Upgrade Hacks for Jar Spaghetti Sauce

Want to make jar spaghetti sauce taste homemade? You can, and it’s super easy with just a few extra ingredients! Of all the different methods I’ve tried, the recipe shown below is our favorite.

Although I’m a big believer in using convenience foods when time is short, I’ve noticed that a lot of them taste blah. But you can still start with that and add things to get the flavor you want.

Make your spaghetti dinner even more special by adding a crunchy and colorful garden salad and a side of lightweight and fluffy cloud bread.

Quick Tips to Improve Spaghetti Sauce from a Jar

There are times when I’m in a hurry, and I don’t have the time to put much effort into cooking dinner. That’s when I use these simple tips:

• First, start by adding a pinch of salt to the sauce. This will help to bring out the flavors and make it taste more like homemade. 
• Add meat. Most of the time, we like browned hamburger meat. But there are other times when we use ground sausage, chicken, turkey, or even seafood.
• Add sautéed vegetables. This works best with onions, bell peppers, and minced garlic.
• Next, add some garlic powder or fresh minced garlic for extra flavor. If you want your sauce to be a little bit spicier, try adding some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
• Pour in a splash of wine. Red wine adds a richness of flavor to elevate any kind of spaghetti sauce.
• Read the ingredients on the jar and add more of something that’s already in the sauce. This helps to enhance the flavor even more.
• Stir in some tomato paste. Since tomato paste is concentrated, a little bit goes a long way. Start with a teaspoon of it and add more if needed.
• Add some cream cheese for a smooth and comforting flavor.
• Simmer for a few extra minutes. The longer you cook the sauce the more concentrated the flavors become. So each bite is loaded with deliciousness.
• Combine with jarred Alfredo sauce for a totally unique flavor.

Ingredients That I Use

Last time I made spaghetti sauce, I started with a generic jar of spaghetti sauce and added more ingredients.

Here’s what I used:

• Jar of spaghetti sauce
• Ground turkey
• Can of diced tomatoes
• Sautéed diced onions
• Diced bell pepper
• Minced garlic from a jar
• Can of sliced mushrooms (or more if you like)
• Italian seasoning
• Dash of cinnamon (Yes, I’m serious. Cinnamon is really good in almost everything!)
• Small pinch of red pepper flakes

My husband and I enjoy mushrooms and spicy hot seasonings.

If you don’t care for them, simply leave them out. Or substitute whatever you do like, such as sliced olives or even chopped artichokes.

Step-by Step Instructions

Here is my latest version of improving jarred spaghetti sauce. There is nothing difficult about it. First, brown the ground turkey in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

There was very little fat, so I didn’t need to drain it. But if you wind up with a lot of fat, drain the meat so the sauce doesn’t come out greasy.

Add the onions to the ground meat and sauté until they are translucent. Feel free to add a little oil if you need to.

Add the remaining ingredients and stir until everything is well mixed.

Turn the burner down to low heat and simmer the sauce until the flavors have a chance to blend.

You’ll be amazed by how good you can make jarred sauce taste. In fact, most people who taste it will probably think it’s scratch sauce.

Share Your Tips

Please share what has worked best for you in the comments section below so I can try them out!

Please feel free to share!