Do you know the saying “Simplicity is beauty”? That saying applies to this recipe in every bit of a word. Making a pasta sauce can never, as in never get easier than this 1 step recipe. All you need is 1 step to an amazing homemade pasta sauce that would blow your mind away. I may sound I am exaggerating it, but I am seriously not. This pasta sauce is really, really good and 100 times better than the bottled or canned instant pasta sauce and it’s easy to make which is always a bonus.

Ever since I learned how to make this pasta sauce, I stopped doing the complicated way of making it. You know the one where the recipe calls for you to saute onion and garlic, then adding minced meat, tomato sauce, tomato paste and other seasonings. Skip all those and just do this one step and I assure you, it is even better than the traditional way of making pasta sauce. Once you are able to make the base pasta sauce, the possibilities are endless to what kind of variations you can make from it. I’ve picked four of my favorite, I’m pretty sure you can add more from this. Let me show you my top 4 variation for this basic pasta sauce.

The basic base pasta sauce that you can use for different variations

This pasta sauce is thick and have plenty of tomato chunks, so good! I always like bits and pieces of chunky tomato in my pasta as they gave a really nice texture to the sauce. This pasta sauce is very flexible that it can easily adjust to whatever pasta sauce I am craving for. So, what kind of pasta sauce do you like?

• Are you a meat lover? Then just go ahead and add some shredded cooked chicken, or cooked minced meat or diced cold cuts. Better yet, throw in some meatballs for a very filling pasta meat sauce. Add cooked meat halfway in the cooking time.
• Are you a cheese lover? Well, whatever cheese you like, go ahead and sprinkle spoonful (or more) of cheese in the pasta sauce and watch how it makes the pasta sauce thick, creamy and cheesy. Add 1/4 cup shredded cheese once the pasta is cooked, then stir until the cheese is melted and evenly distributed in the sauce.
• Are you a vegetable lover? Nothings wrong with adding some fresh spinach, diced mushrooms, zucchini or eggplant in the sauce. Be creative, explore and add vegetables of your choice. Adjust amount of vegetables depending on how many kind of vegetable you are adding.
  • Spinach: Add 1/2 cup washed spinach, stir, cover then cook for 1-2 minutes or until the spinach is cook.
  • Mushroom: Add 1/2 cup cut mushrooms, wash and add in the sauce midway in the cooking.
  • Zucchini, Eggplant, Bell Pepper: Add 1/2 cup diced vegetables halfway through the cooking time as this might take time to cook.  
• Do you like it smooth and creamy? Turn the sauce into a Creamy Rosé Sauce by using a blender to puree the mixture and adding 1/4 cup of full fat cream. Return to the pan and simmer for another 5 minutes. Easy breezy and you have a smooth and creamy Rosé Sauce pasta sauce.
• Are you a seafood lover? Marinate 1/4 cup- 1/2 cup mixed seafood or shrimp  in 2 tbsp lemon juice, salt and pepper. Saute with 2 cloves garlic and 1/2 small onion until cook through. This can be added once the pasta sauce is cooked.

Now, don’t you think this is the BEST pasta sauce ever? 1 step, multiple variations. It cannot get any better than that. Give it a try and let me know which variation you like best.

I made the version with minced beef for my Small Batch Lasagna (photo above) and it was absolutely delicious! Look at the thick sauce and the bits and pieces of meat in it. Wait till see my Small Batch Meaty Lasagna, you will fall in love with it no doubt!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups (796 ml, 28 oz) canned diced tomato
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 medium size white onion – cut into quarter
• 1 1/4 tsp salt – adjust as needed
• 1/4 tsp pepper – adjust as needed
• 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning or a combination of Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme will work too
• 2 tsp granulated white sugar
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 3 cloves minced garlic

Note: You can also use fresh tomatoes but you will need to add water or vegetable broth when you simmer it, about 2 cups of broth.

Instructions:

1. Put all ingredients in a large pot then cover and simmer for about 45 – 60 minutes (medium heat) or until the sauce is reduced to your liking. Stir from time to time to avoid tomato sticking in the bottom of the pan. In the last 15 minutes of cooking, reduce heat to low heat. Season and adjust as needed.

That’s all you need to do! Now, grab your favorite pasta and put this wonderful pasta sauce to use.

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