • Alfredo sauce: A creamy, rich sauce made from butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese, Alfredo sauce is a popular choice for pasta dishes.
Aug 3, 2022

Is jarred spaghetti sauce healthy? ›

Like many packaged foods, jarred sauces can be packed with sodium, and getting too much in your diet can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure and, ultimately, cardiovascular disease.

How do you pick a healthy pasta sauce? ›

The healthiest pasta sauces get most of their fat from olive oil (marinara) or olive oil and nuts (pesto), not cream or cheese (alfredo). And the good guys don't pile too much salt or sugar on top of your spaghetti.

Is any spaghetti healthy? ›

When eaten in moderation, pasta can be part of a healthy diet. Whole-grain pasta may be a better choice for many, as it is lower in calories and carbs but higher in fiber and nutrients. However, in addition to the type of pasta you pick, what you top it with is just as important.

What is the best off the shelf spaghetti sauce? ›

Good Brands:
  • Rao's Homemade: Often praised for its rich and authentic flavor.
  • Barilla: Known for producing a wide variety of pasta sauces, offering options for different tastes.
  • Mia's Kitchen: This brand is appreciated for its high-quality ingredients and unique flavors.
Dec 6, 2023

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