5 Ingredient Meat Sauce Recipe – Ready in Less than an Hour
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Easy 5-ingredient meat sauce is fast, hearty and versatile! With only a handful of basic ingredients and minimal prep time, you can get dinner on the table in no time.
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Simple and Savory
What you’ll love about this recipe
Here is what you will need
Ingredient List
How to make the best homemade meat sauce
STEP 1: Heat olive oil ina heavy pot over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, reduce heat to medium; add the garlic and onions. Cook for a minute or two until they begin to soften. Add the ground beef and continue to cook over medium heat until the meat is almost cooked through.
STEP 2: Stir in the tomatoes and reduce to medium-low heat. Simmer for at least 30 minutes.
STEP 3: Stir in chopped fresh basil with a wooden spoon and simmer a few minutes longer.
Tips & Tricks for Making the Best Meat Sauce
- Add a little extra flavor by adding a few chunks of parmesan rinds to simmer in the sauce.
- Add a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar when the onions and garlic are cooking for a little more flavor.
- If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little bit of water, white wine or pasta water.
- If the sauce is too thin, thicken it up by cooking it longer or gradually adding tomato paste.
- Reduce the acidity in the sauce, add a small pinch of sugar or baking soda.
Make it your own
- Add flavor with a tablespoon of pesto sauce or a splash of balsamic
- Saute some veggies such as carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini and add them to the sauce.
- If you have leftover meat to use up such as beef or chicken shred it and stir it into the sauce.
Ways to use this meat sauce
- Toss with spaghetti or any pasta shape
- Layer it into lasagna or baked ziti
- Spoon over baked potatoes or roasted vegetables
- Top pizza or use it as a calzone or stromboli filling or dipper
- Use in stuffed peppers, stuffed cabbage or stuffed zucchini
- Serve it in hoagie rolls for a quick Italian sloppy Joe
How to store leftovers
Leftovers of this delicious meat sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Serve leftover sauce over pasta, use it to make baked ziti or lasagna or spread it on Italian bread or a flatbread with a little mozzarella cheese for a quick pizza.
How to freeze meat sauce
Sauces like this one often taste much better after they have been frozen, so be sure to double this recipe. Freeze the leftover sauce in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
Defrost the sauce in the refrigerator overnight or you can heat it from frozen in a double boiler or over low heat on top of the stove.
Serving suggestions
Serve this hearty meat sauce topped with shredded parmesan cheese over your favorite pasta and a zesty baby arugula salad or chopped Greek salad and garlic bread for a complete and easy meal.
This quick meat sauce also tastes great over zucchini noodles for a low-carb and healthy dinner.
Fresh plum or San Marzano tomatoes are the best tomatoes to use for pasta sauce. If fresh isn’t available, look for low-sodium San Marzano or organic strained tomatoes for the freshest tasting sauce.
Bolognese sauce is a robust sauce that is a slowly cooked meat sauce. It cooks for hours and it’s made with garlic, red wine, carrots and celery with a splash of milk added just before serving. Meat sauce is a tomato based sauce that cooks quickly and is not as robust but still delicious.
Most fresh herbs don’t retain flavor as they cook so it’s best to add them near the end of cooking for a more flavor.
Yes. Brown the meat, garlic and onions in a large skillet. Add it to a slow cooker followed by the remaining ingredients. Cook on low heat for at least 4 hours.
Grab your Free copy !
Stuck on What to Make for Dinner?
Download my free Meal Matrix and mix-and-match your way to simple, satisfying meals—fast!
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Simple and Savory
More tasty recipes to check out
Click on serving size to scale this recipe
5 Ingredient Meat Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1/2 pound Lean ground beef ground chicken, or turkey will work too
- 4 cloves Garlic crushed or minced
- 1/2 cup Onion chopped
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes or 14 oz diced and 14 oz tomato puree
- 3 tablespoons chopped basil
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot reduce to medium heat and add the 4 cloves garlic (chopped) and 1/2 cup onion (chopped). Cook for a minute or two until they begin to soften.
- Add 1/2 pound leann ground beef and reduce the heat to medium heat until them eat is almost cooked through.
- Stir in the 14 ounces diced tomatoes and 14 ounces strained tomatoes and reduce the heat to medium-low heat. Simmer for 30 minutes.
- Stir in 3 tablespoons basil (chopped) and cook for a few minutes longer.
Notes
- Add flavor with a tablespoon of pesto sauce or a splash of balsamic
- Saute some veggies such as carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini and add them to the sauce.
- If you have leftover meat to use up such as beef or chicken shred it and stir it into the sauce.
- Add a little extra flavor by adding a few chunks of Parmesan rinds to simmer in the sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
