Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Easy Meat Sauce
Easy Meat Sauce brings together ground beef, onion, and diced tomatoes. Have the lid or covering ready before you need it. The quick notes will help you get the small jobs lined up before you start.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 90 min
- Total
- 105 min
- Original yield
- Serves 4
- Ingredients
- 14 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Main course
- Primary protein
- Beef
- Cuisine
- American
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: over 60 minutes
A few quick notes
1. Keep the lid step in mind
Have the lid or covering ready before you need it. Follow the covered and uncovered parts of the method in their own order, especially when the finish changes partway through.
2. Set out the first ingredients
Look through the first cooking step and have its ingredients ready before you begin. It is easier to give the pan your attention when you are not still looking for the next item.
3. Give the simmer its place
Keep the simmering stage in the sequence when planning the meal. Follow the heat and texture checks in that step rather than rushing straight to the finish.
Get to know the ingredients
Ground beef
Look at how this ingredient comes into the method: In a large pot, brown ground beef, onions, and garlic.
Onion
Look at how this ingredient comes into the method: In a large pot, brown ground beef, onions, and garlic.
Diced tomatoes
Look at how this ingredient comes into the method: In a large pot, brown ground beef, onions, and garlic.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 4. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 3 steps completeMake room for Easy Meat Sauce
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Keep the last little job in mind
The recipe finishes with this step: Remove bay leaves before serving. Set out what you need for that finish before the cooking gets busy.
A little more help as you go
Remember the occasional stir
Keep the pan where you can return for the stirring step in the method. Use the stated heat and finish check while it warms or cooks.
A few questions you might have
What should I get ready before starting?
Set out the pot. Read the first preparation step before you get going: In a large pot, brown ground beef, onions, and garlic.
Which little step is worth remembering?
Have the lid or covering ready before you need it. Follow the covered and uncovered parts of the method in their own order, especially when the finish changes partway through.
What check should I look for as it cooks?
Keep this part of the method in view: Remove lid and simmer an additional 15 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
Is there another preparation step to plan for?
Keep the pan where you can return for the stirring step in the method. Use the stated heat and finish check while it warms or cooks.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: Spend With Pennies. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.
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