A hearty, flavorful Italian-style sauce perfect for any pasta!
This rich and savory Homemade Meat Sauce is the kind of recipe that brings everyone to the table. It’s loaded with tender ground beef, sautéed onions, and peppers simmered in a perfectly seasoned tomato base. Whether you’re serving it over spaghetti, penne, ravioli, or using it in a baked pasta dish — this sauce delivers classic Italian comfort every time.
Pair it with Garlic Bread with Cheese and a simple green salad, and you’ve got a restaurant-worthy meal that’s ready to impress.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Meat Sauce
- Classic Italian flavors with simple pantry ingredients
- Versatile — perfect with any pasta or as a lasagna filling
- Make-ahead & freezer-friendly for easy weeknight meals
- Family favorite that tastes even better the next day
🥘 Ingredients You’ll Need
- Olive oil: for sautéing and richness
- Yellow onion & green bell pepper: add sweetness and depth
- Ground beef: use 80/20 for the perfect balance of flavor
- Garlic: because no Italian sauce is complete without it
- Red wine: enhances the flavor (substitute beef broth + red wine vinegar if needed)
- Tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce: create the perfect texture
- Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce & mustard powder: subtle flavor boosters
- Herbs & spices: parsley, basil, oregano, and a hint of red pepper flakes
- Bay leaves: for that classic slow-simmered aroma
- Sugar: balances the acidity of the tomatoes
👩🍳 How to Make Meat Sauce (Step-by-Step)
- Sauté the onions
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onions and cook until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. - Brown the beef
Add the ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned and crumbly. Stir in garlic and bell peppers, cooking for 3 more minutes. Drain excess grease. - Deglaze with wine
Pour in the red wine and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Let it reduce for 5–6 minutes until the liquid mostly evaporates. - Add flavor enhancers
Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, sugar, and all seasonings. Toss until everything is evenly coated and fragrant. - Build the sauce
Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and bay leaves. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer. - Simmer to perfection
Cover partially and let the sauce simmer over medium-low heat for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally as it thickens and the flavors deepen. - Serve & enjoy
Remove the bay leaves and serve with your favorite pasta, a sprinkle of Parmesan, and a slice of cheesy garlic bread.
🍷 Meat Sauce vs. Bolognese
While both are delicious Italian meat-based sauces, there are a few key differences:
- Meat Sauce: Tomato-forward and quick to make, perfect for any pasta.
- Bolognese: Creamier and richer, made with a mix of meats, white wine, and milk, and simmered longer for a deeper flavor.
🍅 Tips for the Best Meat Sauce
- Use good tomatoes: High-quality crushed tomatoes (like Hunt’s or Mutti) make all the difference.
- Sugar matters: Start with 1 tablespoon to balance acidity — add more if needed.
- Add creaminess: Stir in a little cream cheese or heavy cream at the end for a silky finish.
- Mix meats: Try combining ground beef with pork or sausage for more depth.
- Let it simmer: The longer it cooks, the richer the flavor becomes.
❄️ Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Cool completely, then freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Thaw overnight in the fridge and warm on the stovetop or in the microwave.
🍽️ What to Serve with Meat Sauce
- Spaghetti, penne, or rigatoni
- Lasagna or baked ravioli
- Stuffed shells or pasta bakes
- Garlic Bread with Cheese
- A simple Caesar or Italian salad
🧡 Pro Tip
This recipe makes about 9½ cups of sauce, enough for up to 3 pounds of pasta — perfect for feeding a crowd or freezing for later!
⭐ Recipe Card
Homemade Meat Sauce
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: About 9 cups
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 lbs ground beef
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¾ cup dry red wine
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp hot sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 14.5 oz diced tomatoes
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tsp each: parsley, basil, mustard powder, salt
- 1½ tsp oregano
- 2 pinches red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Sauté onions in olive oil until soft.
- Add ground beef, season, and cook until browned. Add garlic and peppers; cook 3 minutes.
- Drain grease, add wine, and reduce.
- Stir in tomato paste, seasonings, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and sugar.
- Add tomatoes and bay leaves. Simmer 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove bay leaves, serve over pasta, and top with Parmesan.