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An easy recipe for gluten-free spaghetti sauce. This delicious homemade spaghetti sauce is rich, hearty, and packed with flavor!
Gluten-Free Spaghetti Sauce
Making homemade gluten-free spaghetti sauce is easier than you think. Having a solid gluten-free spaghetti sauce recipe is essential for any household. Gluten-free spaghetti sauce can be used as a base for so many meals: pasta, pizza, soups, you name it!
This recipe combines simple ingredients and cooks at a low simmer. The simmering of the sauce coaxes out the complex and intense flavors of the ingredients, giving it that satisfying taste and texture that a great spaghetti sauce is known for.
The sauce’s aroma that fills the house as it’s cooking will leave you hovering over the pot in anticipation! Plus by making a big batch and storing the leftovers you’ll save time in the long run. Reheating the sauce is a breeze, so you’ll have delicious homemade spaghetti sauce right at your fingertips. It’s the perfect staple recipe for any weeknight!
The spaghetti sauce is naturally gluten-free and can easily be made vegan and dairy-free. You can see just how easy this gluten-free spaghetti sauce is to make in the detailed recipe step photos below.
Ingredients In Gluten-Free Spaghetti Sauce
- Olive Oil – a good quality olive oil adds an extra layer of flavor to the sauce.
- Onion and Garlic – sautéing the onions and garlic adds depth and enhances their flavors.
- Tomato Paste – gives a more concentrated tomato taste to the sauce. Cooking it with the oil, garlic, and onion will start the caramelization process giving the sauce complexity.
- Tomato Sauce – a delicious spaghetti sauce that starts with good quality tomatoes. San Marzano tomatoes are renowned for their rich taste and slight sweetness, so they would go perfectly in this recipe.
- Diced Tomatoes – if you have picky eaters you can substitute this out for tomato puree.
- Sugar – is essential for balancing out the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Dried Basil and Dried Oregano – dry herbs are added so their flavors can meld into the sauce during the long cooking time.
- Pepper Flakes – adds just the right amount of subtle heat.
- Fresh Parsley – this aromatic herb gives the sauce a burst of freshness.
- Fresh Basil – tastes just as amazing as it smells. It takes this sauce to the next level, giving it that classic homemade taste.
- Butter – the fat in the butter gives a creamy richness to the sauce.
- Salt and Pepper – season it to taste by adding a dash, stirring it well, and then taste it again.
How To Make Gluten-Free Spaghetti Sauce
- Heat a large pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the onion and sauté it until it is translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. (photo 1)
- Add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often. (photo 2)
- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, sugar, dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes. (photo 3)
- Stir the mixture and bring it to a simmer. Allow to simmer on low for 1-2 hours, stirring often. (photo 4)
- Remove from heat and add in fresh basil, fresh parsley, and butter. Stir until combined and the butter has melted. (photo 5)
- Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce until smooth or serve it chunky. (photo 6)
- Season with salt and pepper to taste and store in mason jars or serve over gluten-free spaghetti.
How to cook Gluten-Free Spaghetti?
Cooking gluten-free pasta can be tricky. My favorite brand of gluten-free pasta is Barilla gluten-free. Here are a few tips for cooking gluten-free spaghetti noodles.
- I always salt my water, at least a tablespoon for 1 pound of pasta in 4 quarts (16 cups) water.
- Make sure you fill your pot with lots of water. The extra water will help the gluten-free pasta be less gummy.
- Cook the gluten-free pasta according to the package instructions. So be sure to set a timer when cooking gluten-free pasta.
- Place a wooden spoon over the pot to keep it from overboiling.
- If you are not going to immediately serve the gluten-free pasta, rinse it with cold water in the colander after draining it to keep it from cooking longer and getting mushy.
How to store Gluten-Free Spaghetti Sauce?
This gluten-free spaghetti sauce will store in the refrigerator for up to one week. Spaghetti sauce can badly stain plastic, so store this in an airtight stain-proof container or plastic storage bag instead.
Can I freeze the Gluten-Free Spaghetti Sauce?
This sauce is easy to freeze. Once the sauce has completely cooled place it in an air-tight freezer container or plastic freezer bag. If using a glass container make sure to check that it is freezer safe and leave room for the sauce to expand as it freezes. The sauce can be frozen for up to three months. Defrost the sauce in the refrigerator overnight, or in the microwave.
Tips for making the best Gluten-Free Spaghetti Sauce
- This spaghetti sauce is very versatile and can be used in so many recipes! It is great for Gluten-Free Lasagna, the base for making Gluten-Free Pizza, or even as a dip for Gluten-Free Focaccia and Gluten-Free Mozzarella Sticks!
- You can sneak some extra veggies into the sauce by sautéing some mushrooms, zucchini, or bell peppers and adding them in.
- For a hearty, meaty sauce you can fry up some ground beef, turkey, or Italian sausage.
- Other spices that go well in spaghetti sauce are rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves.
- Parmesan can give the sauce even more of that savory “umami” taste, and a splash of red wine will dissolve the fats in the sauce, giving it a robust and rich flavor.
Ingredients Substitutions For Gluten-Free Spaghetti Sauce
For the dairy-free option: I cook with Smart Balance, but you can use your favorite brand of dairy-free butter.
For the vegan option: You can use your favorite vegan butter.
Or you can just omit the butter altogether.
What spaghetti sauces are gluten-free?
If you are looking for a shortcut and want to use jarred spaghetti sauce most brands of spaghetti sauces are naturally gluten-free. But please always check your labels, especially for different flavored sauces. Some of my favorite brands of gluten-free spaghetti sauces are Rao’s and Prego.
Easy Gluten-Free Spaghetti Sauce
This is the perfect go-to gluten-free spaghetti sauce recipe. It’s delicious and hearty and can be served over gluten-free pasta or used as a base for a variety of recipes. This gluten-free spaghetti sauce also stores well and can be easily frozen. It’s perfect for busy weeknights.
More Gluten-Free Dinner Recipes For You To Try!
- Gluten-Free Meatballs {Dairy-Free Option}
- Gluten-Free Orange Chicken {Dairy-Free}
- Gluten-Free Meatloaf
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Gluten-Free Spaghetti Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced, Or 4 teaspoons of minced garlic.
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 15-ounce cans diced tomatoes in juice
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon pepper flakes
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter, Use your favorite dairy-free or vegan butter, or you can omit it.
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the diced onion and sauté until translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, sugar, dried oregano, dried basil, and red pepper flakes.
- Stir the mixture and bring it to a simmer. Allow to simmer on low for 1-2 hours, stirring often.
- Remove from heat and add in fresh basil, fresh parsley, and butter. Stir until combined and the butter has melted.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce until smooth or serve it chunky.
- Season to taste and store in mason jars or serve over gluten-free spaghetti.
Notes
- For dairy-free/vegan options: use your favorite dairy-free or vegan butter, or just omit it.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Spaghetti sauce can badly stain plastic, so store this in an airtight stain-proof container or plastic storage bag instead.
- To Freeze: Once the sauce has completely cooled place it in an air-tight freezer container or plastic freezer bag. If using a glass container make sure to check that it is freezer safe and leave room for the sauce to expand as it freezes. The sauce can be frozen for up to three months. Defrost the sauce in the refrigerator overnight, or in the microwave.
- Mama says, “Please check all of your labels!”
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
