Meat Sauce
Try this Meat Sauce recipe, or contribute your own.
Try this Meat Sauce recipe, or contribute your own.
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 4 bay leaves
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ground oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme
- two 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
- one 6-ounce can tomato paste
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper optional
- 2 large yellow onions diced
- 2 green bell peppers seeded and diced
- 3 pounds ground beef (i used ground round)
- 2 pounds sausage
- 1 cup white wine or stock (your choice)
- one 24-ounce jar good store-bought marinara sauce
- one 15-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 cup finely minced fresh parsley or 3 tablespoons parsl plus more for serving
- 1 whole rind from 1 wedge parmesan optional
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan optional, plus more for serving
- garlic-cheese bread for serving
- 2 pounds spaghetti cooked al dente and tossed with olive oil, for serving
- Carbohydrate 60.9786550297244 g
- Cholesterol 58.0977510666667 mg
- Fat 23.3428630083445 g
- Fiber 3.36312602642771 g
- Protein 23.5094710301481 g
- Saturated Fat 7.7309551217288 g
- Serving Size 1 1 serving (319g)
- Sodium 1334.11622874616 mg
- Sugar 57.6155290032967 g
- Trans Fat 2.28677779700694 g
- Calories 555 calories
Step-by-step
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and sausage until totally browned.
- Remove the meat from the pot with a slotted spoon and put it into a bowl. Set aside.
- Discard any grease in the pot, but do not clean the pot.
- Drizzle in the olive oil. When it is heated, throw in the onions and bell peppers.
- Stir it around for 1 1/2 minutes, and then add the garlic.
- Stir and cook for an additional minute.
- Pour in the wine and allow it to bubble up and reduce for about 1 1/2 minutes.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, marinara sauce and tomato paste.
- Stir to combine, and then add the sugar, salt, oregano, thyme, crushed red pepper if using and bay leaves.
- Stir, and then add the cooked ground beef and sausage and stir to combine.
- Place the lid on the pot and allow to simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
- Add a little water or some low-sodium broth if it needs more liquid.
- After an hour, add the minced parsley and the Parmesan rind if using (or grated Parmesan if you prefer--or both!).
- Stir to combine, and then put the lid back on and allow it to simmer for another 30 minutes or so.
- Discard the bay leaves before serving.
- Serve a big bowl of oiled noodles and the meat sauce so guests can serve themselves.
- Top each serving with minced parsley and grated Parmesan (or Parmesan shavings) and serve with a big piece of garlic-cheese bread.
My Simple, Yet Satisfying Meat Sauce Recipe
As a busy working mom, finding time to cook a delicious and hearty meal can often feel like a monumental task. Weeknights are a blur of homework help, soccer practice, and the general chaos of family life. But even amidst the whirlwind, I’ve discovered the power of a simple, yet satisfying recipe that keeps my family happy and my sanity intact. That recipe? My foolproof meat sauce.
This meat sauce is more than just a pantry staple; it’s a testament to the beauty of simple ingredients transformed into something extraordinary. It’s the kind of dish that smells heavenly as it simmers, filling the house with the promise of a comforting meal. The aroma alone is enough to melt away the stresses of the day and bring a sense of warmth and coziness to our kitchen. It's adaptable too; I sometimes add a pinch of different herbs depending on my mood and what I have on hand. Sometimes I swap out the ground beef for turkey or add some vegetables to bulk it up. The possibilities are endless!
The magic of this recipe isn't in its complexity, but in its simplicity. It starts with good quality ingredients, things that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I usually grab some lovely ground beef, a couple of sausages (Italian sausage is a personal favorite), and the usual suspects: onions, garlic, canned tomatoes, and a store-bought jar of marinara sauce (don't knock it till you try it!). I love the convenience of this. This sauce also saves me precious time – it simmers away happily, giving me a chance to catch up on emails or spend a few moments of quiet before the next wave of family activity hits. You can prep most of the ingredients ahead of time, making weeknight cooking even easier.
The process itself is a meditative act, a chance to disconnect from the endless stream of notifications and just focus on the task at hand. The gentle bubbling of the sauce, the scent of simmering tomatoes and herbs, it's almost therapeutic. And the best part? The leftovers are amazing! I often make a double batch, enjoying it for several meals throughout the week. It's equally delicious on pasta, over polenta, stuffed into peppers, or even served alongside a simple salad. It's the kind of versatile sauce that becomes a cornerstone of my family's weekly meals, always there to provide comfort and satisfaction.
So, if you're a busy mom (or just someone who appreciates a delicious and easy meal), give this meat sauce a try. It's the kind of recipe that becomes a go-to, a trusted friend in the kitchen. It's a simple dish that evokes feelings of warmth, comfort, and the satisfaction of creating something delicious from scratch. The best part? It's the kind of recipe that gets better with age and repetition, each time becoming more deeply embedded in my family's history of good food and togetherness. It is more than just a sauce; it's a reflection of our simple, yet extraordinary, family life. The perfect ending to a busy day. The perfect start to another.
Beyond the practicality, this recipe has taught me valuable lessons about efficiency and making the most of my time. It’s a testament to the fact that wholesome, delicious meals don't have to be time-consuming or complicated. With a little planning and a bit of love, even a busy weeknight can be filled with the aroma and warmth of a perfectly simmered meat sauce. And that, my friends, is a feeling worth savoring.
