Minced meat sauce

This minced meat sauce recipe combines juicy ground beef, a rich pepper blend, and a handful of everyday spices for a mouth-watering, versatile sauce.

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A close-up image of a pot filled with a rich, chunky minced meat sauce. The sauce is a deep red color with visible bits of minced meat, diced carrots, and a hint of green herbs for garnish. A wooden spoon is lifting a portion of the sauce, showing its thick, hearty texture. The pot has a black-and-white checkered pattern along its rim, giving a rustic feel to the presentation.

Minced meat sauce

This minced meat sauce recipe combines juicy ground beef, a rich pepper blend, and a handful of everyday spices for a mouth-watering, versatile sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep, this sauce pairs beautifully with pasta, rice, or even bread. Let’s make it! 

This Minced Meat Sauce vs. Traditional Bolognese

This minced meat sauce brings bold, vibrant flavors to the table in just about 30 minutes, with bell peppers, garlic, and thyme adding a savory punch that makes it perfect for busy weeknights. Traditional Bolognese, on the other hand, is a classic Italian sauce that slowly builds its subtle, creamy flavors over hours, using wine and a tomato base. While Bolognese is mellow and satisfying, this minced meat sauce delivers a hint of spice and a lively taste that keeps you coming back for more. Both are delicious pasta sauces, each with its own charm but for a quick, unforgettable meal, this minced meat sauce just might steal the show.

minced meat sauce for pasta

Ingredients and Subs

  • Minced Meat: Ground beef provides a rich, hearty flavor. Substitute with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based meat for a lighter option.
  • Pepper Mix: A blend of bell peppers, tomatoes, scotch bonnet peppers, garlic, and onion gives the sauce its depth and slight kick. For a milder sauce, reduce the scotch bonnets or use milder chili peppers.
  • Tomato Paste: Thickens the sauce and adds extra depth, flavor and color.
  • Seasonings: Salt, garlic powder, thyme and the beef boullion cube boost the flavor. Garlic powder can be swapped with fresh minced garlic for an even fresher taste. You can swap the Thyme with oregano or basil. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prepare the Pepper Mix: Begin by blending the bell peppers, tomatoes, scotch bonnet peppers, garlic cloves, and onion into a smooth paste. Set the mixture aside. This will form the flavor base for your sauce.
  2. Cook the Minced Meat: In a large pan, heat a little oil over medium-high heat. Add the minced meat and cook until it begins to brown. Season with salt, the beef Knorr cube, and garlic powder. Stir the meat occasionally, ensuring it browns evenly. This will take around 8-10 minutes.
  3. Incorporate Tomato Paste: Add a few tablespoons of tomato paste to the pan with the browned meat. Stir well and cook for about 5 minutes, allowing the paste to deepen in color. This enhances the tomato flavor and adds a slight caramelized sweetness to the sauce.
  4. Add Pepper Mix and Seasonings: Pour the blended pepper mix into the pan and stir to combine. Season with a little more salt, the crushed Knorr cube, and dried thyme. Reduce the heat to low, partially cover the pan, and let the sauce simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. This helps the flavors meld together and reduces the sauce.
  5. Add Carrots and Final Touch: After 20 minutes, add the chopped carrot. Let it cook for another 5 minutes on low heat until the carrot is tender but still slightly firm for a pleasant texture.
  6. Serve the sauce hot over cooked pasta, or enjoy with rice, bread, or even as a filling for wraps and sandwiches.
minced meat sauce for pasta

Serving Suggestions

This minced meat sauce is versatile and pairs well with:

  • Pasta: A classic choice. Serve over spaghetti, Fettuccine, penne, or rigatoni.
  • Rice: For a simple, comforting meal, serve over white or brown rice.
  • Mashed Potatoes: Spoon the sauce over creamy mashed potatoes for a comforting dish.
  • Bread: Use as a spread for toasted crusty bread or inside sandwiches.

Customizations and Substitutions

Vegetarian Option: Substitute the minced meat with plant-based meat alternatives or lentils and replace beef bouillon with vegetable bouillon.

Add more veggies: Add Peas, mushrooms, zucchini, or bell pepper slices for extra nutrition and texture.

Herbs: Fresh herbs like basil, parsley, or oregano can be added during the last few minutes for a burst of fresh flavor.

Make it Spicier: Add more scotch bonnet peppers or a dash of chili powder.

How to Make Minced Meat Sauce Ahead/ storage tips

Minced meat sauce is perfect for meal prepping. Make a large batch, and let it cool completely before storing it in airtight containers. In the fridge, the sauce will last up to 4 days, while in the freezer, it can be stored for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the fridge if frozen, and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through.

For added convenience, divide the sauce into single servings before freezing so it’s easy to grab just what you need for a quick meal.

Dinner

Minced meat sauce

This minced meat sauce recipe combines juicy ground beef, a rich pepper blend, and a handful of everyday spices for a mouth-watering, versatile sauce.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Serving Size: 6
A close-up image of a pot filled with a rich, chunky minced meat sauce. The sauce is a deep red color with visible bits of minced meat, diced carrots, and a hint of green herbs for garnish. A wooden spoon is lifting a portion of the sauce, showing its thick, hearty texture. The pot has a black-and-white checkered pattern along its rim, giving a rustic feel to the presentation.
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Ingredients

  • 800 g minced meat
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon beef bouillon cube
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Pepper mix:

  • 2 bell peppers medium
  • 5 roma tomatoes
  • 2-3 scotch bonnet peppers
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ small onion

Other ingredients:

  • 90 g tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon crushed Knorr cube
  • ½ teaspoon thyme
  • 1 medium carrot chopped

Instructions

  • Prepare the pepper mixture by blending the bell peppers, tomatoes, scotch bonnet peppers, garlic cloves, and onion in a blender until smooth. Set aside.
  • Heat a generous amount of oil in a large pan over medium heat.
  • Add the minced meat, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook until it begins to brown, stirring occasionally.
  • Season the meat with salt, a beef seasoning cube, and garlic powder. Continue cooking until the meat is fully browned.
  • Once the meat is browned, stir in the tomato paste and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the paste starts to darken slightly.
  • Pour the blended pepper mixture into the pan with the meat, stirring well to combine all the ingredients.
  • Add additional salt, the crushed Knorr cube, and dried thyme to the mixture, stirring thoroughly to incorporate the seasonings.
  • Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan halfway to allow steam to escape. Let it simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.
  • After 20 minutes, add the chopped carrot to the sauce. Continue to cook on low heat for an additional 5 minutes, or until the carrot is tender.
  • Remove the pan from heat and serve the sauce hot over cooked pasta. Enjoy your meal!

Notes

  1. Adjusting Spice Level: If you prefer a milder sauce, reduce the number of scotch bonnet peppers or swap them with milder peppers. For extra heat, you can leave the seeds in or add a dash of chili powder.
  2. For a richer sauce, cook the tomato paste a bit longer until it caramelizes, as this intensifies its sweetness and reduces acidity.
  3. Vegetable Variations: Feel free to add other vegetables like chopped bell peppers, peas or mushrooms with the carrots for added texture and nutrition.
  4. Storage: This minced beef sauce stores well and can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat in a pan over low heat, adding a splash of water or stock if needed to loosen the sauce.
  5. Serving Suggestions: This sauce pairs well not only with pasta but also with rice, potatoes, or as a filling in wraps. It can also be layered with cheese for a quick, meaty pasta bake.

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