Home Canned Spaghetti Sauce Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes

Learn how to make home canned spaghetti sauce the easy way by following these simple steps. This delicious, savory pasta sauce is the perfect topping for many pasta dishes, not just spaghetti. Looking for a fabulous way to use a bountiful tomato crop? Want to know how to easily make good use of your harvest? You’re in the right place. Keep reading for the best, garden-fresh, home-canned spaghetti sauce recipe with fresh tomatoes. Update: This recipe is also an excellent way to use frozen tomatoes as well! Read on to get started.

How to Make spaghetti sauce pinterest image

Advantages of Making Home Canned Spaghetti Sauce

In addition to being a great way to use a large quantity of fresh tomatoes, there are other advantages to making your own home canned spaghetti sauce. There are a lot of different varieties of canned spaghetti sauce brands out there. Some prefer chunky spaghetti sauce, others prefer smooth spaghetti sauce. A sweeter sauce is a favorite in our family, but some might prefer a less sweet flavor. When you make your own canned spaghetti sauce, you can adjust the texture and flavor to suit your personal tastes. Are you in favor of canning spaghetti sauce with a variety of vegetables? It’s a great opportunity to sneak some extra vegetables into your family’s meals. This canned spaghetti sauce will be better than any you could buy in the store, and you will know exactly what has gone into it.

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Home Canned Spaghetti Sauce Equipment

If you want to learn how to pressure can spaghetti sauce, there are some things that will make it a lot easier. Just as when I make my easy home canned salsa recipe, I wouldn’t attempt this recipe without the following items, which are essential to a smooth canning process. The first item is my trusty 22-quart Pressure Canner and Cooker. With this, I can process up to 7 quarts of spaghetti sauce at one time.

The second essential item is my 5-Piece Home Canning Kit, which I have had for at least 20 years. I dreaded canning before I made this purchase because I made such a mess all over the kitchen. The tools in the set, especially the funnel, have cut down on the canning mess immensely. I am also able to safely handle the hot jars using the tongs, lid lifter, jar wrench, and jar lifter. I would have given up canning long ago were it not for these tools. They have made that much of a difference.

You’ll also need canning jars and lids, which you can buy together. I prefer to use the wide-mouth jars since my home canned spaghetti sauce recipe is so chunky.

If you already have jars and screw bands, you can also just buy more lids.

To make the spaghetti sauce smoother and thicker, use an immersion blender.

You will also need a large (at least 10 quart) stockpot.

Home Canned Spaghetti Sauce Ingredients

20 pounds ripe tomatoes (about 60 medium-sized)

2 cups butternut squash, yellow squash, or zucchini (optional)

5 green bell peppers

5 large onions

16-20 cloves of garlic (more or less to taste)

3 tablespoons dried basil

2 tablespoons dried oregano

1 cup brown sugar (or to taste)

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons salt

2 8-ounce cans tomato paste

7 tablespoons lemon juice

How to Make canned spaghetti sauce fresh vegetables

Home Canned Spaghetti Sauce Instructions

Chop tomatoes. I use unpeeled tomatoes, but if you prefer to peel your tomatoes, read further to get the simple tips about how to peel tomatoes easily. Add the tomatoes to the stockpot gradually as you chop them, heating on medium.

How to Make canned spaghetti sauce chopped tomatoes

Peel, chop and remove the seeds from the squash, if using. Add to the stockpot. Chop the peppers and onions coarsely and add to the stockpot. If you like, you may process the onions and peppers in a food processor to chop even more finely.  Peel and chop the garlic and add it to the stockpot. Add all of the other ingredients except the lemon juice and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn the heat down to medium low and simmer the mixture gently for about 30 minutes.

While the sauce is simmering, get out the pressure canner and start heating the water. Place the quart jars in the water to warm them. Using a small sauce pan, heat water on low and warm the canning lids.

When the sauce has simmered for 30 minutes or more, the squash, peppers and onions should be cooked and softened. Using an immersion blender, puree the spaghetti sauce to a smooth consistency.

How to Make spaghetti sauce simmering sauce

Using the tongs from your canning kit, if you have them, remove jars from hot water and place in a sink. Remove the spaghetti sauce from the heat and place on a cutting board next to the sink for ease of filling the jars. Place 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into each jar. Using a jar funnel (if you have one) and ladle, fill the quart jars with spaghetti sauce, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace. Wipe each jar rim with a damp cloth and attach the warm lids with the screw bands. Place the jars in the pressure canner. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to seal the canner, then process the jars for 15 minutes at 11 pounds of pressure.

Makes about 7 quarts.

spaghetti sauce featured image

Home Canned Spaghetti Sauce Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes

Learn how to make home canned spaghetti sauce the easy way by following these simple steps. This delicious, savory pasta sauce is the perfect topping for many pasta dishes, not just spaghetti.
5 from 7 votes
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Processing Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course Main Course, Sauce
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 56
Calories 45 kcal

Equipment

  • Pressure Canner
  • Canning set (optional)
  • 7 quart-sized canning jars, lids, and bands
  • Immersion Blender (optional)
  • Large Stockpot

Ingredients
  

  • 20 pounds  ripe tomatoes (about 60 medium-sized)
  • 2 cups butternut squash, yellow squash, or zucchini, seeded and chopped (optional)
  • 5 green bell peppers
  • 5 large onions
  • 16-20 cloves of garlic, chopped (more or less to taste)
  • 3 tablespoons dried basil
  • 2 tablespoons dried oregano
  • 1 cup brown sugar (or to taste)
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • tablespoons salt (more or less to taste)
  • 2 8 ounce cans tomato paste
  • 7 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Chop tomatoes. Add the tomatoes to the stockpot gradually as you chop them, heating on medium.
  • Peel, chop and remove the seeds from the squash, if using. Add to the stockpot
  • Chop the peppers and onions coarsely and add to the stockpot.
  •  Peel and chop the garlic and add it to the stockpot.
  • Add all of the other ingredients except the lemon juice and bring the mixture to a boil.
  • Turn the heat down to medium low and simmer the mixture gently for about 30 minutes.
  • While the sauce is simmering, get out the pressure canner and start heating the water. Place the quart jars in the water to warm them. Using a small sauce pan, heat water on low and warm the canning lids.
  • When the sauce has simmered for 30 minutes or more, the squash, peppers and onions should be cooked and softened. Using an immersion blender, puree the spaghetti sauce to a smooth consistency.
  • Using the tongs from your canning kit, if you have them, remove jars from hot water and place in a sink. Remove the spaghetti sauce from the heat and place on a cutting board next to the sink for ease of filling the jars.
  • Place 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into each jar. Using a jar funnel (if you have one) and ladle, fill the quart jars with spaghetti sauce, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace. Wipe each jar rim with a damp cloth and attach the warm lids with the screw bands.
  • Place the jars in the pressure canner. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to seal the caner, then process the jars for 15 minutes at 11 pounds of pressure.

Notes

Each one-quart jar contains 8 one-cup servings.
Keyword easy recipes, sauce, vegetables

Home Canned Spaghetti Sauce Uses

There are many ways to use this canned homemade spaghetti sauce. Of course, you can serve it the classic way with spaghetti noodles. You can create a gluten-free meal by serving the homemade spaghetti sauce over cooked spaghetti squash. For a meaty spaghetti sauce, just add some cooked ground beef. (I like to cook my ground beef ahead of time in large batches to save time and money.) If you like to make lasagna, this sauce would be the perfect substitute for marinara sauce. Just add ground beef, if you like, and use as the easy recipe directs. You could also use this homemade canned spaghetti sauce as a dipping sauce for breadsticks. The home-canned spaghetti sauce may be used in any recipe that calls for marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce.

Home Canned Spaghetti Sauce Variations

To make your canned spaghetti sauce even better, you can add different ingredients. If you want to increase the variety of chunky items, you could add canned mushrooms to your sauce. Cooked carrots might be another option. You could also change up the seasonings. Try adding a bit of thyme and rosemary or adjust the amount of oregano and basil. The possibilities for canned spaghetti sauce additions are many. Be creative and see what happens. The best canned spaghetti sauce you ever make might happen by accident. These ideas also work well if you are wondering how to doctor up canned spaghetti sauce you purchase from the store.

To Peel or Not to Peel

In this recipe for home canned spaghetti sauce, I choose not to peel the fresh tomatoes to save time. If you wish to peel your tomatoes, just wash them and place in boiling water for about one minute. When you remove the tomatoes with a slotted spoon, immediately plunge them into ice water. The skins should split and remove easily. I don’t mind keeping the tomato skins in my homemade canned spaghetti sauce recipe. After using the immersion blender to thicken and smooth the sauce, the peels aren’t very noticeable. Also, I usually opt for the quickest cooking method that will give me good results. No one seems to mind the tomato peels in my home, but your situation may be different. Whatever you do will be fine. Just remember to add the tomato paste when you are cooking if you want to thicken the canned tomato spaghetti sauce. Using the immersion blender will thicken the sauce as well.

Can You Use Canned Tomatoes?

Canning spaghetti sauce with canned tomatoes works the same way as using fresh tomatoes. It’s definitely faster, because you don’t have to spend as much time chopping. Also, if you are not a fan of leaving the peels on the tomatoes, the canned tomatoes are already peeled.

How Long Does Canned Spaghetti Sauce Last?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture website, canned tomato products such as spaghetti sauce will keep well on a shelf for about a year. The acidity of the tomatoes combined with the addition of lemon juice helps keep the homemade canned spaghetti sauce from going bad. In addition, also according to information on the website, pressure canning homemade spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes yields a more nutritious product than boiling water canning. The canned spaghetti sauce shelf life will be extended if the canning jars are stored in a cool, dry place like a pantry.

Are You Now Craving Homemade Canned Spaghetti Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes?

Ready to try this easy homemade canned spaghetti sauce recipe? The fresh tomatoes really are the star of the show. If you try this home canned spaghetti sauce recipe, let me know and I’ll feature a photo on Instagram. I love it when people try the recipes I share.

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Have fun making this homemade canned spaghetti sauce recipe with fresh tomatoes. May all of your healthy home canning endeavors meet with great success!

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22 thoughts on “Home Canned Spaghetti Sauce Recipe with Fresh Tomatoes”

  1. Has this recipe been tested? It’s close to mine, so I’d love to use it for canning, but want to make sure it’s been deemed safe 🙂

    Reply
    • Yes, it has been tested many times. The addition of lemon juice makes it acidic enough to be shelf stable, according to USDA guidelines.

      Reply
  2. Can I do the water bath method with this recipe? If so for how long? I don’t have a pressure canner.

    Reply
    • You can make homemade spaghetti sauce in a water bath canner. Just increase the lemon juice to 2 tablespoons per quart jar and process for 45 minutes in the boiling water canner.

      Reply
  3. The lemon juice is added just before filling jars I gather..”please correct me if I’m in error.

    Reply
    • You are correct! Good catch. I’ve added that into the canned spaghetti sauce recipe instructions. Thank you!

      Reply
  4. 5 stars
    This home canned spaghetti sauce recipe looks amazing! I love that I know exactly what is in it to feed to my family! Looking forward to lots of pasta this winter!

    Reply
    • Oh, excellent! I hope your family loves this home canned spaghetti sauce.

      Reply
  5. 5 stars
    This home canned spaghetti sauce recipe is great. I love the different vegetables included as well as tomatoes to provide lots of flavour. It’s so much healthier than store bought sauces and cheaper too!

    Reply
    • Yes, I agree. It’s definitely worth the time to stock the pantry with homemade canned spaghetti sauce.

      Reply
  6. I love having fresh pasta sauce as it makes all the world of difference to an Italian dish. This tomato sauce looks lovely!

    Reply
    • Thank you! Yes, a fresh pasta sauce adds a lot of unique flavor to any pasta dish.

      Reply
  7. 5 stars
    I make so much pasta sauce but I’ve never thought of making my own canned sauce! Thank you so much for this home canned spaghetti sauce recipe, and for the necessary equipment to make the process easier. I’ll be trying this soon!

    Reply
    • I’m so glad! I’d love to know how your home canned spaghetti sauce turns out.

      Reply
  8. 5 stars
    I love to make home canned spaghetti sauce. It’s nice to be able to pull food from your pantry and cook for your family. This is a great recipe with lots of good spices and herbs.

    Reply
    • Thank you! Yes, I always feel good about harvesting fresh produce from the garden.

      Reply
  9. 5 stars
    Oh this makes me so hungry for pasta 😍. Cannot wait to try it out!

    Reply
  10. 5 stars
    Thanks for sharing this home canned spaghetti sauce recipe, Lisa! It looks easy to make and delicious! I love your recipes and ideas!

    Reply
    • Oh, thank you for your kind words. I’ve really tried to make the most of our garden produce this year.

      Reply
  11. 5 stars
    I have a bunch of canned tomatoes in my pantry I need to use real quick. I’m going to try your recipe with your canned tomato suggestion. Thanks for the tip and I’m already at the grocery store.

    Reply
    • Oh, awesome. Wow, that was fast. I’d love to know how your homemade spaghetti sauce recipe turns out!

      Reply

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