If you're an avid pasta lover, here's one tip you can't miss!
Here’s the One Thing You Should Be Adding to Your Spaghetti and Meatballs
Updated on Jul. 13, 2022
If you’ve ever whipped up a homemade tomato sauce only to find it’s searingly acidic, you’re not alone. Thankfully, there’s an easy fix. Sugar in spaghetti sauce is the secret ingredient that will transform a classic dish like spaghetti and meatballs into absolute perfection. This clever cooking hack can be used in a variety of homemade pasta sauce recipes, and it’s not much different from seasoning with a touch of salt.
Why You Should Add Sugar to Your Spaghetti Sauce
The reason for sprinkling a pinch of sugar into a simmering saucepan of tomatoes is simple: sugar cuts the acidity of the tomatoes and creates an overall more balanced sauce. The exact acid levels in tomatoes can vary quite a bit depending on whether they’re fresh or canned, the tomato variety, and the time of year. Sure, if you’re tending to a sauce made from beautifully ripe tomatoes picked in the height of summer (save these fresh tomato recipes), you can skip the sugar.
How to Add Sugar to Your Spaghetti Sauce
That secret pinch of sugar is one of the last steps I take before letting the sauce simmer away on the stovetop to thicken up. You can use either white or brown sugar. Personally, I prefer packed brown sugar, but experiment to see which gives you the best results. I also make sure to add a dollop of butter to my pasta sauce. Like sugar, butter mellows out some of the biting acidity and gives the sauce a slightly richer texture thanks to its high-fat content. How much sugar should you add to your spaghetti sauce? “You could add a pinch of sugar and keep tasting and adding until the flavor really starts to brighten and become more well-rounded,” says Taste Recipes Deputy Editor James Schend.
When I’m making spaghetti from scratch, I start small with ¼ teaspoon and adjust as needed. The key is to give the sauce’s components time to come together, just the same as you would if you were adding salt. Buon appetito!
Can't Get Enough Pasta? Try These Recipes.
Nana’s Italian RouladeMy great-aunt from Sicily taught my mother how to stuff and bake a steak in a jelly-roll style. It’s unique and really special in our family. —Roseanne McDonald, Days Creek, Oregon. Also, try these Italian Pasta Dishes that’ll make you say mangia!
Manicotti ShellsThese manicotti shells are actually crepes, made in a skillet, then filled with ricotta and herbs, smothered in savory tomato sauce and baked till crispy.
Linguine with Fresh TomatoesThis garlic and basil linguine is a perfect way to use up your late-summer tomato harvest. It makes a great light supper when paired with a salad, or you can make it heartier with some chopped chicken. —Susan Jones, Downers Grove, Illinois
Asparagus Shrimp LinguineMy family really enjoys asparagus and shrimp. We often have this on busy weeknights because its healthy and cooks quickly. —Ehnes Wannetta, Eagle Bend, Minnesota
Ricotta Gnocchi with Spinach & GorgonzolaWhen my family comes for a visit, they always ask me to make this unique dish for dinner. Homemade cheesy gnocchi is topped with a rich sauce made with butternut squash, spinach and Gorgonzola.— Brud Holland, Watkins Glen, New York
Great-Grandma's Italian MeatballsMy great-grandmother started this easy meatball recipe with our family. We use ground beef and turkey for these meatballs, and the flavor’s so good, you won’t miss the extra calories. —Audrey Colantino, Winchester, Massachusetts
Fettuccine CarbonaraMake restaurant-caliber fettuccine carbonara with its simple, creamy sauce in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Penne alla VodkaThis easy and impressive pasta is always on the menu when my husband and I invite first-time guests over for dinner. Many friends have asked me to make the recipe again years after they first tried it. —Cara Langer, Overland Park, Kansas
Homemade RavioliRavioli from scratch is a labor of love, but a delicious one. This guide will help you whip up pasta dough, sauce and a fantastic filling.
Also check out these 21 easy and delicious ravioli recipe ideas.
Creamy Sausage-Mushroom RigatoniIn Rome, we dined near the Pantheon. The amazing restaurant is now history, but its memory lives on in this tasty pasta with mushrooms and sausage. —Barbara Roozrokh, Brookfield, Wisconsin.
Don’t feel like cooking? Here’s our round-up of the best Italian restaurant in every state.
Spaghetti Sauce Without MeatDitch the store-bought marinara for this spaghetti sauce without meat. You can prepare a batch to toss on pasta, eggplant Parmesan or a pizza.
Stuffed Shells with MeatThis easy stuffed shells with meat and ricotta recipe is warm and comforting after a long day. Prep the meat-stuffed shells the day before, then just pop the dish in the oven after work.
Shrimp Asparagus PastaShrimp and asparagus pasta sounds fancy and tastes incredible—but even home cooks who shy away from seafood can easily master it.
Lemon Chicken OrzoLemon chicken orzo is a one-pot wonder. It's easy enough to make for a weeknight meal, but fancy enough to serve for guests. Customize it with different pasta shapes and your favorite vegetables.
No-Cook Fresh Tomato SauceTry this sauce at times when you have a box of pasta or a store-bought pizza shell and need a sure-fire topping. Dinner is served. —Julianne Schnuck, Taste Recipes Designer
Homemade PastaTry your hand at homemade pasta with this easy spinach dough. You don't need a pasta maker or other special equipment! —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Pasta Fagioli al FornoThe term al forno means "baked pasta with beans." But my busy family translates it as "super satisfying dinner." —Cindy Preller, Grayslake, Illinois
Slow-Simmered Meat RaguAfter a day of simmering in the slow-cooker, this ragu is not your typical spaghetti sauce. It's almost like a stew, so feel free to skip the pasta. —Laurie LaClair, North Richland Hills, Texas
Shrimp PuttanescaOur 30-minute shrimp puttanesca recipe features a fiery mix of olives, capers, and garlic. It doesn't just show up—it demands your attention.
Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato SauceWhen my mom made this spaghetti sauce, the house would smell so good that I'd open the windows to torture the neighbors. It even tastes wonderful the next day, when the flavors have really melded. —Vera Schulze, Holbrook, New York
