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There is nothing as comforting as a homemade meaty red sauce – just give me a spoon! This is one of those deliciously easy recipes that only has a few inexpensive ingredients and can be dressed up if needed. And an all-time favorite of mine.
There are 2 things that I am a sucker for in this world. Tacos. and Red meat sauce. Yes, I love sushi and pizza and a great burger too. But those are my absolute two things that if offered, I am going to cave for no matter what. Every single time.
And this is one of my favorite down and dirty little black book recipes – the kind everyone should master and have on lock for whenever they need to 1) impress a date or 2) eat on a dime. It makes a ton and is perfect over pasta for a candlelit dinner. The aroma of simmering tomatoes filling the home and making it seem like a very special occasion (and no lie, if you made this for me, would totally impress).
It’s also one of those scrappy little meals that doesn’t require a huge investment. And that, some days is a big deal. I love seeing how far I can stretch my dollars when cooking at home and how luxurious I can make a meal.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, sauce is not luxurious. But, if you love a good red sauce as much as I do, loaded with beef, this is pretty amazing and does the job really well. Over a slice of toast or fancy bread from the baker, with a few greens under and a glass of red, it’s pretty darned luxurious to me.
What you need for meat sauce
I love any recipe that involves some basic pantry staples that I stock up on during sales. This is one of those, with just cans of diced and crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and sauce that I but when they are all under a buck and a frozen package of spinach, thawed. After that it’s just onion, garlic and spices and dinner is in the works.
I love saving money and did you know that it’s often cheaper to buy big packages of ground beef? I buy these bigger packages, 4 or 5 pounds, or grind my own, and then portion out the beef and seal it before freezing. This can save me a ton of money and means I always have ground beef whenever I need it in the freezer.
You can use ground beef or pork for this recipe. I tend to use beef cuz It’s what I buy in bulk, but ground pork is great, and if you shop sales, also super inexpensive.
How to make this recipe
Because I was batching out a large package of ground beef, I browned the meat a day ahead, but this could all be done in one Dutch oven from start to finish.
But, otherwise, you just brown the beef and set it aside before sauteeing the onion and cooking the sauce in the pot.
You don’t want to drain any of the tomatoes, their juices are what add the liquid. Also, the spinach will add a little liquid too. If you think it is still too thick after that, you can add a quarter cup of water.
Serve this with a green salad over pasta and it’s I promise, it’s the most comforting thing you will make this week.
Tips to level up your homemade sauce and boost the flavor
Add a little bit of these basic ingredients if your sauce is feeling bland and watch it level up. I find that with basic recipes, a little goes a really long way so don’t overdo it here. Just a pinch.
- Red wine
- Balsamic vinegar
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Use sausage instead of beef. Or Veal. Or Pork. Or a mix of any / all of the above.
- Splash of cream – yep trust me on this one.
Tip: I also simmer my meat sauce a day before I want to serve it. It’s like chili, it just gets better with a 24 hour mingle.
Want more easy dinner ideas? Try some of my favorite recipes
- Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Chicken
- Potato Crusted Homemade Chicken Nuggets
- Quick Banh Mi Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Hoisin Chicken Sliders
If you’ve tried my Cheap Meat Sauce or any other recipe on GirlCarnivore.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe with some stars below (like 5 if you’re feeling it) and let me know where you found it in the comments below.
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Easy Meat Sauce
Equipment
- dutch oven
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 6 oz jar tomato paste
- 28 oz jar petite diced tomatoes
- 28 oz jar crushed tomatoes
- 8 oz jar tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup tomatoes diced
- 1 tspn salt
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 tspn red pepper flakes
- 10 oz frozen chopped spinach thawed
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the ground beef; 7 to 10 minutes
- Remove the beef from the pan and reserve. Drain the fat.
- Add the onion to the sautee, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds longer.
- Next, add in the tomato paste, stirring to coat and cook 1 minute.
- Add the petite diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, diced fresh tomatoes, salt, bay leaves, and red pepper flakes.
- Stir to combine.
- Add the spinach to the tomatoes and break up with a spoon.
- Finally, add the beef back in and allow the sauce to simmer for 30 minutes, covered.
- When ready to serve, make sure the sauce is piping hot. Garnish with minced parsley and fresh parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
Hey, I’m Kita, the Meat Maven, outdoor junkie, campfire connoisseur, adventure-seeking and world traveled recipe developer and photographer behind GirlCarnivore.com. My mission is to break down savory eats and inspire you to get a little grit under your nails while having fun with your food. READ MORE
Cindy says
This looks so comforting!! And looks delicious. I am putting it on the menu plan for next week!
EA The Spicy RD says
Pasta with meat source is a favorite at our house, and Iove your addition of spinach to this recipe. Great idea to add a little balsamic vinegar too. So delicious!