• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Krazy Kitchen Mom

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Work With Me
  • Contact
×

Home » Pasta » Sunday Sauce

Sunday Sauce

Last Updated on October 10, 2020. Originally Posted on October 19, 2020 By Laura Franco / 9 Comments

Share
Pin70
Email
Tweet
74Shares
74Shares

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
The secret to a perfect Sunday Sauce is to cook it low and slow for several hours. No rush and little fuss. It's worth every minute you wait. via @krazykitchenmomThe secret to a perfect Sunday Sauce is to cook it low and slow for several hours. No rush and little fuss. It's worth every minute you wait. via @krazykitchenmomThe secret to a perfect Sunday Sauce is to cook it low and slow for several hours. No rush and little fuss. It's worth every minute you wait. via @krazykitchenmomThe secret to a perfect Sunday Sauce is to cook it low and slow for several hours. No rush and little fuss. It's worth every minute. via @krazykitchenmomSunday Sauce Spaghetti Sauce is cooked low and slow for a deep delicious sauce. via @krazykitchenmomSunday Sauce Spaghetti Sauce is cooked low and slow for a deep delicious sauce. via @krazykitchenmomSunday Sauce Spaghetti Sauce is cooked low and slow for a deep delicious sauce. via @krazykitchenmomSunday Sauce Spaghetti Sauce is cooked low and slow for a deep delicious sauce. via @krazykitchenmomSunday Sauce Spaghetti Sauce is cooked low and slow for a deep delicious sauce. via @krazykitchenmom
A photo of the steps needed to make tomato sauce

The secret to a perfect Sunday Sauce is to cook it low and slow for several hours. No rush and little fuss. It’s worth every minute.

Bowl of pasta, pot of pasta, glass of red wine, bread and cheese

The Story Behind This Family Recipe

I learned to make the perfect Sunday Sauce from my husband’s Aunts. His father came from a large Italian family with seven kids. Each of the Aunts had their own specialty Sunday Sauce or Sugo or Ragu as they called it.

My favorite memory of the Aunts is three of them cooking our rehearsal dinner the night before our wedding. Each one proclaimed to have the best Sunday sauce recipe and since no one would dare argue that fact, all three made their own sauce and we had three different, but all amazingly delicious Sunday sauces for the gathering.

It was that night that I learned the real secret behind any Sunday sauce is to cook it low and slow and make it your own by adding special touches and ingredients. Red pepper flakes are one of my additions because we like a little heat in our tomato sauce. 

Sauce Ingredients

  • San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes
  • Tomato sauce
  • Tomato paste
  • Red wine  – I use Pinot Noir
  • Beef broth
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Fresh Basil
  • Italian spice seasoning
  • Sugar
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Salt and pepper
Spaghetti topped with red sauce and fresh basil

Let’s Make Sunday Sauce

  1. Start by adding olive oil, onions, and garlic to a Dutch oven or heavy pot.
  2. Add tomato paste.
  3. Add the San Marzano tomatoes 1 can at a time. After you add the first can, use a potato masher to gently crush the tomatoes. Repeat crushing after you add the second can.
  4. Add the tomato sauce, beef broth, and wine.
  5. Add the Italian seasoning, sugar, red pepper flakes, and fresh basil.
  6. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 3 hours.
Collage showing the steps to make Sunday spaghetti sauce

How To Freeze Pasta Sauce

This recipe makes 6 quarts of sauce and if you are serving 2-4 people, you will have sauce leftover. But no worries…you can easily freeze any type of pasta sauce for up to 6 months. 

  1. Let the sauce cool completely.
  2. Using a ladle, transfer the sauce to a quart-sized freezer zip-top bag. 
  3. Fill the bag 1/2 full.
  4. Press to remove as much air as possible and close the bag. 
  5. Lay the bag flat in the freezer. 
  6. When the sauce is frozen, you can set the bag on its side or lay it flat to save freezer space. 
Pot of red spaghetti sauce being ladled into a zip top bag

Krazy Kitchen Mom Tips

  • Use San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes for this sauce. To crush them, add them to the pot and then carefully smash them using a potato masher. This will release the juices and make a smooth sauce. To avoid splatter when crushing the tomatoes, make sure the masher is submerged into the tomato liquid before you press down. 
  • Any time you are using canned or fresh tomatoes or tomato sauce add a little sugar. The sugar reduces the strong acid flavor of the tomatoes and also brings out more of the natural sweetness. 
  • If you are freezing this sauce, be sure to write the name and the date on the package. For example, Sunday Sauce/Feb 2020. You can even write thawing and reheating directions on the zip-top bags if you’d like. You can use this sauce for any type of Italian dish that calls for pasta sauce like my Baked Cannelloni Recipe. 
Cannelloni

More Great Family Recipes

  • Cajun Red Beans and Rice
  • Fall Harvest Salad
  • Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
  • Easy Weeknight Pepper Steak
Spaghetti topped with red sauce and fresh basil

Sunday Sauce

The secret to a perfect Sunday Sauce is to cook it low and slow for several hours. No rush and little fuss. It's worth every minute you wait.
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Pasta, Sauces
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: homemade sunday sauce, Italian sauce, tomato sauce
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 Quarts of Sauce
Author: Laura Franco

Ingredients 

  • 2 35- ounce cans San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1 15- ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1 TBS tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup good red wine I use Pinot Noir
  • 1/4 cup beef broth
  • 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion – diced
  • 1 garlic clove – grated
  • 4-6 sprigs fresh basil
  • 1-1/2 TBS Italian spice seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • Grated parmesan cheese for serving
  • Fresh basil for garnish

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil at medium heat in a 6 or 8-ounce Dutch oven or soup pan.
  • Add onions and cook for 2-3 minutes
  • Add garlic and cook for another 2 minutes.
  • Stir in tomato paste.
  • Add the San Marzano tomatoes 1 can at a time. After you add the first can, use a potato masher to gently crush the tomatoes. Repeat crushing after you add the second can.
  • Add the tomato sauce, beef broth, and wine.
  • Add the Italian seasoning, sugar, red pepper flakes, and fresh basil
  • Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 3 hours.

Notes

Krazy Kitchen Mom Tips 
  • Use San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes for this sauce. To crush them, add them to the pot and then carefully smash them using a potato masher. This will release the juices and make a smooth sauce. To avoid splatter when crushing the tomatoes, make sure the masher is submerged into the tomato liquid before you press down. 
  • Any time you are using canned or fresh tomatoes or tomato sauce add a little sugar. The sugar reduces the strong acid flavor of the tomatoes and also brings out more of the natural sweetness. 
  • If you are freezing this sauce, be sure to write the name and the date on the package. For example, Sunday Sauce/Feb 2020. You can even write thawing and reheating directions on the zip-top bags if you’d like. You can use this sauce for any type of Italian dish that calls for pasta sauce like my Baked Cannelloni Recipe. 
Share
Pin70
Email
Tweet
74Shares
74Shares


9 Comments
Last Updated: October 10, 2020

Get More Updates!

Sign up to get exclusive updates & tips!

By using this form you agree with this site's privacy policy.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sue Ringsdorf says

    April 21, 2020 at 1:07 pm

    5 stars
    This Sunday Sauce is my favorite! Love adding red wine to it, as it gives it so much depth. Going to make your Baked Cannelloni next!

    Reply
  2. Anne Lawton says

    April 25, 2020 at 6:28 pm

    5 stars
    It’s going to be cold and rainy tomorrow, and I was thinking Sauce! This showed up on my radar just in time. Thanks for the freezing instructions, I’m going to make a double batch.

    Reply
  3. Eileen Kelly says

    April 25, 2020 at 8:48 pm

    5 stars
    I love making different versions of Sunday Sauce. The flavors in this sauce are just delicious and I love that you used beef broth and wine to enhance the flavor.

    Reply
  4. Terri says

    April 25, 2020 at 8:48 pm

    5 stars
    Too funny – a cook-off at your wedding rehearsal haha! Love it! And I love the name “Sunday sauce” . I’ve never heard that name and it’s perfect. Great Sunday Sauce!!!

    Reply
    • krazykitchenmom says

      April 26, 2020 at 12:02 pm

      The name comes from my husbands family who always made sauce on Sundays 🙂

      Reply
  5. Carlos at Spoonabilities says

    April 26, 2020 at 3:24 am

    5 stars
    I make a similar sauce but the Dominican style. I love the addition of wine! I will try your recipe, and I will pin this recipe.

    Reply
    • krazykitchenmom says

      April 26, 2020 at 12:01 pm

      What makes your Dominican style?

      Reply
  6. Ariella says

    April 26, 2020 at 4:04 am

    5 stars
    Need to stock my freezer with this recipe. I’m always running out of tomato sauce.

    Reply
    • krazykitchenmom says

      April 26, 2020 at 12:00 pm

      It is perfectly freezer friendly!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recipes combining fresh foods and packaged ingredients for everyday living.

Come on in…the kitchen is always open!

I’m Laura, the Krazy Kitchen Mom. I create recipes using fresh food and packaged ingredients for easy cooking.

Read More →

Come and get it!

Subscribe to get the scoop on all the latest juicy bits.

Fan Favorites

Curried Beef Pies

iceberg lettuce wedge with thousand island dressing on top

Restaurant Style Thousand Island Salad Dressing

CORNED BEEF BRISKET AND POTATOES ON A WHITE PLATTER

Pressure Cooker Corned Beef

skillet of bacon and cabbage on a bbq gas grill

Bacon Braised Cabbage

Popular Categories

  • Chicken & Turkey
  • Desserts and Sweets
  • Drinks and Cocktails
  • Sandwiches and Pizzas

Featured Posts

Curried Beef Pies

iceberg lettuce wedge with thousand island dressing on top

Restaurant Style Thousand Island Salad Dressing

CORNED BEEF BRISKET AND POTATOES ON A WHITE PLATTER

Pressure Cooker Corned Beef

skillet of bacon and cabbage on a bbq gas grill

Bacon Braised Cabbage

Seasonal Recipes

Large bowl of rotisserie chicken fried rice with two sets of chop sticks

Rotisserie Chicken Fried Rice

red bowl filled with raita surrounded by pita chips

Raita

Banana Bread Muffins with Granola Topping

two bowls of sausage and bean soup with large croutons

Italian Sausage and White Bean Soup

view more seasonal recipes

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

You might also like…

Bowl of white bean and sausage soup in a brown soup dish on a blue plate
Spinach galette on a white plate with one slice being cut out
platter of creamed corn topped with three scallops
muffin top cookies on a wire rack with fresh cranberries and greens around them
Bowl of pasta with tomatoes and pasta swirled around a fork
Tray of loaded pancakes

Newsletter

subscribe for email updates!

By using this form you agree with this site's privacy policy.

Tasty hand-held pies filled with medium-spice beef Tasty hand-held pies filled with medium-spice beef curry, potatoes, and peas. Served with a tangy spicy cool Greek yogurt sauce.
➡️ https://www.krazykitchenmom.com/curried-beef-pies/
.
.
.
 #curry #currylover #curriedbeef #beefcurry #beefcurrypuff #groundbeefrecipes #groundbeefrecipe #beefpie #beefpies #easyappetizer #easyappetizers #handheldpies #handpie #handpies #savorypies #savorypie @pillsbury
Enjoy the first day of spring with these light flu Enjoy the first day of spring with these light fluffy lemony cupcakes topped with a beautiful fresh blackberry buttercream frosting.
Recipe ➡ https://www.krazykitchenmom.com/lemon-poppy-seed-cupcakes/
.
.
.
 #cupcakes #cupcakes #cupcakestagram #cupcakesofinstagram #cupcakestagram #cupcakedecorating #cupcakeoftheday #cupcakelove #cupcakeideas #cupcake #lemoncupcake #lemoncupcakes #lemoncupcakes🍋 #lemoncake #lemoncake🍋 #lemoncakepops #lemonpoppyseed #lemonpoppyseedcake #lemonpoppyseedloaf #homemadecupcakes #homebaker #homebakery #momswhobake #recipeoftheday #recipeoftheweek #recipeoftheyear #recipeofthemonth #recipeoftheday👩🏻‍🍳
No need to buy salad dressing when you can make a No need to buy salad dressing when you can make a flavor-packed dressing in minutes using everyday pantry ingredients.
➡️ https://www.krazykitchenmom.com/restaurant-style-thousand-island-salad-dressing/
.
.
.
 #saladdressings #saladdressing #saladdressingrecipe #saladdressinghomemade #homemadesaladdressing #thousandislanddressing #salad #salade #saladlover #saladrecipe #salads #saladideas #saladsofinstagram
This creamy cheesy lemon pasta is my take on the c This creamy cheesy lemon pasta is my take on the classic Italian dish “Pasta al Limone”. The pasta is tossed in a creamy dreamy lemon sauce and it’s a great alternative to everyday red sauce pasta.
Recipe ➡ https://www.krazykitchenmom.com/creamy-lemon-pasta/
.
.
.
 #pastaallimone #lemonpasta #pasta #pasta #pastapasta #pastalover #pastafresca #pastarecipe #pastarecipes #carblove #carblovers #creamypasta #creamypastarecipe #pastaoftheday #weeknightdinner #weeknightdinners #weeknightdinnerideas #sundaypasta #sundaydinner #sundaydinners #sundaydinner😋 #sundaydinnerclub #recipeoftheday #recipeoftheweek #recipeoftheyear
Making corned beef has never been easier! I love t Making corned beef has never been easier! I love to use my Instant Pot pressure cooker to whip up delicious dishes in no time! 
➡️ https://www.krazykitchenmom.com/instant-pot-corned-beef/
.
.
.
#CornedBeef #InstantPot #PressureCooker #Yum  #cornedbeefhashtag #cornedbeefandcabbage #stpatricksday #instantpotlove #instantpoteats #instantpotmeals #instantpotrecipe #instantpotcooking #instantpotdinners #pressurecooker #pressurecookers #pressurecookermeals #pressurecookerrecipe #pressurecookerrecipes #easydinners #easydinnermeals #easydinnerideas #easydinnerrecipe #easydinnersarethebest #threeingredients #threeingredientrecipe
This fancy restaurant-style appetizer is a fooler! This fancy restaurant-style appetizer is a fooler! It looks fancy with a stunning presentation but it's actually super simple to make and ready in 15 minutes. 
➡ https://www.krazykitchenmom.com/whipped-feta-with-roasted-olives/
.
.
.
 #feta #fetacheese #whippedfetadip #whippedfeta #fetaappetizer #cheesedip #cheesedips #cheesedipper #cheesedippers #cheesedipislife #greekfood #greekfoodlover #olives #dips #recipeoftheday #recipeoftheweek #recipeofthemonth #recipeshare #recipeshare #recipeshares
Cilantro Lime Sauce is a creamy, tangy, fresh, and Cilantro Lime Sauce is a creamy, tangy, fresh, and bright sauce. Drizzle it on grilled chicken, pork, or steak. It’s also a great sauce for grilled vegetables.
➡ https://www.krazykitchenmom.com/cilantro-lime-sauce/
If your vacation plans didn't turn out exactly as If your vacation plans didn't turn out exactly as you expected this year don’t fret. I’ve got you covered with this vacation in a glass cocktail. One sip and you’ll be transported to a relaxing vacation paradise without even leaving home.
https://www.krazykitchenmom.com/lemon-berry-gin-tonic/
.
.
.
 #ginandtonic #ginandtonics #ginandtonicday #ginandtonictime #ginandtonicplease #ginandtonicoftheday #gin #gingin #gincocktails #craftcocktail #craftcocktailbar #craftcocktails #craftcocktailsathome #homebars #homebartender #imbibegram #imbibelive #imbibe #drinkresponsibility
Tender cabbage greens with crispy pieces of bacon. Tender cabbage greens with crispy pieces of bacon. This vegetable side dish is perfect with pork, chicken, corned beef, or fish. 
➡️ https://www.krazykitchenmom.com/bacon-braised-cabbage/
.
.
.
 #cabbages #cabbage #baconandcabbage #cookedcabbage #stpattysday #cornedbeefandcabbage #braisedcabbage #baconbraisedcabbage #bacon #baconbacon #baconbaconbacon #baconrecipe
Follow @krazykitchenmom on Instagram
  • Chicken & Turkey
  • Desserts and Sweets
  • Drinks and Cocktails
  • Sandwiches and Pizzas

Copyright © 2023 Krazy Kitchen Mom on the Seasoned Pro Theme

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
74Shares