This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.
This hearty, savory Meat Sauce recipe is perfect for pasta or nestled in between layers of lasagna – full of tender meat, tomatoes, and herbs.
Say hello to your new favorite sauce. Meaty and flavorful, perfect paired with pasta, layered in a lasagna, and so much more, you’ll love every mouthful. When things are this easy to make, it just makes sense to share. So grab your cooking pot and loaf of garlic bread, it’s time for Meat Sauce.
Types of Meat in Meat Sauce
Our Meat Sauce is made from a delicious combo of ground sausage and ground beef. However, you can feel free to get as creative as you want! Although using all sausage may be a bit too oily for the tastes of some, all beef would be great! Try adding veal for a tender flavor, and don’t forget about Italian sausage for something a little different. If you are looking for a lighter option, try ground turkey, it has all the flavor with less fat.
How to Use Meat Sauce
Meat Sauce can be used anywhere you would use plain old pasta sauce. Pour it over spaghetti noodles or your favorite pasta (I like ziti noodles) for an easy dinner. Toss some parmesan cheese on there and you’ve got a complete meal, basically all the food groups. Try using it to build your new favorite lasagna. The sauce will add incredible flavor. Make manicotti! An underrated dish, typically made with marinara sauce, spruce it up with your homemade flair! And when all else fails, dip garlic bread in there, it doesn’t get any better than garlic bread in Meat Sauce.
How to Make Meat Sauce
- To start, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they are soft and translucent.
- Add the garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes, or until the garlic is fragrant. Keep stirring, you don’t want to burn the garlic.
- Add the ground beef and pork to the skillet. Break the meat up into small pieces and cook until browned all the way through.
- Add the canned tomatoes, tomato juice, basil, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. When the tomatoes start to release their juices, mash them with a fork or a potato masher until they break down into smaller pieces.
- Cover and let simmer for at least 15 minutes. You can let it simmer longer if you have time to let the flavors mingle.
- Serve over pasta and add fresh basil as a garnish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some people put vegetables in meat sauce, they call it “hidden vegetables” because you usually can’t tell that they are in the sauce. The vegetables typically used are carrots, celery, onion, and zucchini. Our recipe doesn’t contain any “hidden vegetables”. Save your veggies for the salad, darling.
The two are very similar. Both contain many of the exact same ingredients, the key difference is that Bolognese contains milk, making it a bit more luscious and creamier.
To heat up leftover meat sauce, you can either put your desired amount in the microwave (loosely put a lid on the bowl so it doesn’t get red sauce all over the inside of your microwave) and heat in 30 second increments until it is hot enough. Your other option is warming it through on the stovetop.
Read Next: 35+ Easy Family Dinner Ideas
More Sauce Recipes
Meat Sauce
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 28 ounces canned whole peeled tomatoes
- 3/4 cup tomato juice
- 2 teaspoons basil
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh basil to garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they are soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes, or until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the ground beef and pork to the skillet. Break the meat up into small pieces and cook until browned all the way through.
- Add the canned tomatoes, tomato juice, basil, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. When the tomatoes start to release their juice, mash them with a fork or a potato masher until they breakdown into smaller pieces.
- Cover and let simmer for at least 15 minutes. You can let it simmer longer if you have time to let the flavors mingle.
- Serve over pasta and add fresh basil as a garnish.
Notes
- Nutrition Facts do not include pasta.
- For a leaner meat option use ground turkey.
- If you like your meat sauce spicy, add a teaspoon or two of red pepper flakes before simmering.
- For the best flavor and saucy texture, use San Marzano tomatoes.
This meat sauce was so easy to make and was YUMMY! Cannot wait to make this again!
This meat sauce is the perfect base for so many recipes!! It’s easy & so tasty!! We use it for so many recipes!
I used for my lasagna as suggested and it was so good. Just the right amount of flavor and ease of preparation.
Do you drain the can of tomatoes before adding to the sauce? Or do you add the undrained can of tomatoes to the sauce? I want to make this. Thank you.
I add them in undrained. If you get San Marzano tomatoes the juice will be extra thick and saucy which is perfect for this recipe!