Meat Sauce Recipe
User Reviews
5.0
930 reviews
Excellent
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Prep Time
5 mins
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Cook Time
5 mins
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Total Time
35 mins
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Servings
16 servings (1/2 cup each)
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Calories
171 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Meat Sauce Recipe
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The BEST Meat Sauce Recipe has both beef and Italian sausage, plenty of spices, and even a touch of sugar. It's perfect for lasagna, spaghetti, or zoodles, and it comes together with easy pantry ingredients.
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Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef and/or ground Italian sausage (see note 1)
- 1 medium onion chopped (about 1 cup)
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or to taste (see note 2)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (see note 3)
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds (see note 4)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add beef, sausage, and onion and cook until mostly browned, about 5 minutes. Drain if desired. Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, basil, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and bay leaf. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper).
Notes
- Ground meat: You can do 2 pounds of ground beef, 2 pounds of ground Italian sausage, or 1 pound of each.
- Sugar: Even a tablespoon is too much for some people. If you don’t like the sound of sugar in your meat sauce, please leave it out. In my family, people add ¼ cup or even up to ½ cup.
- Italian seasoning: It’s easy to make your own homemade Italian seasoning with dried basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme and marjoram.
- Fennel seeds: The seeds make the Italian sausage flavors pop. If you love the taste of a sweet tomato sauce, use just ground beef (no sausage), at least ¼ cup sugar, and omit the fennel seeds.
- Yield: This recipe makes 2 quarts (8 cups), enough for 16 servings, 1/2 cup each.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
0.5 cup
Calories
171kcal
(9%)
Carbohydrates
6g
(2%)
Protein
11g
(22%)
Fat
12g
(18%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.4g
Monounsaturated Fat
5g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
40mg
(13%)
Sodium
105mg
(4%)
Potassium
319mg
(9%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
111IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
5mg
(6%)
Calcium
36mg
(4%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 16servings (1/2 cup each)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 171 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 0.5 cup | |
| Calories | 171kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 6g | 2% |
| Protein | 11g | 22% |
| Fat | 12g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.4g | 2% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 40mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 105mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 319mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 111IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 36mg | 4% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
930 reviews
Excellent
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