Homemade Meat Sauce
The best Homemade Meat Sauce is hearty, thick and flavorful! Easy to make with a combination of lean ground beef and turkey plus pantry staples.
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 180kcal
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs mix of ground beef and turkey
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbsp oregano dried
- 1 tbsp basil dried
- 1 tsp thyme dried
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes low sodium
- 14 oz can tomato sauce low sodium
- 6 oz can tomato paste low sodium
- Parmesan cheese for garnish
- Whole grain pasta for serving
Instructions
- Preheat large dutch oven or heavy bottom pot on high heat and add ground beef and turkey. Cook breaking into small pieces and stirring with spatula constantly, for about 5 minutes.
- Add onion, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes , stirring a few times. Please note onion doesn't need to brown but herbs benefit from high heat to release maximum flavors.
- Add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and bay leaves. Stir, cover and cook on low-medium heat for about 30 minutes. Covering the pot prevents red splatters all over the stove.
- Open the lid a little bit to the side and cook for another 15 minutes. Moisture will evaporate making perfect hearty and thick meat sauce.
- Stir and serve hot over whole grain spaghetti or any tubular pasta, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Video
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: Fully cook, cool completely and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight or on a stovetop covered on low.
- Ground meat: You can use all ground beef or all ground turkey if you wish.
- Pasta: Cook pasta in salted water to prevent sticking.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cup | Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 550mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g