Description
A rich and hearty Italian-style meat sauce combining ground beef and Italian sausage simmered with tomatoes, garlic, and aromatic herbs. Perfect for serving over pasta to create a comforting and flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed, see note)
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Onions: Heat olive oil in a pot, Dutch oven, or braiser over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for approximately 4 minutes until softened.
- Brown the Meats: Add ground beef and Italian sausage to the pot. Cook while breaking apart the meat with a spoon until browned thoroughly, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain excess fat, leaving a few tablespoons for flavor if desired.
- Add Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Simmer the Sauce: Mix in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, Italian seasoning, dried oregano, white sugar, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Bring to a bubble, reduce heat, partially cover with lid slightly ajar, and simmer for at least 30 minutes up to an hour or more. Stir occasionally and maintain a gentle simmer, adjusting heat as necessary. Add more beef broth to thin if needed.
- Season and Serve: Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper generously. Serve the meat sauce hot over your favorite pasta.
Notes
- Use Italian sausage with casings removed for better texture integration in the sauce.
- White sugar helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes and can be adjusted according to taste.
- Simmering longer enhances the depth of flavor; feel free to cook for over an hour if time permits.
- To thin the sauce, add additional beef broth gradually to reach desired consistency.
- Optional crushed red pepper flakes add a mild heat; omit if you prefer a milder sauce.
