Sunday Gravy (Meat Sauce)
by Sommer Collier — last updated on May 12, 2025 
This traditional Sunday Gravy recipe is a rustic tomato sauce brimming with savory ground beef, bacon, and Italian sausages. Spaghetti with meat sauce is easy to make in less than an hour, and can even be prepared as a one pot pasta dish!
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
As a true Southern woman, I know a thing or two (or ten!) about a good gravy. But today we’re not talking about thick, creamy flour-based Southern gravy. No, this is THE Sunday gravy recipe, a classic Italian-American meat sauce made with tomatoes, onions, and LOTS of leftover meats from earlier in the week.
Why You’ll Love This Sunday Gravy Recipe
- Amazing Flavor – The simple combination of savory bacon, Italian sausages, and ground beef in a zesty tomato sauce makes the most rich and flavorful gravy.
- Family-friendly – Spaghetti with meat sauce is a classic meal to bring the family around the dinner table. And it’s always a hit with kids!
- Less Mess – You can reduce the cookware clean up by boiling the pasta right in the sauce.
Sorry, Grandmas, but this is seriously the best Sunday gravy recipe out there!
Ingredients and Tips
- Meat – For a true Sunday gravy, include a variety of meats. We’re using bacon, Italian-style sausage links, and ground beef.
- Vegetables – Sweet onion, carrots, and garlic, plus a can of crushed tomatoes and a can of tomato sauce.
- Red wine – Use any dry red wine you prefer, like a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, or Chianti.
- Spices – Dried Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Dried spaghetti – Or, really, any noodles you want!
- Garnishes – Top the bowls of pasta with freshly grated parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and crushed red pepper flakes, if you like.
Pro Tip – The fastest way to finely dice carrots is to buy shredded carrots and chop them into smaller pieces.
Recipe Variations
- Meat – Swap any of the three types of meat we’re using here for your preferred proteins, like meatballs, short ribs, pork ribs, pork shoulder, or ground pork! You can also use poultry options instead, like turkey sausage and ground turkey or chicken.
- Vegetarian and vegan – There are SO many great plant-based meatless alternatives nowadays for traditional sausage, ground “meat” and bacon!
- Gluten-free – Use your favorite gluten-free pasta for a GF-friendly spaghetti with meat sauce dish.
How to Make Traditional Italian Meat Sauce
From start to finish, this Sunday gravy recipe is ready to serve in under an hour. But it has the same robust, deeply savory and delicious taste of a classic rustic tomato sauce that’s been simmering on the stove all day!
You can even make it a one pot recipe by cooking the pasta right in the pot as you simmer the sauce. To do this, simply add 3 cups of water to the sauce and add the pasta about 10 minutes before it is ready to serve.
Find the full Sunday Gravy recipe with detailed instructions, storage tips, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Storage Notes
- Storing Leftovers: Transfer the cooled meat sauce and pasta to an airtight container, and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. UNLESS you are using leftover meat that is already a day or two old… In that case, you don’t want to keep the sauce for more than 1-2 days.
- Freezing: Sunday sauce freezes beautifully! Cool it completely before transferring it to an airtight container. I suggest wrapping it in a layer of aluminum foil for extra freezer burn protection. Keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months, and thaw it in the fridge overnight.
- Reheating: Reheat leftover pasta sauce in the microwave or on the stovetop. You might need to add a splash of water if the sauce has tightened up a bit too much.
What to Serve with Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
You definitely need some warm, crusty bread on the side to scoop up every drop of Sunday gravy. If you have the time, this is the perfect opportunity to make breadsticks (better than Olive Garden!) or an impressive focaccia bread with roasted garlic.
Or keep your total cook time under an hour with our quick garlic bread and easy garlic bread recipes!
I also like a fresh green salad with pasta night to lighten things up a bit. Toss your favorite lettuces with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette, or even just a simple combo of red wine vinegar and olive oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you do need to brown ground beef before adding it to pasta sauce. Raw meat won’t cook properly – or safely! – if it’s added right into the sauce.
While Bolognese is a type of meat sauce, they are not the same. Meat sauce can refer to any tomato-based sauce that includes a type of meat. Bolognese, however, is a very specific recipe that includes more meat for a thicker, more ragu-like sauce.
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Sunday Gravy (Meat Sauce)
Video
Ingredients
- 4 strips thick-cut bacon, diced
- 8 Italian style sausage links, smoked or raw
- 1 large sweet onion, diced
- 1 cup finely diced carrots*
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes (1 can)
- 15 ounces tomato sauce (1 can)
- 1 cup red wine
- 3 cups water
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 pound dried spaghetti
- Salt and pepper
- Garnishes: Parmesan cheese, parsley
Instructions
- Place a large 8-quart dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced bacon and cook until brown. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve for later. Add the sausages to the bacon grease and brown on all sides. (If the sausages are raw, cook for 10-12 minutes.) Remove the sausages and reserve for later.
- Add the onions, carrots, and garlic to the dutch oven. Saute for 3-5 minutes to soften, then add the ground beef and cook until brown. Use a wooden spoon to break the ground beef into small pieces while cooking.
- Spoon the bacon back into the pot. Add both cans of tomatoes, red wine, water, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper.
- Stir well and bring to a boil. Then lower the heat and stir in the Italian sausage links. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- While the meat sauce is simmering. Set a large pot of salted water over high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir in the dried pasta. Cook according to the package instructions. Then drain the pasta and add it directly to the meat sauce pot. Stir to combine. Turn off the heat and serve warm.
Notes
- Add 3 cups of water to the Sunday Gravy, and bring to a boil.
- Once the meat sauce is boiling, stir in the dried spaghetti. Stir well so the sauce separates the strands of pasta, and the meat doesn’t stick to the bottom. Cover the pot and boil one minute.
- Stir well again to keep the pasta from sticking together and the meat from burning on the bottom.
- Do this 4-5 times until the pasta is cooked.
