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–+ servings
hearty family meat sauce

Hearty Meat Sauce

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This robust meat sauce combines savory ground beef with rich tomatoes and aromatic vegetables for a quick yet flavorful pasta topping. Ready in just 30 minutes, it delivers the taste of a sauce that's been simmering all day with minimal effort required.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 185
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon Splenda sugar substitute or regular sugar
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • ½ cup green pepper chopped
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons pepper
  • 1 (26½ ounce) can tomato sauce

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Wooden spoon

Method
 

  1. Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. No need to drain if using lean beef.
  2. Once beef is browned, add all remaining ingredients to the pot: tomato sauce, water, chopped onion, chopped green pepper, chili powder, salt, pepper, diced tomatoes, and sugar substitute.
  3. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
  4. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until flavors have melded and sauce has slightly thickened.

Nutrition

Calories: 185kcal

Notes

This sauce freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. Portion into airtight containers for quick weeknight meals. For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for the beef.
Try serving over spaghetti, pappardelle, ravioli, or even roasted spaghetti squash for a lower-carb option. Pairs perfectly with garlic bread and a simple green salad.

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