Sausage and Meatball Red Sauce

Sausage and Meatball Red Sauce is a medium Italian-American recipe that serves 6. 520 calories per serving. Recipe by THE WADS on YouTube.

Prep: 8 min | Cook: 37 min | Total: 55 min

Cost: $13.93 total, $2.32 per serving

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Mild Italian Sausage (removed from casing, broken up)
  • 1 lb Ground Beef (80% lean)
  • 1 medium Onion (diced)
  • 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • 0.5 stick Unsalted Butter (cut into pieces)
  • 0.5 cup Dry Red Wine (any inexpensive dry red (e.g., Cabernet Sauvignon))
  • 2 tbsp Italian Seasoning
  • 1 tsp Salt (kosher or table salt)
  • 0.5 tsp Black Pepper (ground)
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Onion Powder
  • 2 tbsp Tomato Paste (canned)
  • 0.5 cup Water (tap water)
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan Cheese (freshly grated)

Instructions

  1. Prep Ingredients

    Dice the onion, mince the garlic, measure out all spices, butter, wine, tomato paste, and Parmesan.

    Time: PT8M

  2. Brown the Meats

    Heat the large skillet over medium‑high heat. Add the sausage and ground beef, breaking them up with the wooden spoon. Cook until fully browned, about 8 minutes.

    Time: PT8M

  3. Sauté Onion

    Add the diced onion to the browned meat and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes.

    Time: PT3M

  4. Add Butter

    Add the half‑stick of butter to the pan and let it melt, about 1 minute.

    Time: PT1M

  5. Cook Garlic

    Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.

    Time: PT1M

  6. Deglaze with Wine

    Pour in the red wine, scraping up any browned bits. Simmer for 2 minutes to reduce the alcohol.

    Time: PT2M

  7. Season the Sauce

    Add Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir to combine.

    Time: PT1M

  8. Add Tomato Base

    Stir in tomato paste and the ½ cup of water, mixing until the paste is fully incorporated.

    Time: PT2M

  9. Simmer the Sauce

    Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Time: PT20M

  10. Finish with Parmesan

    Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is glossy. Adjust salt/pepper if needed.

    Time: PT2M

  11. Serve

    Serve the hearty sauce over cooked pasta, rice, or with crusty bread. Garnish with extra Parmesan if desired.

    Time: PT0M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
520
Protein
30 g
Carbohydrates
20 g
Fat
30 g
Fiber
2 g

Dietary info: Contains meat, Gluten‑free (if served without pasta), High protein

Allergens: Dairy, Alcohol

Last updated: March 18, 2026

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Sausage and Meatball Red Sauce

Recipe by THE WADS

A rich, buttery homemade red sauce packed with browned sausage, ground beef, and a secret touch of butter. Perfect for holiday gatherings or a comforting weeknight dinner, this sauce can be served over pasta, rice, or crusty bread.

MediumItalian-AmericanServes 6

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
14m
Prep
34m
Cook
10m
Cleanup
58m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$13.93
Total cost
$2.32
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Step 2 – Browning the meats for flavor development.
  • Step 9 – Proper simmering to meld flavors and achieve the right consistency.

Safety Warnings

  • Handle raw sausage and ground beef with separate utensils to avoid cross‑contamination.
  • Use oven mitts when handling hot pans.
  • If flambéing wine, keep a lid nearby and never leave the pan unattended.

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