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–+ servings
Meat Sauce Feature Photo

Meat Sauce

Simple and classic Meat Sauce for pasta that is still big and bold with flavor!
5 from 4 votes
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
optional simmering time: 2 hours
Total Time: 3 hours
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 235kcal

Ingredients  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 small onion - finely diced, approximately 1 cup
  • ½ green bell pepper - seeded & finely diced
  • 1 large carrot - peeled, finely diced or grated
  • 4 cloves garlic - finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 6 oz tomato paste, canned
  • 28 oz fire roasted crushed tomatoes
  • 15 oz fire roasted diced tomatoes
  • salt and pepper - to taste
  • fresh basil and parmesan cheese for topping - optional

Instructions

  • Heat a large stock pot or saute pan over medium high heat. Add olive oil and ground beef. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to break the beef apart into smaller and smaller chunks while it cooks.
  • Once there is little to no pink left in the meat, add the onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Stir and allow to cook until the onion is translucent.
  • Add the peppers and carrots, stirring to combine well. Once heated through add the sugar, Italian Seasoning and tomato paste. Cook while stirring frequently until the tomato paste has darkened and almost caramelized (but not burned!). This will take about 5 minutes.
  • Add the crushed and diced canned tomatoes, stirring to combine them with the other ingredients. When it begins to boil, turn the heat down to a low simmer, cover with a lid. Continue to simmer for up to 3 hours, stirring about every 20 minutes to make sure that it isn't sticking or burning to the bottom of the pan.
  • Stir cooked pasta into the sauce, plate and garnish with fresh pasta and freshly grated parmesan cheese when ready to eat. Otherwise, let cool and store in a sealed container in the fridge for 3-5 days or freezer for several months.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Meat Sauce
Serving Size
 
0.75 cup
Amount per Serving
Calories
235
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
14
g
22
%
Saturated Fat
 
5
g
31
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Cholesterol
 
40
mg
13
%
Sodium
 
426
mg
19
%
Potassium
 
728
mg
21
%
Carbohydrates
 
17
g
6
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
10
g
11
%
Protein
 
13
g
26
%
Vitamin A
 
2292
IU
46
%
Vitamin C
 
22
mg
27
%
Calcium
 
86
mg
9
%
Iron
 
4
mg
22
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.