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Hearty Meat Sauce: Your New Favorite! Meat sauce: Master this rich and savory classic recipe. Perfect for a comforting family meal, it simmers to perfection wit

Hearty Meat Sauce: Your New Favorite!

Meat sauce: Master this rich and savory classic recipe. Perfect for a comforting family meal, it simmers to perfection with deep flavors.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 480
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion (diced)
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 green bell pepper (finely diced)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 3/4 cup dry red wine
  • 6 oz tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons hot sauce
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon sugar

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and let them soften for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Season the ground beef with salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high. Add the ground beef and cook and crumble it for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and bell peppers and cook for 3 more minutes.
  3. Drain excess grease. Add the wine and use a silicone spatula to “clean” the pot with the liquid. Cook for 5-6 minutes, or until just a little liquid remains and the alcohol smell is gone.
  4. Add the seasonings, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and sugar. Toss to evenly coat the beef.
  5. Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover partially and let it simmer over medium-low heat for 45 minutes, or until desired thickness and consistency is obtained. Stir occasionally throughout cooking to lift any meat that settles to the bottom.
  6. Serve with pasta of choice.

Notes

- Deglazing with red wine is crucial; it lifts all the browned bits from the bottom of the pot, infusing your sauce with incredible depth. Don't skip this step!
- For an even richer flavor, let the sauce simmer longer than 45 minutes, up to 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the more the flavors meld.
- This meat sauce freezes beautifully. Portion it into airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave. Reheat ground beef to 160°F (71°C).
- While ground beef is traditional, you can substitute half the beef with ground Italian sausage for an extra layer of spice and flavor. Adjust seasoning as needed.
Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.