Copycat Prego Traditional Italian Sauce Recipe

Today, we’re taking a culinary journey to Italy with a timeless classic Prego Traditional Italian Sauce. This rich and flavorful sauce has been a staple in Italian kitchens for generations, and I am excited to share the authentic recipe with you. From its aromatic herbs to the luscious tomatoes.

What Is Prego Traditional Italian Sauce?

Prego Traditional Italian Sauce is a classic jarred red pasta sauce made by Campbell’s Prego brand.

Ingredients:

Base Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28-ounce) can of crushed tomatoes
• 1 (6-ounce) can of tomato paste.

Herbs And Seasonings:

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• Salt and black pepper to taste.

Additional Ingredients:

• ½ cup water or broth (optional)
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 1 bay leaf.

Instructions:

Sauté The Aromatics:

1. In a large saucepan or deep skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, or until soft and translucent. Stir frequently to prevent browning.
3. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic as it can turn bitter.

Build The Base:

1. Stir in the tomato paste and toast it for 1-2 minutes. This enhances the tomato’s flavor and deepens the sauce’s color.
2. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, stirring well to combine with the tomato paste.

Season The Sauce:

1. Add the dried oregano, dried basil, dried parsley, red pepper flakes (if using), sugar, and the optional bay leaf. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
2. Stir the mixture well to evenly distribute the seasoning.

Simmer And Develop Flavor:

• Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan with a lid, leaving a small gap for steam to escape.
• Simmer the sauce for at least 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. For a deeper flavor, simmer for up to an hour.

Final Adjustments:

1. If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in a little water or broth to reach your desired consistency.
2. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or a pinch of sugar as needed.
3. Remove the bay leaf and stir in grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Tips:

• Use Quality Tomatoes: High-quality canned tomatoes, such as San Marzano, give the best flavor. This is the heart of your sauce, so invest in good-quality ones.
• Blend for Smoothness: If you prefer an ultra-smooth texture, use an immersion blender or a countertop blender to purée the sauce after it has cooked.
• Fresh Herbs for Extra Flavor: While dried herbs are convenient, freshly chopped basil or parsley added at the end of cooking elevates the flavor further.
• Customize Your Sauce: This sauce can be a base for many variations. Add sautéed vegetables (mushrooms, zucchini, or bell peppers), browned ground meat (beef or Italian sausage), or red wine (¼ cup) for added depth.
• Make It Ahead: This sauce tastes even better the next day as the flavors have more time to meld. Make a large batch and refrigerate or freeze for future use.
• Avoid Overcooking: While long simmering enhances flavor, overcooking can cause bitterness. Keep the heat low and check the sauce frequently.

What To Serve With

• Pasta: Prego Traditional Italian Sauce is a perfect accompaniment to a variety of pasta shapes such as spaghetti, penne, fettuccine, or rigatoni. Cook the pasta al dente and serve it topped with a generous ladle of the sauce.
• Homemade Pizza: Use Prego Traditional Italian Sauce as a base for homemade pizza. Spread the sauce over pizza dough, add your favorite toppings, sprinkle with cheese, and bake to bubbly perfection.
• Lasagna: Layer Prego Traditional Italian Sauce between sheets of lasagna noodles, along with ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan for a comforting and indulgent lasagna dish.
• Chicken Parmesan: Top pan-fried or baked chicken cutlets with Prego Traditional Italian Sauce and mozzarella cheese, then bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly for a classic Chicken Parmesan dish.
• Meatball Subs: Spoon warm Prego Traditional Italian Sauce over meatballs in a crusty sub roll, top with mozzarella, and broil until the cheese is golden and melted for a satisfying and hearty sandwich.
• Eggplant Parmesan: Layer fried or baked slices of eggplant with Prego Traditional Italian Sauce and mozzarella cheese, then bake until the cheese is bubbly and golden for a delicious vegetarian option.
• Stuffed Peppers: Use Prego Traditional Italian Sauce as a flavorful filling or topping for stuffed bell peppers. Simply fill the peppers with a mixture of rice, ground meat, and seasonings, top with the sauce, and bake until the peppers are tender.

Substitute Ingredients:

• Tomatoes: If you don’t have canned crushed tomatoes, you can substitute with fresh tomatoes. Simply blanch, peel, and finely chop fresh tomatoes to use in place of canned tomatoes.
• Onion and Garlic: In place of fresh onion and garlic, you can use onion powder and garlic powder. Adjust the quantities based on your taste preference.
• Olive Oil: Substitute olive oil with another cooking oil such as vegetable oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil.
• Herbs: If you don’t have dried basil or oregano, you can use fresh herbs instead. Just remember to adjust the amount as fresh herbs are more potent than dried.
• Tomato Paste: In place of tomato paste, you can substitute with tomato sauce, tomato puree, or even ketchup for a slightly sweeter flavor.
• Sugar: If you prefer not to use sugar, you can substitute with honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, or a sugar substitute like stevia.
• Salt and Pepper: Feel free to adjust the amount of salt and pepper to suit your taste preferences. You can also add other seasonings like Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, or paprika for additional flavor.
• Additional Ingredients: Customise the sauce by adding ingredients such as mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, capers, or ground meat for a variation on the traditional recipe.

Final Thoughts

This beloved sauce, with its rich flavors and aromatic herbs, serves as a versatile and delicious foundation for a variety of dishes. Whether enjoyed over a steaming bowl of pasta, as a base for homemade pizza, or as a comforting accompaniment to classic Italian recipes, Prego Traditional Italian Sauce never fails to impress with its authentic taste and quality ingredients.

More Sauce Recipes:

• Jo Mama’s Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
• Homemade Tia Lupita Hot Sauce
• Huichol Hot Sauce Recipe
• Copycat Torani Pumpkin Pie Sauce Recipe
• Prego Cheese Sauce Recipe

Prego Traditional Italian Sauce

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Rating: 5.0/5

( 1 voted )

Serves: 6 Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cooking Time: 15 Minutes 15 Minutes Nutrition facts: 70 calories 1 gram fat

Ingredients

Base Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28-ounce) can of crushed tomatoes
• 1 (6-ounce) can of tomato paste.

Herbs And Seasonings:

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• Salt and black pepper to taste.

Additional Ingredients:

• ½ cup water or broth (optional)
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 1 bay leaf.

Instructions

Sauté The Aromatics:

1. In a large saucepan or deep skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, or until soft and translucent. Stir frequently to prevent browning.
3. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic as it can turn bitter.

Build The Base:

1. Stir in the tomato paste and toast it for 1-2 minutes. This enhances the tomato's flavor and deepens the sauce's color.
2. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, stirring well to combine with the tomato paste.

Season The Sauce:

1. Add the dried oregano, dried basil, dried parsley, red pepper flakes (if using), sugar, and the optional bay leaf. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
2. Stir the mixture well to evenly distribute the seasoning.

Simmer And Develop Flavor:

• Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan with a lid, leaving a small gap for steam to escape.
• Simmer the sauce for at least 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. For a deeper flavor, simmer for up to an hour.

Final Adjustments:

1. If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in a little water or broth to reach your desired consistency.
2. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or a pinch of sugar as needed.
3. Remove the bay leaf and stir in grated Parmesan cheese if desired.