Olive Garden Meat Sauce Recipe
Description
Copycat Olive Garden meat sauce made with ground beef, Italian sausage, red wine, and crushed tomatoes. Rich enough for spaghetti, lasagna, or dipping, and it freezes for up to 3 months.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 medium onions, finely diced
- 2 medium carrots, finely diced
- 2 stalks celery, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef, 85/15
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1½ cups dry red wine
- 56 ounces crushed tomatoes, 2 cans
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
- 2 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and sauté for 5–7 minutes, until soft and fragrant.
- Stir in the garlic and cook 30 seconds, until fragrant. Do not let it brown.
- Add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Break into crumbles and cook 8–10 minutes, until browned through. Drain excess fat.
- Pour in the red wine, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer 5 minutes to reduce.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, rosemary, sage, and salt until combined.
- Reduce heat to low, cover partially, and simmer at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Taste and adjust salt before serving.
Equipment
- Large skillet or Dutch oven
- Wooden Spoon
- Chef's knife
Notes
Crockpot method: Complete steps 1–4 on the stovetop, then transfer to a 6-quart slow cooker with the crushed tomatoes, herbs, salt, and 2 additional tablespoons of tomato paste. Cook on LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 3–4 hours, uncovering for the last 30–45 minutes to thicken. The tomato paste and the uncovered finish are both necessary — slow cookers don't evaporate liquid, so the sauce won't reduce on its own.
Simmering the stovetop version for a full hour deepens the flavor further. The sauce tastes best made a day ahead. Substitute beef broth plus 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar for the wine if preferred.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 229kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 12gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 658mgPotassium: 522mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1510IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 2mg