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Meat Sauce

A comforting and flavorful meat sauce perfect for family dinners or cozy nights in.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 56 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 11 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 2 lbs ground beef
  • to taste Salt and pepper
  • 1 large green bell pepper, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced fresh garlic gives it that extra flavor boost
  • 3/4 cup dry red wine
  • 6 oz tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons hot sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 8 oz tomato sauce
  • 2 leaves bay leaves
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 2 teaspoons basil
  • 2 teaspoons mustard powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1.5 teaspoons oregano
  • 2 pinches red pepper flakes

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until warm.
  2. Add the onions and let them soften for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally until they start to turn golden and fragrant.
  3. While the onions soften, season the ground beef with salt and pepper.
Cooking
  1. Increase heat to medium-high, add the ground beef to the pot and cook for about 5 minutes, crumbling it with a spatula.
  2. Add the garlic and bell peppers and cook for an extra 3 minutes.
  3. Drain off any excess grease and pour in the red wine, scraping up the tasty bits from the bottom.
  4. Cook for about 5-6 minutes until just a little liquid remains.
  5. Add the seasonings, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and sugar. Toss everything until the beef is coated evenly.
  6. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Add the bay leaves and bring it to a boil.
  7. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover partially, and let it simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serving
  1. Ladle your rich and flavorful Meat Sauce over your favorite pasta and serve with garlic bread.

Notes

Time-saving tip: Chop the onions and bell peppers ahead of time. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water or beef broth to reach the desired consistency. You can also add mushrooms or grated carrots for extra flavor.