This quick and easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce recipe makes a thick and chunky vegan pasta sauce. Get this family-loved dinner on the table in under thirty minutes with this simple recipe.
The onions and peppers in this spaghetti sauce are minced into super tiny pieces, to give a consistency that’s reminiscent of a traditional meat sauce. I bet you don’t even miss the meat in this one.
If you’re a fan of chunky and hearty spaghetti sauces, but don’t want to use something like TVP or ground crumbles every time, this recipe will be perfect for you.
Why This Recipe Works
It helps with cravings – If you find yourself craving meat, but don’t want to eat any, this spaghetti sauce is a great alternative.
You can make it in 30 minutes – There are just a few easy steps and it quickly comes together in just half an hour.
You get a large batch – Each recipe gives you 12 servings to feed your hungry crew. We typically serving about ½ cup per serving.
🍅 Ingredients
All you need is eight ingredients to make this homemade vegan spaghetti sauce. Can you believe how easy it is? Let’s talk about what you need:
Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes: Part of the reason this homemade spaghetti sauce is so incredible is because of the fire roasted tomatoes. They add a strong and lovely flavor.
Onions: Mince up a large yellow onion. It will add a lot of flavors and give a great texture too.
Peppers: Bell peppers taste fabulous is this spaghetti sauce. We usually use green pepper, but you could go with any color you like.
🧅 Instructions
You’ll be amazed by how little effort you have to put into making this. Just don’t tell anyone! Follow these easy steps, and you’ll be devouring a big plate of vegan spaghetti sauce in no time:
Step One: Begin by heating olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Sauté the onions and green peppers and then season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook, occasionally stirring for five minutes or so.
Step Two: Mix in the garlic and continue cooking for two minutes.
Step Three: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, water, salt, and pepper. Then reduce the heat to medium-low and cover with a lid. Allow the spaghetti sauce to simmer for 15-20 minutes.
Note: Stir occasionally, so it doesn’t burn to the bottom of the pan.
That’s it! All you need to do now is grab a fork, pour it over some noodles and dig into this amazing dinner.
📌 Expert Tips
- It’s freezer friendly. Just wait until it cools down and then freeze it in an airtight container. I’ve kept it in my freezer for about a month with no issues. Another tip, if you’re planning on freezing this sauce, maybe double the recipe to get more mileage out of your time.
- The smaller the better. Mince the onion and pepper into very small pieces. As they cook down, they’ll get even smaller and make a nice hearty sauce that is reminiscent of a traditional meat sauce.
- Enhance the flavors. If you have the time, simmer it low and slow to bring out the flavors even more. Just be sure to add a bit more water every now and then to prevent it from drying out. Stir periodically to stop it from burning.
- Use Fresh Tomatoes. Substitute the canned tomatoes with fresh tomatoes. I especially like fresh Roma tomatoes.
- Breadsticks. I recommend making some homemade breadsticks to go with this dish. Super Delish!
- This recipe makes six cups of spaghetti sauce. I like my spaghetti a little on the drier side, so I don’t pour on tons of sauce over the noodles. Each serving of sauce is 1/2 a cup, which also makes this super light on calories.
- Obviously, when you serve it with pasta the calorie count will increase about 200-ish calories. But overall, not too shabby for a pasta dinner!This recipe would be GREAT in “meatball” subs, casseroles and my personal favorite…spinach lasagna roll ups.
Recipe FAQs
You’ll be happy to know you can whip up a batch of this delicious easy homemade spaghetti sauce in around 30 minutes! I know there are many recipes that take hours of simmering, stirring and watching, but this is so much simpler.
Yes, switch out the fire-roasted tomatoes for diced tomatoes if you’d like. The fire-roasted tomatoes add a great flavor to the dish, but if you get a good deal on regular canned tomatoes or just prefer them, it will still be delish. I love how versatile this recipe is.
Yes, absolutely! Making this sauce is a staple in my house because I can save it for later. If it’s stored in an airtight bag or jar, it will last 4-5 days in the refrigerator.
I recommend making a large batch or two and then put it in individual freezer bags or containers. This sauce will easily last a few months in the freezer. Then grab whatever you need to use.
It’s perfect for an easy lunch idea or a quick dinner that’s virtually effortless. You’ll be glad you made it ahead of time.
Reheat the spaghetti sauce on the stovetop by warming it up in a saucepan over medium-high heat. It doesn’t take too long to heat up, so you’ll want to keep a close watch over it.
Another option is to warm up the sauce in the microwave. Put it in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with a paper towel. Heat in one-minute intervals until it’s hot, then enjoy!
Naturally, you can serve this easy homemade sauce over a bed of spaghetti noodles! However, there are lots of other options, and each one is delicious. Take a look at these ideas:
Zoodles – If you are eating low-carb, then using zucchini noodles or another vegetable noodle would be an excellent idea.
Casserole – Any kind of casserole that has a red sauce would be perfect with this sauce. Its flavor goes with all sorts of other ingredients too.
Lasagna – I can never have enough lasagna! Adding my homemade sauce takes it to the next level of amazing!
Mozzarella Sticks – If you don’t always eat vegan and like some cheese in your life, then use this sauce to dip mozzarella sticks in. Let me warn you…it’s highly addictive!
🍄 Variations
I love everything about this sauce, and I’m sure you will too! But I understand if you’re a foodie like I am that sometimes you like to try out some new things too. Here are a few ideas that you can try:
- Olives – Chop up some kalamata olives and add them to the sauce. You’ll be amazed by how much flavor they have. Olives are a perfect addition for virtually everyone.
- Mushrooms – Sauté the mushrooms with the onions and peppers until they are soft. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
- Red Pepper Flakes – Add a sprinkle or two of red pepper flakes if you enjoy a little heat in your sauce. It’s seriously so good!
- Meat – If you don’t always eat vegan, feel free to toss in some meat. While I don’t think you will miss it at all, I understand if you want some extra protein. Ground chicken, pork, or beef are my go-to meats.
- Brown Sugar – I know you may think I’m crazy, but a little bit of brown sugar makes the sauce a little bit sweeter, which I love. Don’t go crazy, just do a couple of teaspoons to start with. Add more if you wish.
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Homemade Vegan Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Large Yellow Onion minced
- 1 Large Green Bell Pepper minced
- 4 Garlic Cloves minced
- 1 ½ tsp Italian Seasoning
- 28 oz Can Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes
- 1 cup Water
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add onion and green bell pepper. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Sauté for five minutes.
- Add minced garlic and sauté for additional two minutes.
- Add crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix in water. Reduce to medium low heat. Cover. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Notes
I recommend making a large batch or two and then put it in individual freezer bags or containers. This sauce will easily last a few months in the freezer. Then grab whatever you need to use. You can use it in the Pasta Freezer Meals perfectly! 🙂
It’s also perfect for an easy lunch idea or a quick dinner that’s virtually effortless. You’ll be glad you made it ahead of time.
Nutrition
Vegan/shmeegan…. this is just plain delicious! Being super carnivorous I was a little leery, but my sister swore by this recipe so I gave it a whirl! The peppers, roasted fire tomatoes were so much better than other just plain tomato sauces Ive tried. And the way it made my kitchen smelll…. heaven! Definitely making this sauce often for our menus!
Perfect for a meatless Monday!! I love how easy this is and the calorie count is nice!