Grandma Shannon's Amazing Spaghetti Sauce

Dive into comfort food heaven with Grandma Shannon's Amazing Spaghetti Sauce – a family favorite that’s the definition of homemade goodness. This rich and hearty sauce combines savory ground beef, flavorful Italian sausage, and a medley of aromatic ingredients like garlic, onions, and dried herbs, all simmered to perfection in a tomato base. The addition of a touch of sugar balances the acidity of the tomatoes, while red pepper flakes provide just a hint of heat. Slow-simmered for over an hour, this sauce develops deep, robust flavors that will transport you to Sunday dinners at Grandma's table. Perfect for pairing with spaghetti noodles and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, this crowd-pleasing recipe is easy to make and destined to become a staple in your kitchen. Ideal for feeding a family or meal-prepping for busy weeknights, this classic spaghetti sauce is comfort food made better.

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:90 mins

Total Time:105 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion
• 4 units garlic cloves
• 1 pound ground beef
• 0.5 pound Italian sausage
• 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
• 6 ounces tomato paste
• 15 ounces tomato sauce
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1.5 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 0.75 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 unit bay leaf

Directions

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Step 2

Finely dice the yellow onion and mince the garlic cloves.

Step 3

Add the diced onion to the pot and sauté until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.

Step 5

Add the ground beef and Italian sausage to the pot. Cook until browned, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon.

Step 6

Once the meat is fully cooked, drain any excess fat from the pot.

Step 7

Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water until well combined.

Step 8

Add the granulated sugar, dried basil, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, dried parsley, and red pepper flakes to the mixture.

Step 9

Toss in the bay leaf and stir everything together.

Step 10

Bring the sauce to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low.

Step 11

Cover the pot with a lid, leaving it slightly ajar to allow steam to escape.

Step 12

Simmer the sauce on low heat for at least 90 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and to develop the flavors.

Step 13

Discard the bay leaf before serving.

Step 14

Serve the sauce over cooked spaghetti noodles, and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese or chopped parsley, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2521.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2583.2

Total Fat 177.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 58.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 13.9g
Cholesterol 502.6mg	0%
Sodium 4517.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 128.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 24.3g	0%
Total Sugars 87.2g
Protein 137.2g	0%

Vitamin D 90.7IU	0%
Calcium 386.7mg	0%
Iron 22.9mg	0%
Potassium 5432.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 60.0%

Protein: 20.6%

Carbs: 19.4%