Weeknight Meat Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground sirloin and cook, crumbling the meat with a wooden spoon, for 5 to 7 minutes, until the meat has lost its pink color and has started to brown. Stir in the garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 more minute. Pour 1 cup of the wine into the skillet and stir to scrape up any browned bits. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, stirring until combined. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a tablespoon of salt, a splash of oil, and the pasta, and cook according to the directions on the box.
• While the pasta cooks, finish the sauce. Add the nutmeg, basil, cream, and the remaining 1/4 cup wine to the sauce and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened. When the pasta is cooked, drain and pour into a large serving bowl. Add the sauce and 1/2 cup Parmesan and toss well. Serve hot with Parmesan on the side.

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente; drain and transfer to a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, process onion, celery, carrot, and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over high. Add chopped vegetables, beef, and pork and cook, breaking up with a spatula, until meat is beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, oregano, 3/4 tsp. salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 1 minute. Add wine and cook, stirring constantly, until reduced by half, about 1 minute more. Stir in tomato sauce, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until sauce is slightly thickened, about 4 minutes.
• Remove from heat, then stir in butter. Toss meat sauce with pasta, top with Parmesan, and season with pepper.
• Do Ahead
• Let sauce cool, then chill in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over med-high heat until shimmering.
• Add in onions, garlic, tomato paste, oregano, and red pepper flakes; cook until onions are softened and lightly browned, 8-10 minutes.
• Stir in wine, scraping up any browned bits and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes; transfer to slow cooker.
• Stir in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce into slow cooker.
• Mash bread and milk into a paste in a large bowl using a fork.
• Mix in ground beef, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper using hands.
• Stir beef mixture into slow cooker, breaking up any large pieces.
• Cover and cook until beef is tender, 9-11 hours on LOW or 5-7 hours on HIGH.
• Let sauce settle for 5 minutes, then remove fat from surface using large spoon.
• Break up any remaining large pieces of beef with spoon.
• Before serving, stir in basil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve over hot cooked pasta.