45 Minute Spaghetti Sauce
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When I was little and our family had spaghetti, this is the recipe that my mom made. The 45 minute spaghetti sauce has been a favorite homemade spaghetti sauce recipe of mine forever. When I got married, my husband hated spaghetti.
I told him he needed to try mine, then if he still couldn’t stand spaghetti, I wouldn’t make it again. Well, he found my recipe to be palatable. So now, this is only recipe for spaghetti that I make and my oldest son requests it often.

Definitely different taste than your typical Italian spaghetti sauce. I think the bacon in the recipe is what give this meat sauce it’s different flavor. I usually don’t add the olives because no one in my family likes them.
But on occasion, if I have some in my refrigerator, I’ll throw some on my portion. I love the addition of the olives. My recipe for Divine Breadsticks or Herbed Garlic Bread goes great with this spaghetti recipe.
Ingredients to Make 45 Minute Spaghetti Sauce
- ONION
- HAMBURGER
- BACON
- SALT
- PEPPER
- SUGAR
- GARLIC POWDER OR SALT
- WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE
- WATER
- TOMATO PASTE
- TOMATO SAUCE
- SLICED OLIVES
- SPAGHETTI
- PARMESAN
How to Make 45 Minute Spaghetti Sauce
Start by cooking the onion with hamburger in a large pot or large skillet over medium heat. Cook the beef until it is fully cooked. Drain off any excess grease.
Add in the remaining ingredients except for olives. Bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes. Give it a stir ocassionally.
Next, if desired, add in the sliced olives. Cover again and simmer for another 15 minutes. Serve pasta sauce over cooked spaghetti noodles.

Frequnetly Asked Questions
Can I make this sauce ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can make the sauce ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze it for up to 3 months.
What kind of ground meat is best for this recipe?
Ground beef is what I use, but you can also use ground turkey, chicken, Italian sausage or a mix of beef and pork for a different flavor.
Can I use this sauce for other dishes besides spaghetti?
Yes, you can use this versatile sauce for lasagna, baked ziti, meatball subs, or as a base for other Italian dishes.
How do I store leftovers?
Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze the sauce in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 3 months.
FOR MORE RECIPES LIKE THIS, TRY:
- Simple Spaghetti Sauce
- Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs
- 3 Ingredient Crock Pot Pasta Sauce
- Easy Penne Rosa

45 Minute Spaghetti Sauce
Real Mom Kitchen
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup onion
- ½ lb hamburger
- ¼ lb bacon cooked and diced
- 1 tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp pepper
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 to 3 dashes garlic powder or salt
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- ¼ cup sliced olives optional
- 12 oz cooked spaghetti
- parmesan cheese optional for serving
Instructions
- Cook onion with hamburger in a large pot or skillet until beef is fully cooked. Drain off any excess grease.
- Add remaining ingredients except for olives and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Stir ocassionally.
- Then, if desired, add ¼ cup sliced olives. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes more.
- Serve over cooked spaghetti. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired. Serves 4-6.