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Great Grandma’s Pasta Sauce has been passed down through the generations and it originated from a friend’s Italian great great grandmother. It is the most delicious, rich, flavorful, pasta sauce I’ve ever had in my entire life and I can’t wait for you to try it!
What makes great grandma’s pasta sauce so special?
My friend told me that for every Christmas and get together, his grandmother used to make her famous pasta dish.
It’s made with this homemade pasta sauce that simmers on the stove for hours.
This pasta sauce is like liquid gold.
It’s the most delicious, rich, flavorful, pasta sauce I’ve ever had in my entire life.
This pasta sauce was actually from his great grandmother who came over from Italy. YOU KNOW it’s good when it’s from a legit Italian. Not some Chef Boyardee character.
The secret to this sauce is the simmering process.
Low and slow, baby. That’s how all the flavors develop and marry one another in a sweet, luscious concoction.
If you want to taste what the Italians are so blessed with over in Italy, I suggest you give this pasta sauce a try. You won’t ever go back to your plain ‘ol marinara that you thought was good. This sauce here is genius.
And genuine.
Don’t hate on great grandma’s pasta sauce
As you can see in the comments section below, there was some haterade on this pasta sauce.
There is a multitude of ways to make pasta sauce. I am not claiming this is THE right and ONLY way to make it.
This is how his family makes it.
If this isn’t the way “your” Italian grandmother or mother or whatever makes it…please don’t yell at me and tell me so.
Recipes are passed down from generations for a reason.
Every recipe is different. Every recipe is modified for each family.
There no “right” way to make something. That is why recipes bring such joy in the kitchen; they can be changed up.
I’m bringing this up because of comments I’ve gotten about this recipe and thus have turned off commenting for that very reason.
This pasta sauce is so easy to make!
You literally need the most basic of ingredients:
- Ground beef
- Tomato puree
- Garlic
- Spices
- Fresh basil
- Water
Can I freeze this pasta sauce?
To be honest, I haven’t tried to freeze this before but I know others who have and it’s fine! I would put it in one of those plastic takeout containers and reheat on the stovetop (like defrost it then plop it into a saucepan).
Can this pasta sauce be made in the slow cooker?
Technically, yes, because the idea is to cook it low and slow. I haven’t done it myself but I know others have done it so I’d put it on low for 3-4 hours!
So many great recipes that you could use great grandma’s pasta sauce recipe in:
Grab the recipe for great grandma’s pasta sauce below and be prepared to get wrapped up in comfort!
Great Grandma’s Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454 g) 80/20 ground beef OR 90/10 ground beef
- 6 ounce (170 g) can tomato paste
- 6 ounce (170 ml) water
- 24 ounce (680 g) jar tomato puree
- 5–6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- Pinch of dried oregano
- Pinch of onion powder
- Pinch of garlic powder
- Handful of fresh basil, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large stockpot, saute garlic until soft and fragrant in 2 tbsp. of olive oil, about 2 minutes.
- Throw your meat in with the garlic and brown until meat has been thoroughly cooked through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour in the tomato paste, tomato puree, and seasoning, including the fresh basil and sugar. Stir to mix well. With the 6 oz. can from the tomato paste, fill that with water and pour it in the stockpot as well.
- Let mixture simmer, uncovered, for 2 or more hours (the longer the better, but minimum 2 hours), stirring occasionally.
- Serve hot over fresh pasta.
Notes
Nutrition
Photography by Jesse Reilly
UGH. I love pasta. I love this.
Oh my goodness — these photos are stunning!!! And this sauce sounds absolutely amazing. YUM!
Give me a straw- I’m gonna drink that down!!
Passed down recipes are always the best. And this pasta sauce is definite proof of that. YUM!
This looks simply perfect. An Italian family, I bet they have some amazing culinary secrets!
I would eat that with a spoon. No pasta, just give me a spoon and maybe a hunk of bread to sop up whatever the spoon can’t get. It looks awesome!
Recipes that are passed down are the best! And this sauce looks amazing. I’m totally going to double this batch and freeze it so I can have it ready whenever I’m having a hankering for Italian food! YUM!
I have been making my own pasta sauce for 40 years, never the same way twice and it always comes up lacking something. So i am in pursuit of my favorite recipe for keeps. There is not much to your version, a pinch of the classics, lots of garlic and sorry, its a peeve of mine, s and p to taste. Could you be more specific? Is your pinch 1/8 tsp? I love tomatoes and im thinking the pleasure of this sauce lies in simplicity, no bitter over cooked herbs, just delicious tomatoe goodness. Do you have a favorite brand of canned tomatoes. Thank You for a great blog!
Salt and pepper really is to taste, though. 1 tsp might be too salty for someone and not enough for someone else. I’d start with 1/8 of a tsp for salt and pepper and increase if it’s not right for you :) I use San Marzano tomato paste and tomato purée. Hope it works out for you! Thanks for reading :)
EVERY RECIPE should, & usually is salt & pepper to taste! Maybe those pre- boxed meals would be good for you if you need exact measurements on s&p! Anywho, I grew up next door to an Italian woman, who cane straight from Italy, & this reminds me of her recipe(besides the groundbeef, she did meatballs). I remember waiting for what seemed like ALL DAY for it to simmer to perfection, LOL, delicious!
Homemade pasta sauce is the best best best! I am craving pasta, and tomato sauce.
I am so happy that you posted this because I NEED to teach myself how to make Pasta Sauce! I only use canned right now……..I know.. I know… bad bad me. But this looks wonderful! AND no pepper and onions! So hubby can eat it! (onion powered is ok lol)
Ps. I too wish I could live off of pasta, rice, and cookies!