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–+ servings

Italian Meat Sauce: A Rich, Hearty Classic

This Italian Meat Sauce is rich, hearty, and packed with robust flavors. Perfect over pasta, as a lasagna base, or paired with crusty bread, it's a timeless recipe you'll return to again and again.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 minute
Course Main Course, Sauce
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8 servings
Calories 320 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
  • 1 lb ground pork not sausage
  • olive oil a good swirl
  • 1 red onion chopped
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1 12 oz can tomato paste
  • 2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes I prefer Contadina
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 4 tsp dried parsley
  • 4 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp dried basil
  • 2 tsp dried marjoram
  • 2 dashes ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup Chianti or good dry red wine
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Chop the red onion and mince the garlic. Measure out all other ingredients to streamline the cooking process.
  • Heat a swirl of olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped red onion for 5 minutes until translucent. Add the ground beef and ground pork, cooking for 8-10 minutes until browned. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Drain excess grease.
  • Add parsley, oregano, basil, marjoram, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to the meat mixture. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute to release the flavors.
  • In a bowl, mix tomato sauce, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, brown sugar, and chicken broth. Pour the mixture into the pot with the seasoned meat and stir thoroughly.
  • Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Reduce heat to low, partially cover the pot, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the Chianti or red wine and simmer for 10-15 minutes to meld the flavors.
  • Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed. Add more salt, pepper, or sugar if desired. If the sauce is too thick, add chicken broth to reach the desired consistency. Serve hot over pasta or with crusty bread.

Notes

For extra depth, let the sauce simmer longer on low heat. Leftovers can be frozen for up to 3 months for easy meal prep.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcal
Keyword homemade sauce, Italian recipe, meat sauce, spaghetti sauce
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