HomeMain DishesSouthern Spaghetti Sauce
Southern Spaghetti Sauce
This Southern Spaghetti Sauce is loaded with meat and is super thick. It's just like my grandmother made it. Freezes well.
- Prep10 min
- Cook45 min
- Total55 min
- Serves6
- Rating4.9

Southern Spaghetti Sauce is a thick, flavorful sauce with lots of ground beef, onion, and bell pepper. It has a hint of sweetness to it which really brings out the tomato flavor. Freezes well.

This spaghetti sauce is one of my favorite comfort foods to make and it reminds me of the sauce my grandmother used to make. It was always a treat when we got it because my grandmother only knew how to cook two things that I’m aware of- spaghetti sauce and shrimp salad. It’s very thick and full of ground beef, onions, and bell peppers. A hefty spoonful of sugar adds some sweetness and cuts any bitterness in the tomatoes. Two whole cans of tomato paste give it an extra intense flavor.
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *Email *I like this sauce so much, I have been known to skip the pasta and just eat a bowl full of sauce with a spoon. With lots of Parmesan cheese on top- the kind in the green can. Usually I prefer fresh Parmesan on things, but maybe since I grew up eating spaghetti sauce like this one with grated Parmesan out of a can, it’s just what I crave.
Childhood food memories are the best aren’t they?
How To Make
(More detailed instructions and video in recipe card below.)
- Brown the ground beef. Drain the fat.
- Add onion and green pepper and cook until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, seasonings, and water.
- Simmer 30 minutes.
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Freeze For Later
This sauce freezes really well and I’ll often make a double batch of it and freeze half for a second meal.

More Italian Dinners
Watch the short video below to see how easy this sauce is to make.
Recipe Source: adapted from Paula Deen
Ingredients
Steps
- 1
Brown beef in a large heavy bottomed pot. Drain fat.
- 2
Add onion and green pepper and sauté until onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds.
- 3
Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, seasonings, and water.
- 4
Simmer 30 minutes.
Notes
Note: If you're nervous about the amount of sugar, start with 1/2 tablespoon and add more if desired.
This recipe freezes well.
Nutrition
- Calories253
- Carbs23
- Protein28
- Fat6
- Sodium1281
- Fiber5
- Sugar14
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