Description
This rich and flavorful pasta sauce combines sweet Italian sausage, lean ground beef, and a blend of tomatoes and herbs, simmered to perfection. Ideal for lasagna or as a hearty meat sauce served with your favorite pasta, this sauce is a versatile and crowd-pleasing addition to any Italian meal.
Ingredients
Meat
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, sliced
- ¾ pound lean ground beef
Vegetables & Aromatics
- ½ cup minced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
Tomato Base
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 (6.5 ounce) cans tomato sauce
- 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
- ½ cup water
Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon fennel seed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Collect all required ingredients to ensure a smooth cooking process.
- Brown the Meat and Aromatics: In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the sweet Italian sausage slices, lean ground beef, minced onion, and crushed garlic until the meat is browned and the onions are softened. Drain excess fat to avoid grease in the sauce.
- Add Tomato Base: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water, combining all elements evenly.
- Season the Sauce: Mix in the white sugar, dried basil, Italian seasoning, fennel seed, salt, and ground black pepper thoroughly to balance flavors.
- Simmer: Cover the pot and let the sauce simmer gently over low heat for about 1½ hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and allowing the flavors to meld fully.
- Serve: Once cooked through and rich in flavor, ladle the sauce over your favorite pasta or use it as a delicious base in lasagna. Enjoy!
Notes
- Simmering the sauce for at least 1½ hours allows the flavors to develop fully and the texture to thicken.
- Draining excess fat after browning meat helps reduce greasiness and results in a cleaner-tasting sauce.
- Fennel seed adds a subtle licorice-like flavor common in Italian sausages, enhancing the sauce's depth.
- This sauce freezes well—store in airtight containers for up to 3 months for easy future meals.
- Adjust seasoning to taste, especially salt and spices, based on your preference.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hr 40 mins
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
