Dips & Sauces

Meat Tomato Sauce

  • Prep 10 mins
  • Total 1h 5 mins
  • Easy
  • Serves 12

This meat sauce makes a quick pasta dinner for families or unexpected guests. Classic marinara tomato sauce with savory meat and Italian herbs.

Cooking mode

Step-by-step instruction without your screen going to sleep

  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon canola oil
  • 1 pound ground sausage, pork or beef (or combination of the three, equivalent to 1 lb.)
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • 28 ounces tomato puree
  • 84 ounces crushed tomatoes (“Italian style” or with basil, optional)
  • 3 tablespoons dried Italian herbs
  • 3 teaspoons sugar
  • ½ cup vegetable or beef stock
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Utensils

  • Step 1

    Preheat Ninja 6.5-quart stock pot on medium-high heat for 3 minutes. Add oil and diced onion and sauté until softened, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and sauté until onion begins to brown at edges, about 5 minutes longer.  

  • Step 2

    Add ground meat and break up into small pieces. Cook until no longer pink, about 10 minutes.

  • Step 3

    Add tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently, until the paste turns into a brick red color. 

  • Step 4

    Pour in remaining tomato products, sugar, herbs and stock. Stir together until everything has been incorporated. 

  • Step 5

    Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 45 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.