Description
A hearty and flavorful spaghetti meat sauce made with Italian sausage, lean ground beef, and a blend of tomatoes and seasonings. This rich sauce simmers slowly to develop deep flavors, perfect for serving over your favorite pasta for a classic Italian dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 large sweet onion, peeled and diced
- 5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Tomatoes and Liquids
- 12 ounces tomato paste
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 15 ounces diced fire roasted tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Brown the Meat and Cook Onions: Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and lean ground beef, breaking them up with a wooden spoon or spatula. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring frequently, until the meat is fully browned and no pink remains. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Drain off any excess fat from the pot.
- Add Seasonings: Lower the heat to medium. Stir in the granulated sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and chopped fresh parsley. Mix well to evenly distribute the seasonings throughout the meat mixture.
- Incorporate Tomato Paste: Add the tomato paste to the pot, stirring thoroughly to combine it with the meat and seasonings, creating a rich base for the sauce.
- Add Tomatoes and Broth: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, diced fire roasted tomatoes along with their liquid, and the chicken broth. Stir everything well until fully combined.
- Simmer the Sauce: Bring the sauce mixture to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Let the sauce simmer gently for at least 1 hour, up to 4 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking or burning. This slow simmer enhances the flavors and thickens the sauce.
- Adjust Consistency: If the sauce becomes too thick during simmering, add additional chicken broth 1/4 cup at a time until your desired consistency is achieved.
- Serve: Serve the hot, flavorful meat sauce over cooked pasta of your choice. Enjoy your classic spaghetti with homemade meat sauce!
Notes
- For best flavor, simmer the sauce for several hours if time allows.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey for a leaner alternative.
- Adding a splash of red wine during the simmer can enhance the depth of flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- The sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 to 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: spaghetti meat sauce, Italian sausage sauce, ground beef pasta sauce, homemade spaghetti sauce, Italian meat sauce recipe
