Italian Meat Sauce
Ready in just 30 minutes, this Homemade Meat Sauce recipe is quick and simple for busy weeknight dinners. Slow simmered taste in less than an hour, you’ll be skipping the take out from now on. This one is a huge hit with the entire family!
Meat Sauce
It’s really weird to admit, but I ordered take out a lot less when I worked outside the home. It seemed like I always had a better plan for dinner, and after a long commute, the last thing I wanted to do was get back in the car to pick up dinner. Dinner that someone else had made.
Well, life has been busy and sometimes I make a lot of desserts for the blog like this Chocolate Cheesecake. That was never my intention and I kinda of lost my way when it came to dinner.
Pizza has been showing up routinely, as well as, soggy pasta dishes and overcooked chicken sandwiches. I’m over it and so I pulled out a few of my old favorites to share with all of you because there’s nothing like a home cooked meal especially when it’s ready in just 30 minutes like this Easy Italian Meat Sauce Recipe.
What is Meat Sauce?
Meat Sauce is very much like Bolognese and is commonly served over pasta, ravioli or in lasagna. Unlike Bolognese Sauce, Meat Sauce does not contain dairy or wine and is more tomato based. Bolognese also starts with a mirepoix, whereas Meat sauce does not contain carrots or celery.
There’s really nothing better than a homemade spaghetti and meat sauce dinner. It’s pure comfort food and my family is totally in love with this Easy Bolognese Sauce I made years ago…the problem is it’s not quick, it takes time…it’s a labor of love.
But it’s worth every second that it stews low and slow, plus it makes a ton so you can freeze it. But for those days when you have a craving and your freezer stash has been blown, this is the next best thing.
This simple spaghetti meat sauce recipe takes just minutes of hands on time, then simmers for a few minutes before you can begin to dig in to savory pasta heaven.
Ingredients for Meat Sauce
The secret to this quick meat sauce recipe’s slow simmered flavor is in the technique. Tomato paste, wine (you can omit if you prefer), Worcestershire sauce, garlic, onion, Italian seasoning….all my favorite things in one pot.
I added a couple sausage links because I love their sweet/salty flavor they bring to the sauce. It’s definitely one ingredient I advise against skipping.
How To Make Meat Sauce
This quick meat sauce recipe is super simple to make and you can double or triple the recipe to make some to freeze for easy meals later!
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground beef to the pot and break up into small pieces with a fork. Brown the beef until no longer pink, approximately 5-10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and keep warm.
- Add the sausage to the pot and break up with a fork. Cook the sausage until no longer pink and cooked through, approximately 4-5 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the ground beef.
- Add the onion to the pot and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook until a deep Burgundy color, stirring to avoid burning.
- Add the Italian Seasoning, onion powder and white wine to deglaze the pan.
- Using a wooden spoon, scrape up the brown bits on the bottom of the pot. Cook until the wine has reduced by half.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce and sugar. Bring the sauce to a boil.
- Return the beef and sausage back to the sauce.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.Serve immediately with pasta.
Super duper simple to make the BEST Italian Meat Sauce recipe ever….in minutes!
What to Serve with Meat Sauce
I have to say….this Easy Spaghetti Sauce recipe is by far even better than the Olive Garden Traditional Meat Sauce recipe I’ve ordered time and time again. And you don’t have to order take out or even leave your house to get a big bowl full of it.
If you’re looking for a few more quick and easy dinners for your busy weeknights I definitely recommend trying these Chicken Marsala Meatballs. They’re really easy…and super quick.
I also love to make my Baked Ziti with meat sauce to mix things up a bit…it’s super simple, extra cheesy and totally hearty!
More Easy Sauce Recipes
- Easy Bolognese Sauce Recipe
- Quick and simple Vodka Sauce
- No Cook Pizza Sauce
- Easy Alfredo Sauce Recipe
- Sunday Gravy
- Roasted Tomato Sauce
Get the Recipe: Italian Meat Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 4 ounces sweet Italian sausage, casing removed
- 1 cup diced sweet onion, approximately 1 small onion
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1 – 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 – 14.5 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- salt and pepper, to taste
Equipment
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef to the pot and break up into small pieces with a fork. Brown the beef until no longer pink, approximately 5-10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and keep warm.
- Add the sausage to the pot and break up with a fork. Cook the sausage until no longer pink and cooked through, approximately 4-5 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the ground beef.
- Add the onion to the pot and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook until a deep Burgundy color, stirring to avoid burning.
- Add the Italian Seasoning, onion powder and white wine to deglaze the pan. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up the brown bits on the bottom of the pot. Cook until the wine has reduced by half.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce and sugar. Bring the sauce to a boil. Return the beef and sausage back to the sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately with pasta.
Video
10 Comments on “Italian Meat Sauce”
Tried it today ……have had many versions in the past…..This is the best by far…Thank You.
Thank you so much!
In your meatless spaghetti sauce you call for “fish sauce,” in this version Worcestershire sauce. I can see the connection as Worcestershire sauce is made with anchovies, among other things. That is something new for me to try in spaghetti sauce. I’m debating on whether or not to add fish sauce to my batch of spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove right now. Sorry I didn’t start with your recipe but I enjoy adapting and experimenting with different ingredients. The fish sauce I have on hand is an Asian brand and is very salty. As I already added salt to my spaghetti sauce I might ruin dinner if I get too creative by adding salty fish sauce. I think I’ll use a bit of fish sauce as a condiment on a serving of spaghetti with sauce just to get a feel for what it does to the flavor profile. I know the Romans used a fermented fish sauce called garum. So I can see how a modern day Italian recipe could call for an ingredient such as fish sauce. Thank you for the ideas.
Hi! Yes, fish sauce is the asian version of Worcestershire sauce in my opinion. Fish sauce is a little more salty so I use less when subbing for Worcestershire sauce. I think it gives the sauce more depth but again, that’s just my opinion.
I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF “WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE” IN ITALIAN SPAGHETTI SAUCE!
Well, now you have! It’s a revelation and keeps the sauce from tasting flat. Thanks for your comment!
I would love to know when to add the canned tomatoes, and also whether to drain them or not – thanks!
That WOULD be helpful, right? Do not drain and I updated the recipe. 🙂 thank you for pointing that out.
This sounds so good! In your directions, I don’t see where to add the can of tomatoes, and also if they need to be drained – help please!
Fixed! Thanks!