Everyone needs a basic meat sauce recipe in their back pocket. Right? Well, my friends, this is mine.

Best Basic Meat Sauce Recipe

I’m taking a break from all things Thanksgiving to share with you my favorite go-to meat sauce recipe. Whether it’s for spaghetti, casseroles, sandwiches and most baked pasta recipes – this is it! It’s delicious, smells amazing and tastes infinitely better and is just as easy to make as it is twisting the cap off of a jar of store-bought sauce.

To Make This Best Basic Meat Sauce You Will Need:

  • olive oil
  • yellow onion, diced (about 1 heaping cup)
  • fresh garlic, minced
  • ground beef chuck, sirloin or round (your choice)
  • italian seasoning
  • basil
  • tomato sauce
  • tomato sauce
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar

Simple ingredients that yield a delicious yet traditional meat sauce. Sautéed onions, garlic and cooked ground beef mixed with tomato sauce, herbs and seasonings and simmered until perfect.

Start by sautéing 1 medium [diced] yellow onion in 2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium-low heat.

Season with a pinch or two of kosher salt, stir occasionally and sauté. Once the onion is soft and translucent, add in the 4 cloves of minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Then increase the heat to medium and then add in the raw ground beef (using your favorite: chuck, round or sirloin). Use a wooden spoon to break up the ground beef, cooking it until browned and no longer pink.

Drain the fat from the pan before seasoning the ground beef with 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon of dried basil and pour in all 4 cups or so of tomato sauce.

[If you’re interested in making your own Italian seasoning, you can find the recipe in my book.]

Best Basic Meat Sauce Recipe

Stir to combine and then season with 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Simmer on low heat for 2o minutes.

Best Basic Meat Sauce Recipe

Perfection!

I especially love this over roasted spaghetti squash “noodles” with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and parsley.

Best Basic Meat Sauce Recipe

FYI to make spaghetti squash noodles; I cut a medium spaghetti squash in half, scoop out the seeds, place it cut-side down in a roasting pan and pour about a cup of water. Then I roast it for 40 minutes in a preheated 400° oven. Once roasted [fork tender] and safe to handle, I use a fork and scrape the flesh. This basic meat sauce on spaghetti squash is a great way to have a light yet satisfying dinner that’s light on the carbs.

Now, wait until you see what I did with the leftovers [tomorrow].

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Best Basic Meat Sauce Recipe

Enjoy! And if you give this BEST Basic Meat Sauce recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

Best Basic Meat Sauce Recipe

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Yield: 8 servings

Best Basic Meat Sauce Recipe

Everyone needs a basic meat sauce recipe. Sautéed onion, garlic mixed with ground beef, tomato sauce and herbs. Serve over pasta or spaghetti squash!

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 1 heaping cup)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 pounds ground beef chuck, sirloin or round (your choice)
  • 2 teaspoons italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon basil
  • 30 ounces tomato sauce
  • 8 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar

Instructions 

  • In a deep sided 12-inch skillet, heat 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium-low heat.
  • Add in the onion and a pinch of kosher salt. Cook until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes.
  • Then stir in the garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes before adding in the ground beef.
  • Increase the heat to medium and use a wooden spoon to break up the beef and cook until browned. Use a spoon to remove the fat from the pan and discard.
  • Season the ground beef mixture with Italian seasoning and basil. Pour in the sauce and stir in the salt, pepper and sugar.
  • Simmer for 20 minutes on low heat before serving.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 307kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 20g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 81mg, Sodium: 370mg, Potassium: 342mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 11IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 35mg, Iron: 2mg