This easy meat sauce recipe uses a jar of your favorite marinara sauce to get dinner on the table QUICK. Think of this as an elevated meat sauce! We’re combining fresh ingredients with a jar of sauce to make a 6-ingredient staple sauce recipe, that tastes fancy and could not be easier to throw together!
PREPARATION TIME
PREP TIME 5 minutes
COOK TIME 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or butter
- 1 onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 8- ounce package baby Bella mushrooms finely diced (optional)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes more as desired
- 1 24- ounce jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
- Fine sea salt as needed
- Black pepper as needed
OPTIONAL VEGETABLES:
- 1 green or red bell pepper finely diced
- 1 zucchini diced (about 1 cup)
FOR GARNISH:
- Fresh parmesan cheese
- Hot pepper flakes
- Ricotta cheese
- Fresh basil
Instructions
Heat oil or butter in a large 12″ skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add onion and garlic and sautè for 2-4 minutes, until onions begin to soften and garlic is fragrant.
Add in mushrooms and any other optional diced vegetables you choose (zucchini, bell peppers) and let cook for 5-7 minutes, until veggies begin to soften, and water reduces from mushrooms.
Add in ground beef and seasoning and cook until no pink remains, about 5 minutes.
Add in jar of marinara or spaghetti sauce. Reduce heat to a simmer for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
Serve hot with optional garnishes and over pasta, zucchini noodles, or spaghetti squash.
Notes
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Add optional veggies, or if using any veggies, in step 2 and sautè as directed until soft.
Nutrition
Serving: 1/4 recipe, Calories: 355kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 28g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 70mg, Sodium: 900mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 13g
