Homestyle Spaghetti Meat Sauce with Ground Beef and Italian Sausage

This Ground Beef and Italian Sausage Pasta is a hearty, flavorful dish simmered in a rich red wine tomato sauce with garlic, herbs, and fresh basil. Perfect for cozy nights, gatherings, or weeknight comfort food cravings.

Why You’ll Love This Hearty Italian-Style Pasta

There’s nothing like a comforting bowl of pasta to bring everyone around the table—and this one is a total flavor bomb. Combining ground beef, Italian sausage, crushed tomatoes, and a splash of red wine, this pasta is rich, savory, and deeply satisfying. It's a little rustic, a little refined, and totally weeknight-worthy.

Here’s why this dish will become a new favorite:

• Deep, layered flavor from wine, broth, herbs, and meat

• One-pot friendly (fewer dishes!)

• Flexible with pasta types—use what you have

• Freezer-friendly and great for leftovers

• Perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping

Ingredient Breakdown (and Why It Works)

Let’s break down what makes this dish so flavorful and what each ingredient brings to the table:

🍝 Pasta (1 lb, any shape)

Use your favorite pasta—penne, rigatoni, spaghetti, or fettuccine. Sturdy shapes hold up well with the meat sauce and soak up the flavors.

Tip: Salt the pasta water generously and cook until just al dente. It’ll soak in more flavor when combined with the sauce.

🥩 Ground Beef (1 lb)

Provides a hearty base with that classic beefy flavor. Go for 85/15 for the best balance of flavor and richness without being too greasy.

🌭 Italian Sausage (1 lb)

Mild or spicy—your choice. Italian sausage adds complexity, fat, and seasoning to the sauce. It also plays beautifully with the crushed tomatoes and wine.

Tip: Remove casings if using sausage links. Ground sausage blends in better.

🧅 Yellow Onion (1, diced)

The base of most great sauces! Onions bring sweetness and depth when sautéed.

🧄 Garlic Cloves (5–6, minced)

Essential for flavor. Garlic adds warmth and aroma that infuses the entire sauce. Don’t skimp.

🍅 Crushed Tomatoes (2 x 14 oz cans)

This creates the body of the sauce. Crushed tomatoes offer a great balance between smooth and chunky, perfect for a rustic meat sauce.

🍅 Tomato Paste (1 tbsp)

Concentrated tomato flavor that thickens the sauce and adds depth. A little goes a long way.

🍷 Red Wine (¼ cup)

A splash of red wine adds acidity, boldness, and richness to the sauce. Choose a dry red like cabernet or merlot.

No wine? Substitute with more beef broth and 1 tsp balsamic vinegar for similar depth.

🐮 Beef Broth (½ cup)

Builds body in the sauce while enhancing the meaty flavors. Helps thin out the tomato paste and balance the wine.

🧄 Garlic Powder (1 tbsp)

Adds a more mellow, consistent garlic flavor to balance the fresh garlic.

🇮🇹 Italian Seasoning (1 tbsp)

A blend of oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme—it adds authentic Italian flavor in a single scoop.

🌶 Crushed Red Pepper (¼ tbsp)

Just enough to give a subtle kick. Adjust to your spice preference!

🌿 Oregano (½ tbsp)

Additional oregano enhances the herbaceousness and complements the sausage perfectly.

🧂 Salt & Pepper (to taste)

Always season to taste—this enhances the flavors at every stage of cooking.

🌿 Fresh Basil (to taste)

Torn or chopped, basil brings a burst of fresh flavor and color right before serving.

🌿 Bay Leaves (3)

Simmering bay leaves adds an aromatic, almost tea-like background note to the sauce. Just don’t forget to remove them before serving.

Step-by-Step Directions

This meal comes together easily, all in one pot:

1. Cook the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook 1 pound of pasta according to package directions until just al dente. Drain and set aside.

Tip: Reserve a ½ cup of pasta water in case you want to loosen the sauce later.

2. Brown the Meat

In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, brown 1 lb ground beef and 1 lb Italian sausage over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Drain off excess fat and set the meat aside.

3. Sauté Aromatics

In the same pot, heat 2 tsp olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 4–5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, just until fragrant.

4. Build the Sauce

Add in:

• 2 cans (14 oz) crushed tomatoes

• 1 tbsp tomato paste

• ¼ cup red wine

Stir to combine and let simmer for 2–3 minutes so the alcohol cooks off and the flavors begin to meld.

5. Return the Meat

Add the browned beef and sausage back into the pot. Stir to combine with the tomato base.

Pour in ½ cup beef broth, stir well, and let simmer for 3–5 minutes to blend the flavors.

6. Season the Sauce

Add:

• 1 tbsp garlic powder

• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning

• ¼ tbsp crushed red pepper

• ½ tbsp oregano

• Salt & pepper to taste

• Fresh basil (about ¼ cup chopped)

Stir everything together and adjust seasoning as needed.

7. Add Bay Leaves and Finish

Place 3 bay leaves on top and drizzle with a little more olive oil (about 1 tbsp). Let everything simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove bay leaves before serving.

8. Serve

Spoon the sauce generously over the cooked pasta. Top with more fresh basil, a drizzle of olive oil, and a generous handful of grated parmesan or pecorino, if desired.

What to Serve With It

This hearty pasta dish is great on its own but also pairs beautifully with:

• Garlic Bread or Homemade Focaccia

• Caesar Salad or a simple arugula salad

• Roasted Veggies like zucchini or broccolini

• Glass of red wine (serve the same one used in the sauce!)

Tips for Success

✅ Use quality crushed tomatoes – San Marzano if you can. It makes a difference.
✅ Cook pasta just until al dente – It will absorb some sauce without getting soggy.
✅ Season in layers – Salt and taste throughout for the best balance.
✅ Let the sauce simmer – Those 10 minutes at the end bring everything together.
✅ Don’t forget the bay leaves – Then don’t forget to remove them!

Variations

🧀 Make it cheesy: Stir in ½ cup ricotta or mascarpone to the sauce for a creamy twist.
🌶 Go spicy: Use hot Italian sausage and double the red pepper flakes.
🍷 No wine? Use balsamic vinegar and extra broth for depth.
🌿 Add greens: Stir in spinach or kale during the last few minutes of simmering.
🍄 Add mushrooms: Sauté with the onion for extra umami.

Storage & Reheating

• Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

• Reheat: Gently warm in a pot over medium heat with a splash of broth or water.

• Freeze: Freeze sauce (without pasta) for up to 3 months. Thaw and reheat, then serve with fresh pasta.

Why This Recipe Works

The combo of ground beef and Italian sausage creates a rich, layered base. Simmering everything in crushed tomatoes, wine, and broth builds incredible depth. Add to that a blend of herbs, garlic, and a kiss of red pepper—and you’ve got a dish that tastes like it simmered all day (but didn’t).

It’s hearty, satisfying, and practically foolproof. Perfect for a weeknight dinner that tastes like Sunday sauce.

Yield: 4-6

Author: CookSnapBake.com

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Homestyle Spaghetti Meat Sauce with Ground Beef and Italian Sausage

This Ground Beef and Italian Sausage Pasta is a hearty, flavorful dish simmered in a rich red wine tomato sauce with garlic, herbs, and fresh basil. Perfect for cozy nights, gatherings, or weeknight comfort food cravings.

Cook time: 25 MinTotal time: 25 Min

Ingredients

• 1 lb pasta, cooked and drained
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 2 tsp olive oil + more for finishing
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 5–6 garlic cloves, minced
• (2) 14 oz cans crushed tomatoes
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• ¼ cup red wine
• ½ cup beef broth
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• ¼ tbsp crushed red pepper
• ½ tbsp oregano
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
• 3 bay leaves

Instructions

1. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Brown ground beef and sausage in a large pot. Drain and set aside.
3. In the same pot, heat oil and sauté onion until translucent. Add garlic, cook 1 min.
4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and wine. Simmer 2–3 min.
5. Add meat back to the pot. Stir in broth. Simmer 3–5 min.
6. Add herbs, garlic powder, seasonings, and basil. Stir well.
7. Add bay leaves on top and drizzle olive oil. Simmer 10 min. Remove bay leaves.
8. Serve over pasta with extra basil and grated cheese.

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🍷 Ready for a cozy, crave-worthy pasta night?
Give this Ground Beef & Italian Sausage Pasta a try and let me know what you think! Leave a comment below, ⭐️ rate the recipe, or tag me on Instagram @CookSnapBake—I love seeing your creations!

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