Oct 22, 2024 It’s deeply flavourful and richly tomatoey. The recipe is simple. Nothing fancy. Just regular old ground beef like your mom made, no wine, no veal or pork or sausage. Just exactly the comfort food you want. I cringe whenever a blogger uses “the best” to describe anything. Then from time to time, I do it myself, too. (I accept that you all are cringing.) Make the meat sauce anyway, and then you’ll understand.
Here’s What You Need
For this rich Meat Sauce recipe (like bolognese sauce, but without heavy cream or other dairy), you only need a handful of simple ingredients and a few basic tools. I’ve also included some ideas for how you can change things up with substitutions or variations.
Homemade Meat Sauce Ingredients
Olive Oil: Helps soften the onions and brown the beef. It also adds a nice richness to the sauce. Onion: Adds a sweet and savory base flavor to the sauce. Cooking it slowly makes it mellow and slightly sweet. Coarse Salt: Seasons the sauce as you build the flavors. Garlic: Brings out that familiar aromatic depth and adds a lot of flavor. Ground Beef: The heart of the sauce. Browning it properly adds a lot of richness. Tomato Paste: Adds concentrated tomato flavor. Cooking it until it darkens deepens the overall taste. Pureed Tomatoes: The base of the sauce, giving it that classic tomato sauce flavor. Using unsalted allows you to control the seasoning.
Variations and Substitutions
There are a few ways you can switch things up depending on what you have or prefer.
Ground pork, italian sausage and/or ground turkey: Swap part or all of the beef for these meats if you’re looking for a different flavor or want something lighter. Crushed tomatoes: If you don’t have pureed tomatoes, crushed tomatoes can work in a pinch for a chunkier texture. Fresh tomatoes: For a fresher taste, you can blend fresh tomatoes instead of using canned ones. Herbs + spices: Add basil, oregano, italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and/or bay leaves for extra flavor. Fresh or dried both work. Extra vegetables: Toss in up to 1 cup finely diced carrots and/or celery with the onion to bulk up the sauce and sneak in more veggies. I’m not a fan of bell peppers in my homemade spaghetti meat sauce but if that’s your thing, be my guest.
Some recipes like to include beef broth but I like to keep my homemade meat sauce recipe very fresh tasting and tomato-ey.
Grab These Tools
You’ll need just a few basic kitchen tools to get this sauce going.
Large skillet, saucepan or Dutch oven: You’ll need a wide pot for browning the meat and simmering the sauce. Wooden spoon: Perfect for stirring the ingredients as they cook and ensuring nothing sticks. Knife and cutting board: For mincing the onion and garlic. Measuring spoons: To measure out the salt and tomato paste accurately.
How To Make Meat Sauce
The secret to making truly the best meat sauce – is all in the technique. Saute the aromatics. Start with a generous glug of olive oil. Fat carries flavour, friends, don’t be shy. Add the onions, add some salt, and cook lovingly until completely soft. No rush. Garlic goes in for a minute. Then the beef. More salt. (Seasoning at every step a key.) Brown the meat. Now with the meat, the goal is not just “cooked”. We are not stopping when it’s no longer pink. We aim to coax as much delicious, caramelized flavour from that mince as possible. You cook it until it (1) is cooked through, (2) renders its fat and then (3) browns beautifully. Then you add tomato paste. And guess what? You need to brown that, too. Raw tomato paste has a tinny, acidic taste. But give it a few minutes on high heat to darken and caramelize the beautiful tomato sugars and magic happens. I never skip cooking out my tomato paste in any application, and it makes a huge difference. Next, you add tomato puree. I whiz a can of diced tomatoes in my blender, but you could just buy the puree – aka passata or tomato sauce. Just not marinara sauce or pizza sauce, which are already heavily seasoned. Add another pinch of salt. And FINALLY, you simmer. Covered. There’s not much liquid, so you don’t want to lose any by leaving the lid off. Turn the heat down low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes at least, or for a few hours, if you’ve got all day. The result will be the best unfancy meat sauce you’ve ever made. Feel free to stir in some fresh basil at the end if you like, but not necessary.
Make Ahead and Storage
This meat sauce is perfect for making ahead or storing for later. It makes enough for 2 lbs of dry pasta, so that’s two meals for most families. Here’s how to do it:
Make ahead: You can make this sauce up to 3-4 days in advance. Just let it cool, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Freezing: This sauce stores beautifully in the freezer. Let it cool completely, then freeze in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Reheating: To reheat, simply thaw in the microwave or overnight in the fridge (if frozen), then warm it on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
Got leftovers? Here are my best recipes with meat sauce to finish off the pot in new and delicious ways!
How to Serve This Meat Sauce Recipe
This meat sauce from scratch is versatile and can be served in a variety of ways. Whether you’re making a classic pasta dish or something a little different, here are some ideas.
Toppings for Meat Sauce
Fresh herbs: Sprinkle chopped basil or parsley over the top for a fresh finish. Grated Parmesan: A classic topping that adds salty richness. Red pepper flakes: If you like some heat, sprinkle a bit of crushed red pepper for a spicy kick. Ricotta or burrata: For extra creaminess, add some finely-grated parmesan cheese, a dollop of ricotta or a torn piece of burrata on top.
Dishes to Serve with Meat Sauce
Spaghetti noodles or other pasta: The obvious choice. Serve the sauce over any pasta shape you like. Try zucchini noodles for a low carb option. Cheese Naan: My popular Cheese Naan recipe makes a great cheesey bread for sopping up the sauce. Cheesy Garlic Bread: If you’re looking for a classic, this quick Garlic Bread (from scratch) recipe uses a simple yeast dough and pairs perfectly with the meat sauce. Salad: Lighten things up by serving the sauce alongside a bowl of green salad or kale caesar salad.
Other Favorite Sauce Recipes
Lobster Ravioli Sauce Gnocchi Sauce Recipe Brown Butter and Sage Sauce Garlic Butter Sauce Penne Pasta with Alfredo Sauce Pasta with Pumpkin Sauce
