Authentic Italian Sunday Sauce Recipe

Introduction

This authentic Italian Sunday sauce is a rich and hearty tomato-based sauce simmered with your choice of meat for hours, creating deep, comforting flavors. Perfect for family gatherings or a special weekend meal, it pairs beautifully with pasta, polenta, or crusty bread.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (28 oz) cans crushed tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1-2 pounds of meat (Italian sausage, chicken thighs, or beef)
• Fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté for about 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
2. Step 2: Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
3. Step 3: Add your choice of meat to the pot and brown it thoroughly on all sides. Once browned, remove the meat and set aside.
4. Step 4: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, then stir in dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes if using, sugar, salt, and pepper to taste. Add the bay leaf.
5. Step 5: Return the browned meat to the pot. Cover and reduce heat to low. Let the sauce simmer gently for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. For more depth of flavor, you can simmer for up to 4 hours.
6. Step 6: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
7. Step 7: Serve the sauce hot over your favorite pasta, creamy polenta, or with crusty bread. Garnish with fresh parsley for a bright finish.

Tips & Variations

• For a richer sauce, use a mix of Italian sausage and beef. Removing sausage casings before browning will help the meat break down nicely.
• If you prefer a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to blend some of the tomatoes after simmering.
• Add a splash of red wine before simmering for extra depth and complexity.
• To make it vegetarian, omit the meat and add mushrooms or lentils instead.

Storage

Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It also freezes well—transfer to a freezer-safe container and keep for up to 3 months. Reheat gently on the stove over low heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned?

Fresh tomatoes can be used but require peeling and cooking down to a sauce-like consistency first. Canned crushed tomatoes are convenient and provide consistent flavor and texture.

What type of meat works best for this sauce?

Italian sausage adds great flavor, but chicken thighs or beef can also be used depending on your preference. Combining different meats can enhance the sauce’s richness.

Authentic Italian Sunday Sauce Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 95 reviews

This Authentic Italian Sunday Sauce is a rich, hearty tomato-based sauce slow-simmered with aromatic herbs and your choice of meat, making it a perfect comforting meal for gatherings. It combines the flavors of crushed tomatoes, garlic, oregano, basil, and a hint of spice, resulting in a deeply flavorful sauce that pairs beautifully with pasta, polenta, or crusty bread.

• Author: Dylan
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Sauce
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Sauce Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (28 oz) cans crushed tomatoes
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Meat

• 1–2 pounds of meat (Italian sausage, chicken thighs, or beef)

Garnish

• Fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil: Warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat to get ready for sautéing the aromatics.
2. Sauté the onions: Add the finely chopped onion to the pot and cook for about 5 minutes until they are soft and translucent.
3. Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant, taking care not to burn.
4. Brown the meat: Add your choice of 1-2 pounds of meat (such as Italian sausage, chicken thighs, or beef) to the pot and brown it thoroughly. Once browned, remove the meat and set it aside temporarily.
5. Add tomatoes and seasonings: Pour in the crushed tomatoes, then add dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes (if using), sugar, salt, pepper, and the bay leaf. Stir everything together thoroughly to combine.
6. Return the meat and simmer: Return the browned meat to the pot with the sauce. Cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Let the sauce simmer gently for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. For a deeper flavor, simmer for up to 4 hours.
7. Adjust seasoning and finish: Taste the sauce near the end of cooking and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
8. Serve and garnish: Serve the rich Sunday Sauce hot over cooked pasta, creamy polenta, or with crusty bread. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley for a burst of color and freshness.

Notes

• Simmering the sauce for longer (up to 4 hours) enhances the depth of flavor.
• You can use any type of meat or a combination, such as Italian sausage, chicken thighs, or beef, based on preference.
• Red pepper flakes add mild heat but can be omitted for a milder sauce.
• Serve with your favorite pasta, polenta, or crusty bread for a traditional Italian meal.
• Leftover sauce can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Keywords: Italian Sunday Sauce, authentic Italian sauce, slow simmered tomato sauce, Italian meat sauce, homemade marinara, pasta sauce recipe