Sauces and Condiments Sauces Pasta Sauces Tomato Mom's Best Spaghetti Sauce 4.2 (133) 99 Reviews 4 Photos This secret ingredient spaghetti sauce is a simple, slow-cooked, authentic spaghetti sauce, as good as the restaurants serve — or better! The secret ingredient is baking soda. Do not taste the sauce right after adding it; wait awhile, and this sauce will not disappoint you. It is good right from the stove, but the flavors blend overnight. Best served with your favorite meatball recipe, where the meatballs cook in the sauce the last half hour. Be prepared to take a nap after eating. Submitted by Barb Tucker Updated on March 14, 2024 Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself. Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen Save Rate Print Share Close Add Photo 4 4 4 Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs 15 mins Additional Time: 8 hrs Total Time: 12 hrs 35 mins Servings: 8 Jump to Nutrition Facts Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 4 (14.5 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes 4 cups fresh sliced mushrooms 2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce 4 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste 3 cups water 2 onions, chopped ¼ cup chopped fresh basil 4 cloves garlic, minced 4 teaspoons white sugar 2 pinches baking soda, divided salt and ground black pepper to taste ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese Directions Gather all ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Mix together whole tomatoes, mushrooms, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, onions, basil, garlic, sugar, 1 pinch of baking soda, salt, and pepper in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat while stirring, then reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for at least 4 hours. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Stir in remaining pinch of baking soda; sauce will foam. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thick and almost brown. Make sure to scrape the sides of the pan into the sauce. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Stir in Parmesan cheese. Taste sauce: if too tangy or acidic, add another pinch of baking soda and simmer for 30 more minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Let sauce cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for 8 hours to overnight. Reheat the next day and serve. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios I Made It Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 170 Calories 2g Fat 36g Carbs 9g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 8 Calories 170 % Daily Value * Total Fat 2g 2% Saturated Fat 1g 3% Cholesterol 2mg 1% Sodium 1624mg 71% Total Carbohydrate 36g 13% Dietary Fiber 8g 28% Total Sugars 23g Protein 9g 18% Vitamin C 48mg 54% Calcium 150mg 12% Iron 6mg 33% Potassium 1757mg 37% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.