I know store-bought spaghetti sauce goes on sale with coupon for under $1 quite often but there is something wholesome about making homemade spaghetti sauce. And it really is so easy. And frugal. And you can freeze it! This week I came across some manager markdown mushrooms for $0.99 – when this happens (which isn’t as often as I’d hope), I believe it is a divine message that I should make spaghetti sauce. You see, we like a lot of mushrooms in our sauce and at $3-4 a pound it can cost as much as the meat. So when I find mushrooms on sale that need a loving home – I adopt them for incredibly low prices and introduce them to some tomatoes and meat. Everyone is happy.
I’ve made this on the stovetop before – just as easily as the slow cooker. But I do like the ease of throwing it all in the crockpot!
INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 pounds ground beef or ground turkey (I used moose meat from my dad in Alaska!)
1 – 2 onions, diced
3 cloves of garlic
2 – 28 oz cans of heavy tomato puree
You can use tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes depending on what’s available and what thickness you like your sauce
1 – 28 oz can of tomato sauce
16 – 24 ounces of fresh sliced mushrooms
We really like mushrooms in our sauce, so we add a lot. You can scale this back a lot, if you want.
1/3 cup dried Oregano
1/8 cup dried Sweet Basil
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sugar
HOW TO PREPARE
1.) Dice onions. Saute in some olive oil in a saute pan on the stove until softened and slightly brown. Toss onions into slow cooker.
2.) Cook up your meat (ground beef or ground turkey) in a pan on the stove. Cook it until it’s completely browned. Drain any excess fat. Toss into slow cooker.
3.) Add the rest of your ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on medium for 6 hours or low for 8-10 hours. You can’t really mess up the cooking times. It’s all going to be cooked when you add it to the slow cooker, so it’s just a matter of flavors blending and it all coming together!
I usually make up a huge batch of this and then freeze it into meal-size servings using my Food Saver (see photo above from the last time I made some up for the freezer). Then when we want spaghetti or we need sauce for Eggplant Parmesan or lasagna, we’ll pull it out of the freezer. You just cut the bag open and dump it into the pot to heat it up! Super easy and you know exactly what’s in it.
Shelley says
My brother-in-law makes the best spaghetti sauce. Even I will eat it!
Kristen W. says
My dad makes THE BEST spaghetti sauce! He cooks it forever (prob in the his crock), dishes it up and sends it home with me and my sister….love!
Mommy Crafts says
I tweeted about this GIVEAWAY!
https://twitter.com/TheWorthys/status/263551161443950592
#2
Mommy Crafts says
I love my mom’s spaghetti but I’m getting pretty good at it too!
Patsy Fernandez says
My husband makes the best spaghetti sauce in our house
Laura says
Thanks for the giveaway!
Lisa says
My mom makes the best!
Erica says
Shared with friends! Thank you Queen Bee…you rock!
Erica says
Making spaghetti sauce must be a Dad thing because my Dad does it best too!
Tawnya says
My mom made the best spaghetti sauce!
LisaAnn says
I personally have never had homemade spaghetti sauce. But I would love to try this. I am however a devoted Grocery Outlet shopper. The store has so many new things to try.
Dana says
Shared this awesome giveaway with friends.
Dana says
Not big spaghetti fans but we love some alfredo sauce “:)
Rebecca says
Shared on Facebook.
Rebecca says
I’m not sure who makes the best spaghetti sauce in my family, but I will say probably my uncle, since he is an ex-chef.
Adrienne says
My favorite sauce-onista is my Granny. Her spaghetti sauce never disappoints. 🙂
Jennifer says
Shared with my BFF on her Facebook wall.
Jennifer says
Of course I make the best sauce. 😉
Georgia says
Shared this give away by texting.
Georgia says
My husband makes the best spaghetti. I am not sure if it is because he does it better, or because I did not have to cook that night.
Kelly says
My mom makes the best sauce! Actually she is the best cook ever!
Malissa says
My soon to be mother in law. I don’t know what she does, but it is so good 🙂
Donna says
I have a friend Judi that makes the best sauce. She slow cooks the sauce all day! Maybe I should go visit Judi!
Pat Hoffmeister says
I shared the sweepstakes on facebook.
Pat Hoffmeister says
I make the spaghetti sauce based on a Big Boy Copycat.
Renata McCulloch says
I use to make my own sauce before I started working outside the home.
Diana says
My dad also makes the best pasta sauce. I have tried once and it turned out too salty. I have wanted to try again but I have not had the guts! Thanks for the giveaway!
Melissa A. says
I emailed my mom about this giveaway
Melissa A. says
My husband makes the best spaghetti
joy to the world says
I shared this giveaway with my sister via word of mouth!
joy to the world says
My mom makes the best spaghetti in our family. It’s one of my favorite meals!
Bethany says
I shared this giveaway by word of mouth- oooooooo! I hope I win!!
Bethany says
My late father-in-law made the best spaghetti sauce but he was full blooded Sicilian!
Bevel says
Shared w/ a friend via email.
Bevel says
My dad goes psycho with his sauce and puts in things like celery and brown sugar, ground beef, and some canned sauce (different kinds – one Italian sausage, etc.). He lets it cook for hours on the stove. It’s great.
Shana E. says
My Mom always made the best spaghetti and meatballs.
jess says
My dad makes the best spaghetti sauce on the planet! It takes him 2 days to get it “just right”
Tanya T says
My hubby makes the best spaghetti sauce in our family.
Rachael says
I am with you, I love love love mushrooms in my spaghetti sauce!!!!
Kat says
I’ve never tried making my own spaghetti sauce – I’ll have to give it a shot 🙂
Leia says
shared on FB! Thank you!
Leia says
My mama makes the best spaghetti sauce because no matter what i do to match… it just doesnt taste right!
Bobbe Simpson says
I like mine made with ground beef and turkey sausage along with spices and tomatoes and sauce.
Angela says
I’ve been thinking about trying Grocery Outlet….thanks for the info!
Beth Johnson says
Shared on Facebook!
Beth Johnson says
My brother’s wife made the best sauce in our family. I miss her.
Katrina says
Nobody in my family makes spaghetti sauce but me. Mine is just doctored up from the can so even I don’t really make it homemade.
marin says
my mom makes the best homemade spaghetti sauce – loaded with flavor and freezes well.
jessica sunshine says
My grandma always made the best spaghetti. She said that she added cinnamon and love!
Kelli says
I shared on facebook!!
Cj says
I shared to my friends