Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (2024)

Spaghetti is a classic and comforting dinner option, but what to do with leftover sauce? If you don’t want to toss it, this roundup will provide you with recipes for leftover spaghetti sauce so nothing goes to waste.

Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (1)

I’m pretty sure every American human has childhood memories involving spaghetti. It is such an iconic, easy dinner option, especially for busy families. One thing that took me a while to perfect was nailing the perfect ratios of sauce:noodles.

“What do I do with all of this leftover sauce?” is a common question that plagues me after a pasta dinner.

If this is a common problem for you, as well, do not fret! We have compiled a roundup of delicious recipes for leftover spaghetti sauce. Read on to be inspired!

FAQ About Spaghetti Sauce

Can spaghetti sauce be frozen?

Store spaghetti sauce in a baking dish covered with aluminum foil or any sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days. If there are visible signs of mold, discard the sauce. To extend the shelf life, freeze it! Allow the sauce to cool completely and pour it into an airtight container or freezer bag. Place in the freezer for up to 4 months. When you are ready to use the sauce, remove it from the freezer and allow it to thaw completely. Pour it into a saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes before serving.

Are spaghetti sauce and pizza sauce the same?

Pizza sauce is typically made using tomato sauce, tomato paste and seasonings and is cooked briefly on the stovetop. Spaghetti sauce is made using additional ingredients such as onions, bay leaves and crushed tomatoes and simmers for a couple hours to help enhance the flavor.

Can spaghetti sauce be used for pizza?

Spaghetti sauce sauce can be used in place of pizza sauce in a pinch. First, run the sauce through a strainer to get rid of excess liquid. Transfer to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon each of fennel seed and Italian seasoning.

Is spaghetti sauce gluten free?

Most spaghetti sauce recipes are gluten-free. When looking for gluten-free store-bought varieties, check the label for ingredients that contain wheat.

Does spaghetti sauce go bad?

Unopened spaghetti sauce will typically remain at optimal quality for approximately 1 year, but can be used past that. Opened sauce will remain fresh when stored properly in the fridge for up to 10 days. Discard if visible signs of mold are present.

Pasta Sauce Recipes

  • If your pasta is already cooked and you just need a delicious, savory sauce to top your noodles with, consider making this delicioushomemade pasta sauce using fresh or frozen tomatoes! This is such a great recipe.
  • Instant Pot Pasta Sauce is a super easy recipe and such delicious way to prepare it, too.
  • Transform 2 cans of tomato sauce into a batch ofdelish pasta sauce! Go homemade and prepare a batch of tomato sauce in the Instant Pot using cherry tomatoes for added flavor.
  • And if you have paste on hand instead of sauce, try this super easy way toturn tomato paste into spaghetti sauce!

Make The Best Sauce Possible

  • If you are searching for a sauce with even more flavor, try adding 1/4 to 1/2 cup red wine!
  • To sweeten the end result, add granulated or brown sugar 1 teaspoon at a time.
  • A great way to achieve a spicier end result is by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper, hot sauce or red pepper flakes.
  • For an extra smooth sauce, run the cooled mixture through a regular or immersion blender or food processor. Reheat and serve. To achieve a thicker sauce, chop the tomatoes to be 1-inch chunks and do not blend.
  • Use a sharp knife to cut into your juicy reds in order to work smarter.
  • Homemade pasta sauce is even better the next day, so store room temperature leftovers in an airtight container or glass jar in the refrigerator.
  • Boost the flavor by adding minced garlic or garlic powder.
  • Any ground meat from Italian sausage to lean ground beef will add delicious meaty flavor.

How To Thicken Pasta Sauce

If you make or purchase a batch of pasta sauce and find that is thin and lacks substance, there are ways to fix it! Read on for tips about how to make thick spaghetti sauce. Or use this guide when you don’t have paste on hand.

Marinara vs Spaghetti Sauce

So close in texture, color and flavor that you could call them cousins! Let’s get to the heart of the issue and explore marinara vs spaghetti sauce. What are the differences?!

If you find yourself with a thin batch of marinara, this comprehensive guide will help you thicken it up.

Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (2)

How To Prepare Tomatoes for Freezing

When you have fresh garden tomatoes on your hands, be sure to freeze extras to throw into a sauce later! Prepping them for freezing is super easy. Don’t waste those juicy red morsels that have spent the summer growing in your garden.

Learn the best way to freeze tomatoesso you can use them in the coming winter months.

Recipes For LeftoverSpaghetti Sauce

Aside from the obvious reason (the amazing FLAVOR!), my favorite thing about pasta sauce is that it is so versatile. Here are a few ideas for ways to enjoy it!

  • Reheat and pour over the top of cooked noodles of any kind.
  • Spread over your next meatloaf as a delicious, hearty topping.
  • Replace a jar of marinara sauce or alfredo sauce with it in any recipe.
  • Use it as a filling forstuffed spaghetti squash.
  • Add it to your morning eggs because everything tastes great with eggs.
  • Use as a dipping sauce for breadsticks, garlic bread or quesadillas.
  • Pile into stuffed bell peppers for a hearty dinner.
  • Spread inside your next grilled cheese sandwich (with or without the leftover noodles!).
  • Add leftovers to your next batch of lasagna,cheesy manicotti,baked spaghetti, spaghetti pie orbaked ziti.

Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with Ground Beef and Cheese

Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (3)

Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with ground beef and cheese are the healthy version of spaghetti. They are SUPER easy to prepare, and done in less than 30 minutes! Use leftover meat sauce as the filling, then sprinkle mozzarella cheese or grated Parmesan cheese and black pepper over the top when finished!

Italian Sloppy Joes Using Leftover Spaghetti Sauce

Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (4)

Recently, we had leftover spaghetti sauce and wanted something different so we came up this little delight, Italian Sloppy Joes Using Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (from Salvage Sister & Mister).

Spaghetti and Meatballs Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (5)

Double the comfort by combining spaghetti & meatballs and a gooey grilled cheese sandwich! If you do not have time to prepare spaghetti and meatballs especially for this recipe, wait until you have leftovers!

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Leftover Pasta Sauce Moussaka

Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (6)

This recipe for moussaka from leftover spaghetti sauce (from Frugal Cooking) came from my attempt to do something healthy and interesting with leftover spaghetti sauce and some fresh vegetables from the farmers market.

Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash

Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (7)

Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash cooks quickly and tastes great with butter or spaghetti sauce served over top! Enjoy the fast cook time in your Instant Pot.

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Spaghetti Boats

Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (8)

Crispy garlic french bread topped with spaghetti and mozzarella cheese. Thesespaghetti boats (from I Heart Naptime)are one of my favorite ways to use leftover spaghetti!

Easy Baked Pasta

Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (9)

Easy baked spaghetti is a hit with the kids! This hearty meal is on the table in less than 45 minutes and every belly will be satisfied. Topped with a gooey layer of cheddar cheese!

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Leftover Pasta Frittata

Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (10)

Looking for a brilliant way to get your kids to eat more eggs or vegetables, or even just a new way to use up extra cooked pasta? Pasta frittata (from The Kitchn) delivers on all three, and makes for a breezy breakfast or weeknight dinner.

Pasta Balls with Meat Sauce

Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (11)

These Pasta Balls with Meat Sauce (from I Wash You Dry) is a backwards take to your traditional Spaghetti with Meatballs. They’re quirky, funandcompletely delicious! Made with bread crumbs and pesto!

Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (12)
Recipes For Leftover Spaghetti Sauce (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with leftover spaghetti sauce? ›

7 Ways to Use Up Leftover Pasta Sauce
  1. Use it in a vegetable casserole: ...
  2. Make a potato gratin: ...
  3. Use the sauce as a dip: ...
  4. Make a soup: ...
  5. Serve over polenta: ...
  6. Use as a bread topper or pizza sauce: ...
  7. Add it to other pasta dishes:
Mar 22, 2022

What can I eat with spaghetti sauce instead of pasta? ›

I suggest that there are many delicious side dishes that can be served with tomato-based spaghetti sauce, other than spaghetti. Some options include garlic bread, roasted vegetables like zucchini or eggplant, a side salad with a vinaigrette dressing, or a creamy risotto.

How do you not waste pasta sauce? ›

If you have leftover sauces and dressings, don't let them go to waste. You can use them in different ways to create new dishes or enhance existing ones. For example, you can use leftover pasta sauce to make a pizza, a casserole, or a soup.

How long is leftover spaghetti sauce good for? ›

Homemade pasta sauce can be kept in the fridge for three to four days and store-bought sauce can last for up to four days. Homemade pasta should last in the fridge for one to two days and cooked pasta should keep in the fridge for three to five days.

What can I do with old sauce? ›

Sometimes they can be reused as is or with the addition of fresh herbs or an acidic element such as chopped cornichons. Sauces or gravies can be used to enrich other sauces as well, so long as the old dish and the new are not dissonant.

Can you save half a jar of spaghetti sauce? ›

Once opened, it's best to use your jar of pasta sauce in about five to six days. For sauces that contain dairy, like Alfredo or other cream sauces, it's best to stick to three or four days. Unlike bread or other foods, mold is less of a concern — of course, if you leave that jar long enough, mold will certainly grow.

Can you eat spaghetti sauce like soup? ›

However, if you enjoy the taste of tomato sauce and would like to try it as a soup, you could heat it up and try it. Just keep in mind that most tomato sauces contain added salt and other seasonings, so it may taste different than traditional soup.

How do you eat Ragu without pasta? ›

You can pour a ragu over just about any starch. A bowl of rice, grits, polenta, toasted bread, grains like farro, and even mashed potatoes would be fine.

How long does leftover spaghetti sauce last in the fridge? ›

Saunier recommends following the FDA's Food Keeper app guidelines for jarred spaghetti sauce. She says that, in general, leftovers should be eaten, discarded, or frozen within four days, giving you plenty of time to find out what to do with the remaining contents of a bottle of Rao's.

Why you shouldn't drain pasta in the sink? ›

Some sinks and drains can't handle that starchy water, which might later coagulate and clog in the pipes. I use a strainer in/over the pot, then pour out the water. Often I use a straining spoon or tongs to remove pasta, leaving the water in the pan to cool, then run it later with a garbage disposal down the drain.

What can I do with half a jar of spaghetti sauce? ›

Typically we only use half the jar before it expires. I've used the leftover sauce to thicken and flavor the broth of my vegetable soup bases. It does the job of both canned, diced tomatoes and tomato paste, in addition to adding some nice Italian flavor and garlic.

Why shouldn't you pour pasta water down the drain? ›

Rice or Pasta Should Not Go Down the Drain

Both foods expand in water, which means it only makes sense not to put them into your drain where faucet water goes. Plus, they can clump together in your pipes and create difficult blockages.

Can I eat 10 day old spaghetti sauce? ›

"After opening a high-acid canned food, like a tomato sauce, it can be stored safely in the refrigerator for five to seven days before being used," says Shelley Feist, executive director of the Partnership for Food Safety Education. Check the sauce before using, even in this timeframe, to make sure it has not spoiled.

Can you eat 2 week old spaghetti sauce? ›

It's generally not recommended to use pasta sauce that has been opened and refrigerated for more than 14 days. While some sauces may remain safe to eat beyond this timeframe, their quality and flavor may degrade over time, and there is a higher risk of spoilage.

Is it OK to eat 5 day old spaghetti? ›

The Bottom Line is spaghetti or pasta has an average shelf life of 3 to 5 days before it reaches its expiration date. If you attempt to eat this pasta past 5 or 6 days, it can cause you potential food poisoning. And some of those symptoms are diarrhea, upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, etc..

Can I freeze leftover spaghetti sauce? ›

Absolutely, you can freeze leftover spaghetti sauce, and yes, it will still taste delightful when reheated later.

Can you freeze leftover spaghetti sauce in a glass jar? ›

Most foods will freeze well in glass including fruit, vegetables, soups and sauces, baby food, leftovers, biscuits, and vegetable peels and scraps (great for making stock).

Can you freeze leftover homemade spaghetti sauce? ›

The answer is, “Yes! And you should!” Whether you make a batch of homemade spaghetti sauce or have leftover sauce in a jar from the store, freezing spaghetti sauce is a great way to avoid food waste, save money, and have a yummy pasta sauce ready and waiting for your next craving.

What's the best way to freeze leftover spaghetti sauce? ›

What's the best way to Freeze Spaghetti Sauce? If you have a small portion of sauce that you are freezer, then we recommend putting in a freezer safe container. For larger quantity of sauce, make sure to cool completely and put in a freezer safe bag. Then lay the freezer bag full of sauce on a baking sheet flat.

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