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
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:
- In a large pan on medium-high, heat the oil and sauté onion & garlic for 2 minutes.
- Add beef. Cook & stir for 4 minutes until pink is gone.
- Add remaining ingredients and cook uncovered, over medium heat for about 20 minutes.
Notes: Still want the original recipe? Click here
Do you sell cookbooks??
And what can I Substitute for a cast iron pan??? Thanks
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.
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.
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?
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 ????????
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
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..
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.
Older book out of print hard to find and expensive so we are blessed to have Jenny’s recipes at our finger tips!
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!
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.
Jenny on your spaghetti sauce can I just use a can of purées tomatoes as I don’t have a food processor.
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.
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.
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.
Can I use a can of purée tomatoes instead of plum tomatoes
got to make this…….
Hi Jenny- wish I could cook as good as you.you make it look soeasy.I still try to copy your recipes
The best. You are awesome Jenny
Can I use penne pasta
Yes, you can use any shape of pasta you like.
Why aren’t you making more videos???
loved this recipe. what kind of olive oil do you use to saute onion and garlic (light, regular, virgin)?
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
I usually use extra virgin olive oil. See “Brands I Use” in my blog.
Very good recipe, I can’t believe how good it turned out.
I made this recipe for my son and he absolutely loved it!
My mother made it with minced rabbit meat, family favourite here in Baltics 🙂 Thanks Jenny for the recipe!
I love your great recipes. Would you please use turmeric in your ingredients.
Thank you
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.
I LOVE LOVE this easy recipe.. my kids devoured it. Thanks jenny.
I cooked this tonight and it was wonderful. My family loved it. I added Italian seasoning and Parsley flakes.