Quick Tomato Sauce
- Quick Tomato Sauce
- Featured Comment
- REASONS TO MAKE QUICK TOMATO MEAT SAUCE
- TOMATO SAUCE, MEAT SAUCE, SPAGHETTI SAUCE VS. BOLOGNESE SAUCE
- Tomato sauce
- Bolognese sauce
- TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SUCCESS
- WHAT TO SERVE WITH TOMATO MEAT SAUCE
- TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE
- QUICK TOMATO SAUCE: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Recipe
- Ingredients
- Equipment
- Instructions
You can skip the jarred sauce! This is super quick, easy, fresh and so so good using pantry staples. Just 30 minutes start to finish!
REASONS TO MAKE QUICK TOMATO MEAT SAUCE
- Family-friendly weeknight staple. Made in 30 min start to finish, this easy spaghetti meat sauce is truly a weeknight hero. Serve over freshly cooked pasta for the whole family to enjoy!
- Restaurant-worthy. Skip the store-bought tomato sauce. Without the added preservatives, the homemade version is so much more flavorful and fresh.
- Reheats and freezes so well. Spaghetti sauce can keep in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 3 months. This is a great recipe to double or triple to keep prepped meals on hand, creating a quick pasta dinner for the months ahead.
TOMATO SAUCE, MEAT SAUCE, SPAGHETTI SAUCE VS. BOLOGNESE SAUCE
Tomato sauce
Tomato sauce, also known as meat sauce or spaghetti sauce, is a tomato-based sauce typically made with crushed tomatoes, garlic and various dried herbs such as oregano and basil, served over spaghetti pasta.
Bolognese sauce
While also a meat-based sauce, bolognese is a type of ragu originating from Bologna, Italy. Bolognese sauce typically includes milk, yielding a thicker and more rice sauce, and uses less tomato than tomato sauce.
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SUCCESS
- Choose a wine you will drink. A dry red wine (cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir or merlot) is great here – it does not have to be anything fancy or overpriced. Just something you don’t mind sipping on since you will have an open bottle.
- Simmer for longer. Prefer an even thicker sauce? Simmer the sauce for an additional 5-10 minutes, reducing some of the liquid and yielding a thicker consistency. Alternatively, for a thinner sauce, reduce the simmer time as needed.
- Mix it up. Use a combination of beef, Italian sausage and veal, or add 1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes for a subtle kick of heat.
- Freeze as needed. Spaghetti sauce freezes beautifully! Let cool completely; portion into plastic freezer bags in individual servings, squeezing out any excess air before sealing. Lay the bags flat in a single layer in the freezer (this will help them freeze quickly). To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge, reheating over low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH TOMATO MEAT SAUCE
- Easy Skillet Dinner Rolls
- Italian Chopped Salad
- Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
- Glazed Carrots
- Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE
Dutch oven
QUICK TOMATO SAUCE: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The sugar is not necessarily added for sweetness, but rather to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes. Alternatively, you can add 1 chopped carrot for its natural sweetness.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Yes! Tomato meat sauce is very freezer-friendly for up to 3 months, perfect for leftovers and meal prep.
Recipe
Yield: 6 cups
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Ingredients
Equipment
Dutch Oven
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add ground beef, onion and celery, and cook until beef has browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the beef as it cooks; drain excess fat.
2. Stir in garlic, oregano and basil until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste.
3. Stir in wine, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
4. Stir in tomatoes and sugar. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until flavors have blended, about 10-15 minutes.*
5. Remove from heat; stir in Parmesan and butter until melted, about 1 minute; season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Serve with desired pasta.
Featured Comment
Katie
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