Homemade meat sauce is super delicious, flavorful and perfect for an easy pasta dinner. The sauce gets it’s incredible flavor from the ground beef, onion, garlic, herbs, San Marzano tomatoes and a splash of balsamic vinegar. I let the mixture simmer slowly on the stove top until all the flavors come together.
Of course using a jar of pasta sauce is easier and convenient but if you actually care about flavor and want something that’s really going to taste amazing then you can’t go wrong with making homemade meat sauce from scratch. It’s 100% worth the extra effort! Plus you’re able to adjust the seasonings to your liking.
Serve the homemade meat sauce over spaghetti or your preffered choice of pasta and top it with plenty of freshly grated parmesan. You can add some garlic bread or a nice simple salad on the side for a delicious and satisfying meal the whole family will enjoy!
What is homemade meat sauce?
It’s a tomato based sauce made with ground beef, tomatoes, aromatics and seasonings. The low and slow simmer allows the ingredients to come together creating a rich and savory sauce that goes perfectly on spaghetti or your preffered choice of pasta.
Using canned tomatoes and canned tomato sauce does not mean the sauce is not homemade. They are simply ingredients used to prepare the sauce from scratch.
This recipe is best described as an Italian-American-style meat sauce rather than a traditional Bolognese sauce.
Why you’ll love this recipe
This homemade spaghetti with meat sauce is:
- Hearty and filling
- Made with simple ingredients
- Easy to prepare
- Perfect for feeding a family
- Freezer-friendly
- Even more flavorful the next day
Ingredients needed
Ground beef
Ground beef gives the sauce its hearty texture and rich flavor. I recommend using 80% lean ground beef.
Onion and garlic
Yellow onion and fresh garlic form the flavorful base of the sauce.
Tomatoes
This recipe uses a combination of whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes and tomato sauce. The whole tomatoes give the sauce a rich, slightly chunky texture, while the tomato sauce helps smooth everything out.
Regular whole peeled tomatoes can be used if San Marzano tomatoes are unavailable.
Herbs and seasonings
Salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, rosemary, and basil add plenty of savory flavor to the sauce.
Olive oil
Olive oil is used to cook the onion and garlic before adding the ground beef.
Bay leaf
The bay leaf adds subtle flavor while the sauce simmers. Be sure to remove it before serving.
Balsamic vinegar
A small amount of balsamic vinegar balances the richness of the beef and tomatoes with a touch of sweetness and acidity.
How to make homemade meat sauce
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat.
Once the oil is hot, add the diced onion. Cook the onion for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until it has softened.
Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute. Stir frequently so the garlic does not burn.
Next, add the ground beef. Break the beef into small pieces with a spatula and continue cooking until it is browned and no longer pink.
Allow the liquid released by the beef to evaporate. The beef will then begin to release some of its fat, which helps add flavor to the sauce.
Add the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, rosemary, and basil. Stir well and cook the seasonings with the beef for about 30 seconds.
Pour in the peeled tomatoes and tomato sauce. Add the bay leaf.
Use your spatula or a wooden spoon to break the whole tomatoes into smaller pieces. Scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the skillet and stir them into the sauce. Those browned bits add lots of savory flavor.
Bring the meat sauce to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for one hour.
Stir the sauce occasionally to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom of the skillet.
After the sauce has simmered, stir in the balsamic vinegar. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
Tips for the best homemade meat sauce
Let the onion cook
Cooking the onion for about 10 minutes allows it to soften and develop a sweeter, deeper flavor. Avoid rushing this step.
Brown the ground beef well
Allow the excess liquid from the beef to evaporate. Letting the beef brown slightly adds much more flavor than simply cooking it until it is no longer pink.
Scrape the bottom of the pan
After adding the tomatoes, scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. These bits dissolve into the sauce and give it a richer flavor.
Simmer the sauce slowly
The sauce needs time for the tomatoes, beef, and seasonings to come together. Keep the heat low and allow it to gently simmer for the full hour.
Stir in the balsamic vinegar at the end
Adding the balsamic vinegar after simmering helps preserve its slightly sweet and tangy flavor.
Taste before serving
Taste the finished sauce and add more salt or black pepper if needed. The amount of salt required may vary depending on the tomato sauce you use.
Can I use crushed tomatoes instead of whole tomatoes?
Yes. You can substitute a 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes for the peeled San Marzano tomatoes.
Crushed tomatoes will give the sauce a smoother texture. Whole peeled tomatoes create a slightly chunkier, more rustic meat sauce.
Is meat sauce the same as Bolognese?
They are similar, but they are not exactly the same.
American-style meat sauce is usually a tomato-forward sauce made with ground beef, tomatoes, herbs, and aromatics.
Traditional Bolognese is typically thicker and more focused on the meat. It may also contain ingredients such as milk, wine, pancetta, celery, and carrots.
This recipe is a homemade Italian-American-style spaghetti sauce with ground beef.
How long does homemade meat sauce last in the refrigerator?
Allow the leftover meat sauce to cool before transferring it to an airtight container.
It can be refrigerated for up to three or four days. Reheat it in a saucepan over medium-low heat or in the microwave until completely heated through.
Can homemade meat sauce be frozen?
Yes, this meat sauce freezes very well.
Let the sauce cool completely and transfer it to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Leave a little space at the top of the container because the sauce may expand as it freezes.
Freeze the meat sauce for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Homemade Meat Sauce
This homemade meat sauce is rich, hearty, and full of flavor. Ground beef, onion, garlic, herbs, tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar simmer together to create a comforting sauce that is perfect for serving over spaghetti.
Ingredients
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp dried rosemary
- 1/4 tsp dried basil
- 28 oz peeled San Marzano tomatoes
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbs balsamic vinegar
Instructions
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Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat.
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Once the oil is hot, add the diced onion. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened.
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Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
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Add the ground beef. Break it into small pieces with a spatula and cook until the liquid released by the beef has evaporated and the beef begins releasing its own fat.
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Add the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, rosemary, and basil. Stir well and cook for 30 seconds.
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Add the San Marzano tomatoes, tomato sauce, and bay leaf. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to break the tomatoes into smaller pieces.
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Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet and stir them into the sauce.
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Bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
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Stir in the balsamic vinegar.
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Remove and discard the bay leaf before serving.