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My Meatball Sauce Recipe is an Italian meat sauce perfect for serving with your favorite meatball recipe and pasta! It uses a combination of sausage and pork loin for a flavorful and fragrant sauce for meatballs you will want to enjoy again and again. Prep takes just 5 minutes, then you set it and forget it to enjoy later!
Best Sauce for Meatballs
When I tell you I make meatballs a lot, you better believe I mean a lot! Meatballs are one of my favorite dishes to serve my family, whether I'm serving them over pasta or in a classic meatball sandwich.
That's why my meatball sauce recipe is a labor of love. This is my favorite go-to meat sauce for a quick and easy dinner idea for entertaining or as a comfort food treat for my family.
The best part about my easy sauce for meatballs is that it uses staple ingredients. You may only have to buy the sausage and pork loin to make it - you probably have the rest in your pantry already!
Budget-friendly and easy to make, my Italian meat sauce recipe is a must-try for meatball lovers. I have had numerous people try this recipe and tell me it is the best sauce for meatballs they have ever had. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
FAQs
My Italian meatball sauce uses sausage, pork loin, olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, tomato sauce, onion, sugar, and salt and pepper. It is a perfect combination of fragrant flavors that compliments meatballs of all kinds beautifully.
Before cooking meatballs in sauce, brown them first. Then, add them to the prepared sauce recipe and simmer for 4 hours, stirring occasionally. This allows your meatballs to soak up all the flavor of the sauce and become super moist and delicious.
Frozen meatballs may be used to make meatball sauce. Prepare frozen meatballs according to package directions, then add to the sauce and follow our instructions.
The flavor of meatball sauce intensifies over time and becomes even more flavorful, so it is recommended you make meatball sauce ahead of time for the best flavor. Make it the day beforehand as instructed and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. When you reheat it, the flavor will be even better developed than as if fresh.
To freeze meatball sauce, first allow it to cool. Then, add it to a freezer-safe bag and label with the date. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, defrost on the counter and simmer on low for 15 to 20 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- Make a double batch of sauce and freeze half for later! That way you always have more of this delicious meatball sauce recipe on hand.
- Prepare your meatballs before making the sauce. By the time both cook together for a few hours, the flavor is incredible! There is nothing better than cooking meatballs in the sauce and enjoying it for dinner later with some pasta at the end of the day. It makes the best spaghetti sauce!
Meatball Recipes
Try one of my favorite meatball recipes to cook with my Italian meat sauce:
- Air Fryer Meatballs
- Instant Pot Meatballs
- Oven-baked Meatballs (omit the sauce)
Check out my all-time favorite sauce recipes here: Easy Sauce Recipes
Finally, enjoy this meatball sauce recipe over a classic Baked Meatball Sub. You will love it!
📖 Recipe
Meatball Sauce Recipe (Italian Meat Sauce)
Equipment
- Dutch oven or large pot
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 1 pound sausage
- 1 pound pork loin cubed
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 4 28 oz. tomato sauce cans
- 1 small onion or half 1 large onion, chopped
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- salt & pepper to taste
- cooked meatballs
Instructions
- Place a large deep pan or Dutch Oven over high heat and add olive oil. Add onion and let it cook for 2-3 minutes.¼ cup olive oil, 1 small onion
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions are golden.1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- Add sausage and pork loin to the pan. Cook until meat is golden brown, stirring occasionally.1 pound pork loin, 1 pound sausage
- Gradually pour in tomato sauce. Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste, and Italian seasoning.1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning, 4 28 oz. tomato sauce cans, ½ teaspoon sugar, salt & pepper
- Stir and add in cooked meatballs. Cover and simmer 4 hours, stirring occasionally.cooked meatballs
- Serve over pasta, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Make a double batch of sauce and freeze half for later! That way you always have more of this delicious meatball sauce recipe on hand.
- Prepare your meatballs before making the sauce. By the time both cook together for a few hours, the flavor is incredible! There is nothing better than cooking meatballs in the sauce and enjoying it for dinner later with some pasta at the end of the day. It makes the best spaghetti sauce!
Re La says
This looks delish! What kind of sausage did you use? Just regular, Jimmy Dean kind or Italian sausage?
Isabel Laessig says
Hi there! We used Italian sausage for this dish. Thank you for your question!