*Note: This recipe makes a ton and can easily be halved! This hearty meat sauce is a cinch to make and can be used on spaghetti, on garlic bread, or over cheese-stuffed pasta shells. Divine!
IMPORTANT: This recipe can easily be halved! I just like to make a ton so I can freeze it.
In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until totally browned. Remove meat from pot with a slotted spoon and put into a bowl. Set aside.
Discard any grease in pot, but do not clean the pot. Drizzle in olive oil. When it is heated, throw in the diced onion and diced bell pepper. Stir it around for 1 1/2 minutes, then add the garlic. Stir and cook for an additional minute.
Pour in the wine and allow it to bubble up and reduce for about 1 1/2 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and marinara sauce. Stir to combine, then add oregano, thyme, sugar, salt, bay leaves, and crushed red pepper (if using). Stir, then add cooked ground beef and stir to combine. Place the lid on the pot and allow to simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Add a little water or some low-sodium broth if it needs more liquid
After an hour, add the minced parsley and the rind from a wedge of Parmesan (or grated Parmesan if you prefer–or both!) Stir to combine, then put the lid back on and allow it to simmer for another 30 minutes or so. Discard bay leaves before serving.
Serve a big bowl of oiled noodles and spaghetti sauce so guests can serve themselves. Top each serving with minced parsley and grated Parmesan (or Parmesan shavings) and serve with a big piece of garlic-cheese bread.
Amen.
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I have made delicious sauce for 40 years. After making this, I will never go back.
I made this last night for my father-in-law’s girlfriend’s birthday, and it was a huge hit. It was very tasty and an easy recipe to put together. Thanks for another winner Ree!
Prep: Cook:
Serves: 4 Level: Easy
by Cooking Up Memories in
Main Courses
Prep: Cook:
Serves: 6 Level: Easy
Prep: Cook:
Serves: 4 Level: Easy
Prep: Cook:
Serves: 4 Level: Easy
by Chanda | My Farmhouse Table in
Main Courses
Prep: Cook:
Serves: 6 Level: Easy
3 Comments
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Megan on 7.16.2013
This is the best spaghetti sauce EVER! It tasted so much like what my Grandma used to make! I will definitely never use store bought again, this just taste so much better! Thanks PW!
Deedo on 9.20.2012
Oh yes, one more funny note. Your addition of the jarred spaghetti sauce to your “homemade” sauce reminded me of a time many years ago when I was raising my boys and invited a college student family friend to join us for dinner. The boys were about 8 and 10 years old and always lovedmy spaghetti sauce so I decided the college student might also. We were sitting at the table eating that night when the guest said to me, “Did you make this spaghetti sauce from scratch?” I answered coyly, “Why yes I did!? My ten year old then added, “No you didn’t Mom, it’s Ragu!” WEll, yes if you want to get technical it did have a jar of Ragu in it but a lot of other stuff too so I called it my own homemade sauce. The honesty of kids, huh?
Deedo on 9.20.2012
Hey Ree-Just made the Spaghetti Sauce to put it in my freezer according to your recipe from the other day. Just a few questions, I have never seen a 4 oz. can of tomato paste-so I used my 6 oz. I also didn’t have enough ground beef so I used half ground beef and half ground turkey. It smells delish as it is bubbling along. Can’t wait to freeze it an save it for a rainy day when I have nothing in the fridge or on the shelves, which is hardly ever of course! Or I might use it to take to a neightbor or sick friend along with a loaf of bread and a package of pasta someday. Also can’t wait to try it on the “garlic bread” with cheese. YUMMY!