Dad’s Easy Meat Sauce Recipe: Quick, Flavorful, and Your Weeknight Hero

Craving a rich, hearty meat sauce but short on time? Dad’s easy meat sauce recipe is your answer. Forget simmering for hours or wrestling with complicated kitchen gadgets. This delicious, satisfying sauce comes together in about 40 minutes, relying on simple ingredients and straightforward techniques. All you need is a reliable pan, a can opener, and your favorite knife to whip up a family-favorite meal.

Life gets busy, and sometimes a quick yet flavorful dinner is exactly what you need. While a slow-simmered Sunday gravy has its place, there are those nights when you simply don’t have the luxury of time. This recipe delivers a deeply flavored sauce that tastes like it cooked all day, but is ready in a fraction of the time. It’s perfect over a mound of al dente pasta, or as the star in beloved comfort dishes like lasagna and stuffed shells. Dad makes this recipe probably once a week because it’s that good and that easy!

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Unlock Authentic Flavor: The Magic of San Marzano Tomatoes

When a recipe boasts a short ingredient list, the quality of each component becomes paramount. In the world of tomato sauces, San Marzano tomatoes stand in a league of their own. Dad always says, and it bears repeating: for unparalleled taste in your sauce, these are the tomatoes you need.

What makes San Marzano tomatoes so special? Originating from the Agro Sarnese-Nocerino region of Italy, these plum tomatoes are known for their distinct characteristics: a sweeter, less acidic flavor, fewer seeds, and a thicker flesh. This makes them ideal for sauces where the natural tomato taste is meant to shine, rather than being masked by excessive sugar or other ingredients. Look for cans explicitly labeled “D.O.P.” (Denominazione d’Origine Protetta) or “Certified San Marzano” to ensure you’re getting the genuine article. Even major retailers like Walmart often carry certified options, so finding them is easier than you might think. Investing in quality tomatoes is the first step towards a truly exceptional meat sauce.

The Secret to Perfect Aromatics: Starting Garlic and Onion in a Cold Pan

One of Dad’s key techniques for maximizing flavor and preventing culinary mishaps involves how you start your aromatics. He always begins with garlic and onion in a cold pan. Why?

Adding delicate ingredients like minced garlic directly to a blazing hot pan is a recipe for disaster. Garlic can go from perfectly golden to acrid and burnt in a matter of seconds, leaving a bitter taste that can ruin your entire sauce. By starting them in a cold pan with olive oil, you allow the aromatics to gently heat up alongside the oil. This gradual process coaxes out their natural sugars and deep, savory flavors without scorching them. It gives you a larger window of control, ensuring your garlic and onions caramelize beautifully and infuse the oil with their essence, forming a delicious foundation for your meat sauce.

Don’t Be Shy: The Crucial Role of Salt in Tomato Sauce

Salt isn’t just about making food “salty”; it’s a powerful flavor enhancer, especially in a tomato-based sauce. Without adequate salt, a dish can taste flat, dull, or incomplete. It brings out the inherent sweetness and tang of the tomatoes, balances the richness of the meat, and melds all the flavors together into a harmonious whole.

While you should never go overboard, don’t be afraid to season boldly and, most importantly, *taste as you go*. Start with the recommended amount, then adjust to your personal preference after the sauce has had a chance to simmer. A properly salted sauce transforms from merely good to truly spectacular. Enough with these essential tips, let’s dive into Dad’s Easy Meat Sauce Recipe!

Preparation: The Foundation of Flavor

Begin by peeling and finely dicing your white onion and garlic. Uniformly sized pieces will ensure even cooking and distribution of flavor throughout the sauce.

Tomato Transformation: Crushing for Texture

Next, open and empty the cans of San Marzano Tomatoes into a large, sturdy bowl. The best way to achieve the perfect sauce consistency is to crush the whole tomatoes by hand. Submerge each tomato completely under the liquid in the bowl before squeezing to prevent a splashy mess. This hands-on method allows you to control the texture, leaving some larger pieces for a rustic feel while breaking down most of the tomatoes into a rich pulp.

Building the Base: Sautéing Aromatics

Take a high-sided sauté pan and generously coat the bottom with extra virgin olive oil. Add the diced onions and minced garlic to this cold pan. Place the pan over medium-high heat and cook the aromatics, stirring occasionally, until the garlic begins to turn light golden brown and the onions are translucent and tender. This gentle sautéing technique, starting from a cold pan, ensures a sweet, aromatic base without any bitterness.

Browning the Meat and Seasoning

Once the garlic starts to brown, add your ground beef/pork mixture to the pan. Break up the meat with a spatula as it cooks. Immediately add 1 tablespoon of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of onion powder, 1 teaspoon of dried basil, 1 teaspoon of dried parsley, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook the meat, stirring frequently, until it is fully browned and cooked through. If your meat mixture is particularly lean, you might need to add a splash more olive oil during cooking. For fattier blends, drain off any excess fat before proceeding to the next step, ensuring your sauce isn’t greasy.

Simmer and Savor: Bringing It All Together

With the meat fully cooked, it’s time to introduce your hand-crushed San Marzano tomatoes to the pan. Stir everything together thoroughly, ensuring the meat, aromatics, and tomatoes are well combined. Reduce the heat to medium-low, allowing the sauce to gently simmer for 10-15 minutes. This simmering period allows the flavors to meld and deepen, creating a harmonious and robust sauce.

After simmering, taste the sauce. This is your chance to adjust the seasoning to perfection. Dad often adds an additional 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of sugar at this stage. The sugar helps to balance the acidity of the tomatoes and enhance their natural sweetness. Serve your magnificent meat sauce over your favorite pasta, or reserve it for hearty dishes like Dad’s famous Lasagna Recipe or cheesy stuffed shells. Enjoy!

Easy Meat Sauce Recipe

Dad’s easy meat sauce recipe only has a few ingredients and comes together in a flash. You can eat it over pasta or use it in a myriad of stuffed pasta dishes like lasagna or stuffed shells.

Course:
Main Course

Cuisine:
Italian

Keyword:
easy recipes, meat sauce, pasta sauce, quick dinner

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Cook Time:

25 minutes

Servings:
6

Calories:

268
kcal

Author:
Dad

Equipment

Deep Sided Saute Pan
Chef Knife
Cutting Board
Spatula
Can Opener

Ingredients

2 Cans Canned Peeled San Marzano Tomatoes (28 oz each)
1 lb Ground Beef/Pork Mix
1 Medium White Onion
6 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
1 tablespoon Onion Powder
2 teaspoon Salt (or more to taste)
1 teaspoon Sugar
4 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (estimate)
1 tablespoon Dried Basil
1 tablespoon Dried Parsley

Instructions

Peel and dice the white onion.
Peel and mince the garlic cloves.
Open and empty the cans of San Marzano Tomatoes into a large bowl. Crush the tomatoes with your hands by squeezing the whole tomatoes. Ensure you submerge the tomatoes under all the sauce in the bowl before squeezing to prevent a large mess.
Coat a high-sided sauté pan with extra virgin olive oil (enough to coat the bottom of the pan) and add the onions and garlic.
Place the pan over medium-high heat and cook the onions and garlic until the garlic starts to brown and the onions are softened.
Once the garlic begins to brown, add the ground beef/pork mixture.
Add in 1 tablespoon of Garlic Powder, 1 tablespoon of Onion Powder, 1 teaspoon of Dried Basil, 1 teaspoon of Dried Parsley, and 1 teaspoon of Salt.
Cook until the meat is browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart with a spatula. If needed, you can add some extra olive oil.
Depending on how fatty your meat mixture was, you may need to drain the fat before proceeding.
Once the meat is cooked, add in your crushed tomatoes.
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir the sauce and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
After the sauce has simmered, taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking. Dad recommends adding an additional 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of sugar to enhance the flavor balance.
Serve this versatile meat sauce over your favorite pasta or use it in a hearty dish like Dad’s Lasagna Recipe.

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Serving Suggestions for Your Delicious Meat Sauce

This easy meat sauce is incredibly versatile, making it a fantastic addition to many meals beyond just a simple pasta dish. Here are some ideas to make the most of your freshly prepared sauce:

Classic Pasta Pairing: Serve it over your favorite pasta – spaghetti, fettuccine, penne, or rigatoni work wonderfully. A sprinkle of fresh Parmesan cheese and a dash of chopped fresh parsley are the perfect finishing touches.
Hearty Lasagna: This sauce is robust enough to be the star of a layered lasagna. Its rich flavor pairs perfectly with ricotta, mozzarella, and tender pasta sheets.
Stuffed Pasta Dishes: Use it to fill large pasta shells, manicotti, or even ravioli, then bake with extra cheese for a comforting casserole.
Meatball Sub Upgrade: Spoon generous amounts of this meat sauce over toasted rolls filled with meatballs and melted provolone for an epic sandwich.
Polenta Perfection: Serve over creamy polenta for a rustic and satisfying Italian-inspired meal.
Baked Potatoes: For a surprisingly delicious and hearty twist, top baked potatoes with a spoonful of meat sauce and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.

Tips for Success and Variations

To ensure your meat sauce turns out perfect every time, keep these additional tips in mind:

Don’t Rush the Browning: Allow the meat to brown properly, developing a rich crust, before adding the tomatoes. This creates deeper, more complex flavors.
Adjust Spices: While the recipe provides a great starting point, feel free to adjust the herbs and spices to your preference. A pinch of red pepper flakes can add a subtle kick, or more basil and oregano for an extra aromatic boost.
Consider Fresh Herbs: If you have fresh basil or parsley on hand, stir them in during the last few minutes of simmering for a burst of fresh flavor.
Make Ahead: Meat sauce often tastes even better the next day as the flavors have more time to meld. This makes it an excellent candidate for meal prepping.

Storage and Reheating

This meat sauce stores beautifully, making it ideal for leftovers or meal prep:

Refrigeration: Store leftover meat sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing: For longer storage, transfer cooled sauce to freezer-safe containers or bags. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating: Gently reheat the sauce on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of water or broth if it has thickened too much.

Have a Little More Time? Explore Dad’s Heartier Sauce!

If you find yourself with a bit more time and a desire for an even more robust and fulfilling meal, why not try Dad’s Instant Pot Sauce with Sausage and Meatballs Recipe? It’s another fantastic option for a deeply flavorful sauce, perfect for those occasions when you want to truly impress or just enjoy an extra-special family dinner.

Connect with Dad on YouTube!

Are you looking for more culinary inspiration, helpful cooking tips, or just want to see Dad in action? Head over to his YouTube channel! You’ll find a wide variety of engaging cooking videos and food-related content that will help you elevate your kitchen skills and discover new favorite recipes.

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