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My easy sauce for meatballs is an easy 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! This is the easiest Italian Gravy recipe there ever was.
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Meatball Sauce
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. 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!
Sauce for Meatballs Ingredients
- sausage
- pork loin cubed
- olive oil
- Italian seasoning
- minced garlic or teaspoon of garlic powder
- tomato sauce
- onion
- sugar
- kosher salt & black pepper to taste
- cooked meatballs
- optional: Sprinkle with parsley for plating
Meatballs Sauce Recipe
- Place a large deep pan, large skillet or Dutch Oven over high heat and add olive oil. Add onion and let it cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Whisk in minced garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions are golden.
- Add sausage and cubed pork loin to the pan. Cook until meat is golden brown, stirring occasionally.
- Gradually pour in tomato sauce. Add sugar, salt, and pepper to taste, and Italian seasoning.
- Stir and add in cooked meatballs. Cover and simmer for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Serve over pasta in a large bowl. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese or fresh parsley (optional).
Homemade Marinara Sauce 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!
Check out all my favorite Sauces for Meatballs!
Meatball Sauce Recipe FAQs
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 fresh.
To freeze meatball sauce, first, allow it to cool. Then, add it to a freezer-safe bag and label it 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.
You can store this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Easy Meatball Recipes
Check out my all-time favorite sauce recipes here: Easy Sauce Recipes. Another favorite is my Swedish Meatball Sauce and Easy Spaghetti Sauce!
📖 Recipe
Meatball Sauce Recipe
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!
Nutrition
» About Me
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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!
Brian Gouge says
I can't believe this only has 1 rating so far. This sauce recipe is easy and fast, and tastes amazing! Note I used frozen meatballs so I only made the sauce. It was the perfect amount for 3 large 8 meatball servings. I started some kale in the instant pot, then started this sauce recipe. I whisked the Sauce while heating the meatballs in the microwave until just defrosted, then added to sauce, stirred to coat, then covered while setting the table and draining the kale. I wanted to add some pineapple but my wife wasn't sure so I put some on top of mine and my wife ended up liking it with pineapple as well so I will add it in next time. If you like a kick you could add your favorite spice such as a shake of sriracha, but this is perfect as is.
em says
Thank you so much for your amazing comment, Brian! We're so glad you and your wife both enjoyed the recipe! We love the idea of adding kale.
Mercy Biza says
Tried this recipe. It was really awesome
em says
Thanks so much, Mercy! We're glad you enjoyed it!