How to Turn Store Bought Pasta Sauce into Delicious Homemade Sauce

Sep 14 | Recipes

Expecting company for dinner? Impress your guests and be a kitchen superstar by turning store bought pasta sauce into homemade sauce in 5 easy steps!

Making homemade pasta sauce does not have to be difficult. Especially if you “cheat” a little by using store bought jar sauce along with some other fabulous ingredients. That’s how my dad does it and it’s always delicious! I’m here today to give away his secrets so that you can turn a jar of store bought pasta sauce into a mouthwatering “homemade” pasta sauce.

Here’s how to turn jar sauce into homemade sauce in 5 easy steps:

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 jars pasta sauce – I like the “plain” ones with only basil added best.
• 1 lb cooked ground beef
• 2 cups shredded zucchini – optional, but I like to add because it adds some veggies in “disguise”
• 1 large carrot – shredded
• 1 can mushrooms – optional
• 1/2 an onion – chopped
• 1/4 cup Italian Dressing
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp parsley
• 1 tsp basil

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook ground beef and chopped onion together in a large pot until meat is cooked through.
2. Shred zucchini and carrots while beef is cooking.
3. Add the zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, sauce, dressing and spices to the cooked ground beef.
4. Stir together.
5. Simmer over low heat for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Serve over spaghetti noodles (or any pasta you like) or use in other dishes like lasagna. I usually like to freeze half of this batch for later use as a quick and easy meal. Bonus!

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Homemade Pasta Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 jars pasta sauce - I like the "plain" ones with only basil added best
• 1 lb cooked ground beef
• 2 cups shredded zucchini - optional but I like to add because it adds some veggies in "disguise"
• 1 large carrot - shredded
• 1 can mushrooms - optional
• 1/2 an onion - chopped
• 1/4 cup Italian Dressing
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp parsley
• 1 tsp basil

Instructions

1. Cook ground beef and chopped onion together in a large pot until meat is cooked through.
2. Shred zucchini and carrots while beef is cooking.
3. Add the zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, sauce, dressing and spices to the cooked ground beef.
4. Stir together.
5. Simmer over low heat for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.