Updated: 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 of Home 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.
1 / 24
Chicken CacciatoreThis easy chicken cacciatore recipe makes a good Sunday dinner, since it's so simple to prepare. This recipe is the best because it's loaded with lots of vegetables and is a family favorite. —Barbara Roberts, Courtenay, British ColumbiaGo to Recipe
Taste of Home
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!
Go to Recipe
Homemade ManicottiThese tender manicotti are much easier to stuff than the purchased variety. People are always amazed when I say I make my own noodles. My son fixed this recipe for several of his friends, and they were extremely impressed with his cooking skills. —Sue Ann Bunt, Painted Post, New York
Go to Recipe
Linguine with Fresh Tomatoes Recipe photo by Taste of Home
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
Go to Recipe
Asparagus Shrimp Linguine Recipe photo by Taste of Home
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
Go to Recipe
When 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
Go to Recipe
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
Go to Recipe
Fettuccine Carbonara Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Fettuccine CarbonaraWhen a man at church found out how much my family likes fettuccine, he shared his Italian grandmother's carbonara recipe with us. I've made it my own over the last 25 years. Grated Parmesan cheese works just as well as Romano. —Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York
Go to Recipe
Penne alla Vodka Recipe photo by Taste of Home
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
Go to Recipe
Homemade Ravioli Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Homemade RavioliI love to bake and cook, especially Italian dishes like this homemade ravioli recipe. In fact, my idea of a perfect day consists of cooking my family's favorite foods then watching them dig in!—Lori Daniels, Hartland, Michigan
Go to Recipe
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.
Go to Recipe
Homemade Meatless Spaghetti Sauce Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Homemade Meatless Spaghetti SauceWhen my tomatoes ripen, the first things I make are BLTs and this homemade spaghetti sauce. —Sondra Bergy, Lowell, Michigan
Go to Recipe
Italian Stuffed ShellsA dear friend first brought over this stuffed shells recipe. Now I take it to other friends' homes and to potlucks, because it's always a big hit! —Beverly Austin, Fulton, Missouri
Go to Recipe
Asparagus 'n' Shrimp with Angel Hair Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Asparagus 'n' Shrimp with Angel HairWe’ve all heard that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so when I plan a romantic dinner, this shrimp asparagus pasta with angel hair is one dish I like to serve. It is easy on the budget and turns out perfectly for two. —Shari Neff, Takoma Park, Maryland
Go to Recipe
Lemon Chicken with Orzo Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Lemon Chicken with OrzoHere's a dish that's light and summery but still filling. My kids love all the veggies...for real! If you like a lot of lemon, stir in an extra splash of lemon juice just before serving. —Shannon Humphrey, Hampton, Virginia
Go to Recipe
No-Cook Fresh Tomato Sauce Recipe photo by Taste of Home
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 of Home Designer
Go to Recipe
Homemade Pasta Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Homemade PastaTry your hand at homemade pasta with this easy spinach dough. You don't need a pasta maker or other special equipment! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Go to Recipe
Pasta fa*gioli al Forno Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Pasta fa*gioli al FornoThe term al forno means "baked pasta with beans." But my busy family translates it as "super satisfying dinner." —Cindy Preller, Grayslake, Illinois
Go to Recipe
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
Go to Recipe
Shrimp Puttanesca Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Shrimp PuttanescaI throw together these bold ingredients for a feisty seafood pasta. —Lynda Balslev, Sausalito, California
Go to Recipe
Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce Recipe photo by Taste of Home
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
Go to Recipe
