How to Make Homemade Spaghetti Meat Sauce

We can’t wait to show you how to make this rich and flavorful Homemade Spaghetti Meat Sauce recipe right in your own kitchen. It’s fast and easy, and it’s much healthier than buying sauce from a jar or can. We love that it’s low-carb, keto, dairy-free, and gluten-free too!

It takes only a few minutes to prepare this hearty Spaghetti Meat Sauce recipe. Then you can let it simmer while your kitchen fills with the aroma of fresh garlic, onion, and basil. The addition of balsamic vinegar gives it a richness that will make our Meat Sauce recipe a new family favorite!

Want to make it a full meal? Serve it over spaghetti or another favorite pasta and alongside our fresh Green Beans and Tomato Salad or our delicious Parmesan Zucchini Corn Salad.

Why Make Homemade MEAT Sauce?

• Simple ingredients. This delicious sauce uses fresh and easy-to-find ingredients.
• Healthier than store-bought. Our Meat Sauce recipe is rich and tasty but omits the added salt and sugar found in many canned and jarred sauces.
• Slow cooker friendly. You can simmer this on the stove, or put it in your slow cooker on low for a hot, delicious sauce waiting for dinnertime.
• Easy to freeze. Try making our spaghetti meat sauce in larger batches to keep in your freezer for a quick and easy meal.

Ingredients you’ll need

• Olive Oil
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Ground Beef
• Yellow Onion
• Garlic
• Dried Basil
• Canned Crushed Tomatoes
• Canned Chopped Tomatoes
• Salt and Pepper

STEP BY STEP PROCESS

1. Prepare the onion and garlic: Start by finely chopping the onion and press the garlic.

   

   

   

2. Heat the oil: Place a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add oil and heat until shimmering.
3. Stir in garlic and sauté for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add onion and cook until translucent.
   
4. Add ground beef: Immediately add ground beef and mix well, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until it is in small crumbles.
5. Cook: Cook until meat is brown and no longer pink. At this point you can drain the excess fat if desired.
6. Add tomatoes: Add crushed tomatoes and tomato puree.
7. Add remaining ingredients: Pour in vinegar and season with dried basil, salt and pepper.
8. Cover and simmer: Cover and let simmer on low for about 2 to 3 hours. Don’t forget to give the sauce a few
   good stirs in the meantime.
9. Enjoy: Serve the homemade meat sauce with your favorite cooked pasta.
   

FAQ’s and tips

• Tomatoes: Use both crushed and chopped tomatoes to add texture to the sauce.
• Garlic: We recommend using freshly chopped garlic for the best flavor, but you can also use jarred minced garlic if needed. Garlic powder does not make a good substitute since it adds bitterness to the sauce.
• Onion: Yellow onions are fantastic in this recipe, but Walla Walla or Vidalia onions make great substitutes.
• Oil: Olive oil adds great flavor to this sauce, but you can also use avocado oil or butter for keto.
• Don’t overcook the garlic. It burns easily and will give the sauce a bitter taste.
• To prevent oily meat sauce, drain the excess fat after cooking the ground beef.

How do you make meat sauce in the slow cooker?

This Meat Sauce is great in the slow cooker as well. Follow the instructions until the meat is cooked and the tomatoes and other seasonings are added. Transfer sauce to the slow cooker and cook on low for 3-5 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve over cooked pasta.

How do you freeze and defrost meat sauce?

Meat sauce can be stored in a container or freezer zipper bag and frozen up to 4-6 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight or in the microwave on the defrost setting. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave with your favorite cooked pasta.

Can you put raw meat in spaghetti sauce

So long as you plan on allowing the meat to cook in with the sauce until they are thoroughly cooked you can add raw meat or sausages to the meat sauce and allow it to cook through before serving.

What is meat sauce called

The meat sauce is called Bolognese sauce which is a classic Italian sauce made with ground beef or pork and cooked in a tomato-based sauce. The sauce is usually served over spaghetti and it is pronounced “bow-luh-nez”.

Other Healthy Italian-inspired recipes to check out

• Keto Creamy Italian Chicken Skillet
• Italian Chicken Veggie Soup
• Creamy Tuscan Chicken
• Cucumber and Tomato Salad
• Italian Spaghetti Squash Boats
• Low Carb Pizza
• One-Pot Chicken Spaghetti

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