128 basic sauce recipes

Thick and spicy spaghetti sauce gets its character from an unconventional spice rack: basil, paprika, cinnamon, curry powder, hot sauce, and burgundy wine simmered slow into a deep, complex pasta sauce.

SPAM breakfast skillet with hash brown potatoes, bell peppers, onion, eggs, hot sauce, and cheddar cheese. A one-pan breakfast scramble that feeds a crowd.

Garden ratatouille baked with zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, mushrooms, and Parmesan. Sauteed vegetables simmered in pasta sauce, then baked until bubbly and golden.

Set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker chicken ratatouille with eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, and bell pepper in a garlicky tomato-basil sauce. Ten minutes of prep, hours of flavor.

This pizza topped meatloaf combines seasoned ground chuck with gooey mozzarella and tangy pizza sauce. Baked golden in just 40 minutes, it brings together two family favorites in one crowd-pleasing dish.

Very low-fat burgers, no oils or fats of any sort in these vegan brown rice burgers packed with fiber and veggies.

A zesty homemade salad dressing with olive oil, two types of vinegar, Romano cheese, garlic, and a kick of hot sauce. Mixes up in 5 minutes flat and gets better as it chills.

A simple dinner that is perfect for family and will please everyone!

Easy lasagna made with a Bisquick batter instead of noodles, layered with ground beef, spaghetti sauce, zucchini, cottage cheese, and melted mozzarella. Feeds 15 in under an hour.

In my opinion, this is the most decadent, rich and scrumptious pasta dish and one of my all-time favorites (I originally got this recipe from a Bon Appetit magazine many, many years ago). Very easy to prepare and always a hit.

Tender chicken simmered in a rich coconut milk and red curry paste sauce with zucchini, jalapeños, and fresh basil. A quick, creamy Thai red curry ready in 40 minutes.

Handmade swordfish ravioli stuffed with chopped swordfish, tomato sauce, scallions, and fresh basil, then tossed in a rich black olive pesto with butter and extra-virgin olive oil. Ready in 40 minutes.

This cheesy and delicious sauce goes well with any type of noodles to make a scrumptious meal you will remember!

Lemon chicken with basil simmered in white wine and tomato sauce with whole lemon wedges that soften enough to eat. A bright, one-pan skillet dinner served over rice.

Vegetarian supreme pizza on whole wheat crust loaded with steamed spinach, zucchini, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and fresh tomatoes. No cheese, all vegetables.

Vegetarian lentil macaroni bake with tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, and elbow pasta. Slow-baked one-pot meal with high fiber and meaty texture from lentils.