Prepare ingredients. Add oil to a large sauce pan over medium high heat. Add in onion and garlic and cook until translucent.
Add in ground beef and cook until browned and season with salt and pepper.
Add in jarred sauce along with sugar, bay leaves, Parmesan cheese, basil, and thyme. Pro tip - if you add in too much sugar, add a squeeze of lemon juice to balance it out.
Turn heat to low, cover, and simmer. I started mine on a Sunday morning and let simmer all day until dinner. Keep an eye on it, and stir regularly. Remove bay leaves before serving.
When ready to serve bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
Add butter to the sauce and stir until melted. Then add in the pasta water and stir until will combined. Finally, drain the pasta and add to the sauce and mix until the pasta and sauce perfectly brought together.
Optional: Top with basil and Parmesan