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hearty spaghetti sauce recipe

Hearty Three-Meat Spaghetti Sauce

This robust spaghetti sauce combines ground beef, spicy sausage, and original sausage for incredible depth of flavor. Enhanced with a unique blend of spices including chili powder, cayenne, and curry, this sauce develops complex flavors during its hour-long simmer. Perfect for family dinners or entertaining guests.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups tomato juice
  • 3 teaspoons chili powder
  • 18 ounces tomato paste
  • 1 large sweet onion chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 lb original sausage
  • 2 cups celery chopped finely
  • 1 lb ground beef preferably 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio
  • 4 teaspoons salt
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 lb spicy ground sausage

Equipment

  • Large heavy-bottomed pot
  • Wooden spoon

Method
 

  1. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, brown the ground beef, spicy ground sausage, and original sausage together, breaking up the chunks with a wooden spoon as they cook (about 8-10 minutes) until no pink remains.
  2. Drain off the excess fat from the meat mixture.
  3. Add the chopped sweet onion, minced garlic, and finely chopped celery to the pot with the drained meat.
  4. Sprinkle in the salt, then add the tomato paste and tomato juice, stirring until well combined.
  5. Add the chili powder, cayenne pepper, and curry powder to the mixture and stir thoroughly.
  6. Reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and partially cover the pot.
  7. Simmer for 60 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. The sauce will gradually darken and thicken as it cooks.
  8. Serve over your favorite pasta, such as spaghetti, fettuccine, or pappardelle.

Notes

For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for the beef or use half the meat and double the vegetables. The sauce can be customized to your taste preferences - add red pepper flakes for more heat or a tablespoon of brown sugar for sweetness. A splash of red wine or balsamic vinegar adds wonderful depth of flavor.
This sauce pairs perfectly with garlic bread and a simple Caesar salad or mixed greens with vinaigrette. For a complete meal, serve with a medium-bodied red wine like Chianti or Merlot.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. The flavor often improves the next day as the spices continue to meld.