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–+ servings
Meat Sauce

Easy Meat Sauce Recipe for Perfect Pasta Nights

This delicious meat sauce combines ground beef and Italian sausage for rich flavors, perfect for pasta nights.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Course: Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 171
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds ground beef and/or ground Italian sausage
  • 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes 1 can
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce 1 can
  • 6 ounces tomato paste 1 can
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or to taste
  • 1.5 teaspoons dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • large saucepan
  • Dutch oven

Method
 

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 171kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 11gFat: 12gSodium: 105mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4g

Notes

For variety, you can swap out ground meats for turkey or plant-based alternatives. Feel free to add vegetables such as bell peppers or carrots for extra flavor and nutrition.

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