Spaghetti and meat sauce is my favorite meal…ever. I love almost any iteration of it, but this one especially is my very favorite. Which is good, because its also really, really easy. Fresh onions and garlic get sautéd with lean ground beef, hit with a generous splash of your favorite red wine, some beef bouillon, and lots of tomato sauce.
Hearty Meat Sauce
Where did February go? I can’t believe March is almost here. The lengthening daylight hours are surely welcome though. The chickens are starting to lay again. We got 6 more chicks that are currently staying warm in my entryway, and the kids can FINALLY play outside after school for a while instead of it being dark 30 minutes after we get home.
That also means that summer is getting closer, which is a love/hate thing with me. I love the weather, and the lack of schedule, the kids sleeping in and the no homework, but ugggghhhhhh. Working at home with 7 kids here? The local Mexican restaurant and Starbucks are going to be seeing a LOT of me over the summer.
Thankfully – dinners like this hearty herbed meat sauce come together really quickly, which helps ANY time of year.
You can serve this with ravioli, spaghetti, or whatever your favorite noodle is. It is fantastic in lasagna, or over stuffed manicotti. Make a double batch and freeze half for an even easier dinner. You can stick the frozen brick of sauce in the crockpot in the morning and come home to simmering bubbling meat sauce.
You’ll love these garlic twisty breadsticks with this, and my Greek Freak Salad Dressing will be your new favorite homemade dressing.
Need something to serve with your pasta? Try some of my friend’s recipes!
Garlic Bread
Garlic Bread with Fresh Garlic and Parsley from Five Heart Home
Garlic Parmesan Bread Sticks from Simply Gloria
Roasted Garlic Parmesan Bread from Yellow Bliss Road
Caesar Salad
Homemade Caesar Dressing from Joyful Healthy Eats
No Egg Light Caesar Dressing from Will Cook For Smiles
Easy Homemade Caesar Dressing from A Dash of Sanity
Want to make your own pasta?
Cooking and Beer will show you how!
A Dash of Sanity will too.
Hearty Meat Sauce
Delicious and easy meat sauce that is filled with ground beef, tomato, olive oil, and lots of tomatoes.
Ingredients
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 pounds extra lean ground beef
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dry oregano
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons beef Better Than Bouillon, or comparable beef base
- 2 6-ounce cans tomato paste
- 3 cups water
- 3 28-ounce cans tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup red wine, like cabernet or pinot noir
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried red peppers
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Place the onion, garlic, and ground beef in a large stock pot over medium-high heat along with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dry oregano. Stir frequently and break up the meat as you brown it.
- Add the olive oil, bouillon, and tomato paste into the pot. Stir well to combine, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Add in water, tomato sauce, wine, and herbs.
- Simmer over low heat for 30-45 minutes minimum. More is better, but not necessary. Enjoy over pasta!
Notes
This makes a lot of sauce! You'll definitely have leftovers. We do - and I feed 9 here! That is by design. I like having lunches for a few days, or leftovers for another night later in the week, or another meal to freeze.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 477Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 1958mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 7gSugar: 17gProtein: 48g
Nicole Johnson
Nicole Johnson, a self-taught expert in grilling and outdoor cooking, launched Or Whatever You Do in 2010. Her blog, renowned for its comprehensive and creative outdoor cooking recipes, has garnered a vast audience of millions. Nicole's hands-on experience and passion for grilling shine through her work. Her husband, Jeremiah Johnson, also plays a pivotal role in recipe development, adding his culinary flair to the mix. Together, they form a dynamic duo, offering a rich and varied outdoor cooking experience to their followers.