Name: Family Favorite Spaghetti Sauce with Meat
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 20 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound uncooked lean ground beef (90-93% lean); 1/2 onion, diced; 2 large cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 cup chicken broth; 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (1 large can); 16 ounces tomato sauce (2 small cans); 6 ounces tomato paste (1 small can); 1 tablespoon dried oregano; 1 tablespoon dried parsley; 1 tablespoon dried basil; 1 tablespoon granulated sugar; 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper

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Inside: Get a recipe for an easy, family-friendly spaghetti sauce with meat that’s thick and comforting–plus, it feeds a crowd.

White bowl of spaghetti sauce with meat on top of spaghetti with a silver fork.

About this recipe

Over the years, a good friend of mine gave us tubs of this homemade spaghetti sauce when we had a new baby, moved, or just needed comfort food (good friends know that kind of thing).

I finally asked her for the recipe. And now I make this hearty, satisfying spaghetti sauce with meat whenever I want a slam-dunk dinner everyone loves. Or just some comfort.

It’s also a perfect recipe for a crowd, since it makes 8-10 servings. If you’re not feeding a crowd, tuck some away in the freezer for your future-self. Or give it to a good friend who needs comfort right now too.

Ingredients you need

Olive oil
Onion + garlic (if you’re sensitive to onions and garlic together like I am, you can omit the garlic and it will still be yummy)
Ground beef or turkey (I use lean, 90=93% lean)
Crushed tomatoes
Tomato sauce
Tomato paste
Chicken broth (I use water + Better Than Bouillon)
Sugar
Salt
Seasonings (thyme, oregano, basil, and parsley)

Ingredients for Spaghetti Sauce with Meat sit on a white counter.

FAQ

How do I store this sauce?

Place the sauce in an airtight container (I use Pyrex glass dishes) and refrigerate. Use within 3-4 days.

Can I freeze it?

Absolutely! I do it all the time. Stash it away in an airtight container or freezer bag pressed flat. For best quality, use within 2-3 months.

Can I make it in the Instant Pot?

Yes! Here’s the recipe for Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce.

What pasta goes best with this sauce?

I’ve found that this thick, hearty sauce goes well with spaghetti, rigatoni, and penne.

Plastic tub of spaghetti sauce with meat labeled with tape sits on a white counter.

Variations

To make it vegetarian, skip the beef or turkey.
To make a smoother sauce, whirl the crushed tomatoes in a blender before adding them.
To include extra veggies, add a cup of finely diced carrots along with the onion.