Quick & Easy Meat Sauce Recipe - Jenny Jones | Jenny Can Cook (2024)

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Simple Meat Sauce

Use the leanest ground beef you can and the best canned tomatoes will be plum tomatoes, especially San Marzano, which should be pureed in a food processor or broken up by hand. Cook the sauce until it’s a consistency you like, longer for a thicker sauce or less for more liquid. - Jenny Jones

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Makes: 3 - 4 servings

Quick & Easy Meat Sauce Recipe - Jenny Jones | Jenny Can Cook (1)

Ingredients:

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 pound lean ground beef

  • 28 ounce can plum tomatoes, pureed
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt + pepper to taste

  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions:

  1. In a large pan on medium-high, heat the oil and sauté onion & garlic for 2 minutes.
  2. Add beef. Cook & stir for 4 minutes until pink is gone.
  3. Add remaining ingredients and cook uncovered, over medium heat for about 20 minutes.

Notes: Still want the original recipe? Click here

Simple Meat Sauce

Leave a Comment

  1. Marion miller

    November 8, 2023 at 3:03 pm

    Do you sell cookbooks??
    And what can I Substitute for a cast iron pan??? Thanks

    Reply to this comment

    • Jenny Can Cook

      November 9, 2023 at 8:40 am

      I do not sell cookbooks and I don’t think there is any substitute for cast iron. No other pan can be used at such a high heat.

      Reply to this comment

    • Donna

      September 20, 2022 at 10:17 am

      Jennie,
      I love spaghetti and being 65 and living alone I was looking for a simpler recipe because the tomato sauces with all the spices are not good for me. I never thought of using canned tomatoes. Wow what a difference that made! I just used chopped (frozen) onions, 1 green bell pepper and a small jar of mushroom’s all sautéed in butter with the tomato sauce and hamburger. ( also a small shake of garlic powder) BEST and easiest spaghetti sauce ever! Thank you so much for the idea.

      Reply to this comment

    • Barbara

      August 23, 2022 at 11:32 am

      I’m looking forward to making your simple sauce! I have always added a bit of sugar to tame the acidity. Most of my recipes call for sugar to temper it. Have you ever done this?

      Reply to this comment

    • Anna

      August 31, 2020 at 10:33 pm

      Hi Jenny,

      I ha e been a fan of yours for many years. I used to watch your talk show and was disappointed when it ended. About 8 months ago I found your cooking channel and lit up like a Christmax tre?? e until I realized ( I was I denial) it wasn’t current ☹. I did binge watching of ALL your recipes and have been cooking/baking many of them! I love that they are so healthy for me ( over 60 ) but most of all I LOVE that they are not complicated and easy to follow and execute with normal everyday I gredients we shop for, allows my grandson ( he is 12 ) me to cook together ???. He loves cooking/baking and helping out and now follows many of your recipes on his own.

      Jenny I do pray, wish and hope you will come back and revive your channel. You have many followers who would love it and welcome you back with open arms. Please think about it ????????

    • Mary

      May 9, 2020 at 8:49 am

      Thanks so much for all your great recipes. They are a ten Love the videos so helpful and your fun personality !Have great reviews family and friends ♥️Mary

      Reply to this comment

    • Emeraldae

      April 26, 2020 at 5:46 pm

      I came by your videos by accident.
      I am definitely trying your breads.
      I am use to making cool rise breads.
      I was so impressed with your easy to make recipes. You would make such a great teacher for people who would like to learn how to cook and bake.
      I forwarded some of your videos to Facebook and friends.
      You have such a great sense of humor.
      People would feel so comfortable being around you.
      Blessings to you.
      Looked for your cookbook..could not find it for less than $69..

      Reply to this comment

      • Jenny Can Cook

        April 27, 2020 at 9:59 am

        I have no cookbook for sale so that’s probably not mine. My old book is out of print but all the recipes from the book are here on this website so there is no need to look for my cookbook.

        Reply to this comment

        • CJ

          February 15, 2021 at 11:54 am

          Older book out of print hard to find and expensive so we are blessed to have Jenny’s recipes at our finger tips!

          Reply to this comment

        • SRB

          January 7, 2020 at 8:26 pm

          I just made this tonight. It tasted so good and I couldn’t believe how easy it was to make. We served it with cheese tortellini. Thanks, Jenny!

          Reply to this comment

        • Barbara smith

          September 26, 2019 at 10:28 am

          Jenny I love your video, and your jokes. Your recipe have shown me that cooking can be fun. Thank you and hope to see more of your video.

          Reply to this comment

        • Shelly

          April 20, 2019 at 5:16 pm

          Jenny on your spaghetti sauce can I just use a can of purées tomatoes as I don’t have a food processor.

          Reply to this comment

          • Jenny Can Cook

            April 30, 2019 at 11:44 am

            I just tried it with canned pureed tomatoes and it’s thicker than using the whole tomatoes that you process but it did taste good, although I added some water to thin the sauce.

            Reply to this comment

          • Norma

            August 18, 2019 at 3:57 pm

            I also have no food processor, but look for cans of crushed tomatoes without “tomato paste” or “tomato concentrate” as an ingredient. You’ve got to look, but they are out there. Lots of the purees have tomato paste added, and some are even made of tomato paste plus water & salt & for me that kills the freshness. If I’m cooking only for myself, I’ll open a small (approx. 13.5 ounce) can of stewed tomatoes that have basil &/or other Italian herbs & seasonings. The meat & Parmesan & 3 tBsps of dry red wine round it out better than many restaurants. Leftover tomatoes go on tomorrow’s Chicken Parmesan lunch.

            Reply to this comment

          • Jenny Can Cook

            February 20, 2019 at 9:24 pm

            I made this tonight and I added a cup of finely sliced Swiss chard. It didn’t change the taste at all but added some nutrition. I served it on rigatoni.

            Reply to this comment

          • Darlene Swain

            February 20, 2019 at 10:59 am

            Can I use a can of purée tomatoes instead of plum tomatoes

            Reply to this comment

          • norman ingram jr

            August 18, 2018 at 6:06 pm

            got to make this…….

            Reply to this comment

          • Jean

            February 17, 2018 at 7:05 pm

            Hi Jenny- wish I could cook as good as you.you make it look soeasy.I still try to copy your recipes

            Reply to this comment

          • Dave

            September 27, 2017 at 7:53 am

            The best. You are awesome Jenny

            Reply to this comment

          • Jodi

            September 24, 2017 at 7:10 am

            Can I use penne pasta

            Reply to this comment

            • Jenny

              September 24, 2017 at 9:48 am

              Yes, you can use any shape of pasta you like.

              Reply to this comment

            • Shay

              June 22, 2017 at 4:34 pm

              Why aren’t you making more videos???

              Reply to this comment

            • june

              December 31, 2016 at 12:03 pm

              loved this recipe. what kind of olive oil do you use to saute onion and garlic (light, regular, virgin)?

              Reply to this comment

            • june

              December 31, 2016 at 11:51 am

              love your videos!! have made the meatloaf, beef stew (made with chicken), meatballs made with ground chicken and the salmon patties. Love them all!!My question is what kind of olive oil (light, virgin, regular) that you use to saute onions and garlic?

              Thank you

              Reply to this comment

              • Jenny

                December 31, 2016 at 11:58 am

                I usually use extra virgin olive oil. See “Brands I Use” in my blog.

                Reply to this comment

              • Judy Kairys

                September 22, 2016 at 11:07 am

                Very good recipe, I can’t believe how good it turned out.

                Reply to this comment

              • Allison

                May 4, 2016 at 3:40 pm

                I made this recipe for my son and he absolutely loved it!

                Reply to this comment

              • Taqwa Oleksandr

                April 24, 2016 at 1:23 pm

                My mother made it with minced rabbit meat, family favourite here in Baltics 🙂 Thanks Jenny for the recipe!

                Reply to this comment

              • sara

                November 16, 2015 at 7:42 pm

                I love your great recipes. Would you please use turmeric in your ingredients.

                Thank you

                Reply to this comment

              • Glyn

                October 8, 2015 at 2:15 pm

                Great recipe, Jenny. Thank you so much. Your web site is great as are your videos, and I Love your sense of humour.

                As a matter of fact I remember seeing you doing stand-up on the old Super Dave Osborne show. Id you then, but I love you now. Please keep the recipes coming.

                Reply to this comment

              • Christine

                September 23, 2015 at 11:21 am

                I LOVE LOVE this easy recipe.. my kids devoured it. Thanks jenny.

                Reply to this comment

              • Deborah Sanford

                January 13, 2015 at 8:05 pm

                I cooked this tonight and it was wonderful. My family loved it. I added Italian seasoning and Parsley flakes.

                Reply to this comment

                Leave a Comment

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                Just click on this link: YourPhotos@JennyCanCook.com.

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Quick & Easy Meat Sauce Recipe - Jenny Jones | Jenny Can Cook (2024)

FAQs

How to make canned meat sauce better? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Canned Spaghetti Sauce
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  4. 4 - Hot pepper flakes. ...
  5. 5 - Red wine. ...
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  7. 7 - Cheese. ...
  8. 8 - Cream and/or butter.
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Nutmeg. Nutmeg is the key to boosting earthiness and adding a touch of nuttiness to your spaghetti sauce. Nutmeg also has a slightly sweet flavor, which we know goes great with acidic canned tomatoes. Overall, it accentuates the other ingredients in the sauce and adds complexity.

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Adding fresh herbs to your canned pasta sauce makes it taste like it came straight from the garden. While the pre-made sauce may already include some herbs, adding your own will help enhance those flavors. Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level.

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What makes meat sauce taste better? ›

Extra Flavor – As I've mentioned above, you can use different/extra herbs, and even a pinch or two of red pepper flakes for an extra pop! Long and Low Simmer – For the best-tasting sauce, once it is simmering on the stove, let it go for at least 2 or 3 hours so that all of the flavors meld and intensify.

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What thickens meat sauce? ›

The most readily available sauce-thickener is flour. For a too-thin sauce, try adding a slurry (equal parts flour and water, whisked together) or beurre manie (equal parts softened butter and flour, kneaded together to form a paste)—both are ideal thickeners for rich and creamy sauces, such as steak sauce recipes.

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What to add to canned spaghetti sauce to make it taste better? ›

The secret to great sauce lies in proportions, cook times, and any additions to that basic formula — all of which change its texture and flavor.
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Toasted and ground fennel seeds, for example, can deepen a sauce's intensity and offer a suggestion of Italian sausage without actually adding any meat (as with the dried herbs, most spices will bring more flavor to the sauce if you toast them in oil or butter first, though this does add marginally more time and effort ...

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Pungent fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and marjoram can liven up tomato sauce with their bold, distinctive flavors. Add 1 to 2 sprigs of one or more of them to your favorite sauce, cover, and simmer at least 5 minutes to allow them to infuse in the sauce. Remove the sprigs before serving.

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What's the difference between ragù and meat sauce? ›

Even though both are considered meat sauces and are thusly chunky, ragù is more like a thick tomato sauce with recognizable bits of ground beef within it. Bolognese, though, is creamier and thicker because it is made with milk. It is not considered to be a tomato sauce.

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Tomato Paste

This umami-rich paste can transform into a makeshift tomato sauce when mixed with water. Here's how: Sauté tomato paste in olive oil with minced garlic, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Add water, roughly following a ratio of 1:1, tomato paste to water, and mix well.

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The addition of butter helps to loosen and emulsify the sauce, making it smooth and creamy.

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Heavy cream will transform your sauce

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A generous sprig or two of fresh herbs like basil, parsley, rosemary, or sage can all amp up the flavor of a jarred pasta sauce. Alternatively, some of those herbs, like parsley, sage, and rosemary, can be great minced up and gently fried into fresh olive oil before adding the sauce to the pot.

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My way is to brown the beef which adds flavor, use a flavorful beef broth, and season the stew well. I also like to add a bit of dark roux or dry roux (browned flour) for flavor. My wife's way is to boil water, dry onion soup mix, and the beef for a while and then add the vegetables.

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