Meat Sauce Recipe 

This easy meat sauce recipe uses a jar of your favorite marinara sauce to get dinner on the table QUICK.

Think of this as an elevated meat sauce! We’re combining fresh ingredients with a jar of sauce to make a 6-ingredient staple sauce recipe, that tastes fancy and could not be easier to throw together.

PREPARATION TIME

PREP TIME 5 minutes 

COOK TIME 15 minutes 

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or butter
• 1 onion diced
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 8- ounce package baby Bella mushrooms finely diced (optional)
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes more as desired
• 1 24- ounce jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
• Fine sea salt as needed
• Black pepper as needed

OPTIONAL VEGETABLES:

• 1 green or red bell pepper finely diced
• 1 zucchini diced (about 1 cup)

FOR GARNISH:

• Fresh parmesan cheese
• Hot pepper flakes
• Ricotta cheese
• Fresh basil

Instructions

Heat oil or butter in a large 12″ skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add onion and garlic and sautè for 2-4 minutes, until onions begin to soften and garlic is fragrant.

Add in mushrooms and any other optional diced vegetables you choose (zucchini, bell peppers) and let cook for 5-7 minutes, until veggies begin to soften, and water reduces from mushrooms.

Add in ground beef and seasoning and cook until no pink remains, about 5 minutes.

Add in jar of marinara or spaghetti sauce. Reduce heat to a simmer for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.

Serve hot with optional garnishes and over pasta, zucchini noodles, or spaghetti squash.

Notes

Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.