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Classic homemade spaghetti meat sauce served over pasta for a weeknight dinner
Isaac blogger

Homemade Meat Sauce

Rich and comforting homemade meat sauce made with ground beef, garlic, tomatoes, and dried herbs. A simple, reliable sauce that’s perfect for pasta, lasagna, and make-ahead meals.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories:
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb raw ground beef
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 28 oz alcohol-free crushed tomatoes
  • 28 oz alcohol-free diced tomatoes
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil
  • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Black pepper, to taste

Method
 

  1. Before You Begin
  2. Preheat and prepare your cookware as needed. Cooking times and results may vary depending on your equipment and ingredients.
  3. Prepare Ingredients
  4. Measure seasonings and open tomato cans before starting.
  5. Brown the Beef
  6. Cook ground beef over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat, leaving a small amount for flavor.
  7. Add Garlic
  8. Stir in garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.
  9. Add Tomatoes and Seasoning
  10. Stir in tomatoes, sugar, salt, herbs, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.
  11. Simmer
  12. Simmer gently for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors blend together.
  13. Serve
  14. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve warm or cool for storage.

Notes

• Measure ingredients accurately for consistent results.
• Cooking times may vary depending on equipment and ingredient temperature.
• Allow sauce to rest briefly before serving so flavors settle.
Storage
• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and store airtight up to 4 days.
Reheating
• Reheat gently until warmed through, stirring occasionally for even heating.