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This healthy No Meat Spaghetti Sauce comes together quickly and easily, packed with fresh basil, olive oil, onions, garlic, and no refined sugar—one of my favorite go-to recipes for the family.
Rich, flavorful, and versatile, this homemade sauce pairs perfectly with Healthy Air Fryer Eggplant or Keto Cloud Bread for a guilt-free way to savor every bite without the carbs from traditional pasta or garlic bread. Want to add a meat option? Try it with my Instant Pot Meatballs for a hearty twist everyone will love.
Why Make Homemade No Meat Spaghetti Sauce?
My no meat spaghetti sauce is healthier than store-bought options because it contains no preservatives, refined sugar, or highly processed oils.
I love how quickly it comes together and how easy it is to tweak for your taste—you can add red pepper for a little heat, Parmesan for cheesiness, or even a splash of red wine for extra depth. Plus, it’s versatile enough to serve over pasta, zucchini noodles, or use as a base for casseroles and pizza peppers.
Enjoy!
– Becca
Ingredients in this Spaghetti Sauce
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil adds a rich, smooth base to this sauce, but any healthy oil (like avocado or coconut oil) will work in a pinch.
- Canned Whole Tomatoes: Whole tomatoes give the best flavor and texture. If you prefer a smoother sauce, blend them before adding to the pot. Fresh tomatoes also work beautifully when they’re in season.
- Honey (optional): A touch of honey helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes, but feel free to skip it or use your favorite natural sweetener instead.
- Fresh Basil: Fresh basil gives this sauce its vibrant flavor. If you only have dried basil on hand, that’s perfectly fine—just use about one-third the amount.
How to Make Spaghetti Sauce
Step 1: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 5–6 minutes until translucent. Stir in the tomato paste and garlic, cooking until fragrant. Add the tomatoes (blend them first if you prefer a smooth sauce), honey (if using), salt, and pepper. Bring to a low boil and stir for 3–5 minutes.
Step 2: Add the chopped basil and stir to combine.
Step 3: Let the sauce simmer for 10–15 minutes, or longer if you’d like.
Step 4: This no-meat spaghetti sauce keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.
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Recipe Tips
- Storage: This no-meat spaghetti sauce keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. Store it in an airtight container or glass jar to maintain freshness.
- Freezing: You can easily freeze this sauce for later! Let it cool completely, then portion it into freezer-safe bags or containers. It’ll keep for up to 3 months—perfect for quick weeknight dinners.
- Reheating: Thaw the sauce overnight in the fridge, then warm it on the stove over low heat. If it’s a little thick after thawing, add a splash of water or broth to loosen it up.
No Meat Sauce FAQs
Absolutely! This no-meat spaghetti sauce makes a great base for adding your favorite protein. You can brown ground turkey, beef, or chicken separately, then stir it into the finished sauce. If you prefer to cook everything together, sauté the meat first in your pot, drain any excess fat, and then follow the recipe as written. Once your sauce is ready, serve it over pasta — you can even try it with Instant Pot Spaghetti for a quick, hands-off dinner that everyone will love.
Definitely! This sauce is a great base for extra veggies. Try adding diced zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers, or carrots for more flavor and nutrients.
Yes, this recipe is perfect for meal prep. You can make it up to a few days in advance and store it in the fridge, or freeze it for later. For more make-ahead inspiration, try my Easy Healthy Meal Prep Recipes.
Yes, spaghetti without meat can be healthy, especially if you choose whole-grain or legume-based pasta and pair it with plenty of vegetables and healthy fats. A meatless pasta dish can be a good source of fiber, protein, and complex carbohydrates.
Healthy Eating Plans
21 Day Fix Containers
1 cup counts as 1 1/2 Green Container & 1 sweetener teaspoon.
If this recipe looks familiar, it’s because it’s very similar to the Fixate Grandma’s Tomato Sauce recipe. The Fixate Spaghetti Sauce recipe has inaccurate counts in the first version or two of the cookbook and I’m aware that my counts above are a little different than the Fixate version–I’m confident in my counts.
Weight Watchers Points
1 cup counts as 3 2025 Plan Points
Healthy Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
If you tried this recipe for No Meat Spaghetti Sauce or any other recipe on my site please leave a rating and let me know how it went in the comments!
No Meat Spaghetti Sauce
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Equipment
- Stock Pot
- Kitchen Knife
- Cutting Board
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 6 oz can tomato paste no salt added
- 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 2 28 oz cans canned whole tomatoes peeled
- 2 tbsp honey or agave
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp basil finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat. 2 tbsp olive oil
- Add onion to the hot pot, stirring frequently. Cook 5 to 6 minutes until the onion is translucent. 1 medium onion
- Add tomato paste and garlic. Stir often, if this sticks to the pot it makes a mess. Cook for 3-4 minutes. 1 6 oz can tomato paste, 4 cloves garlic
- Feel free to blend or chop tomatoes to your liking before the next step. If you prefer chunky sauce, leave it as is right out of the can. 2 28 oz cans canned whole tomatoes
- Add remaining ingredients (except basil) and bring to a rolling boil. After you boil, reduce the heat and let simmer while stirring for about 3 minutes. 2 tbsp honey, 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Garnish with the basil and mix together. The longer you let this sauce simmer, the better the tastes blend together. Ideally, let the sauce simmer for 10-15 minutes. 3 tbsp basil
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Can this recipe be frozen? I am looking for meal prep recipes and making a large batch of this would be easy to do.
Absolutely!