Ohhh yes — Italian Sunday Sauce 🍝❤️
This is the slow-simmered, whole-house-smells-amazing sauce your Nonna would start before noon and tend all afternoon. Deep, rich, and unapologetically meaty.
🇮🇹 Italian Sunday Sauce (Gravy)
Serves: 6–8
Time: 3–5 hours (low & slow)
Ingredients
Meats (use all or mix & match)
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1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or hot)
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1 lb beef chuck or short ribs
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½ lb pork ribs or pork neck bones
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½ lb meatballs (optional but classic)
Sauce Base
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3 tbsp olive oil
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1 large onion, finely chopped
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6 cloves garlic, sliced
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2 tbsp tomato paste
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2 (28-oz) cans whole San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand
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1 cup water or beef broth
Seasoning
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1 tsp salt (start light)
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½ tsp black pepper
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1 tsp dried oregano
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Pinch of red pepper flakes
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1 bay leaf
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1 tsp sugar (optional, if tomatoes are acidic)
Finish
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Fresh basil leaves
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Optional: Parm rind (huge flavor boost)
Instructions
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Brown the meats
Heat olive oil in a large heavy pot. Brown meats in batches. Remove and set aside. -
Build the base
Sauté onion in drippings until soft. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. -
Tomato paste
Stir in tomato paste and cook until brick red (2–3 min). -
Tomatoes
Add crushed tomatoes and water/broth. Stir well. -
Simmer
Return meats to pot. Add bay leaf, oregano, pepper, red pepper flakes, Parm rind. -
Low & slow
Simmer partially covered 3–5 hours, stirring occasionally. Sauce should barely bubble. -
Finish
Remove meats. Stir in fresh basil. Adjust salt and sugar if needed.
🍝 How It’s Served (Traditional Order)
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Pasta first with some sauce
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Meat second as its own course
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Extra sauce on everything because… obviously 😄
Nonna-Level Tips
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Never rush it. Sunday sauce is a commitment.
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Don’t over-season early — flavors deepen over time.
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If sauce gets thick, add a splash of pasta water.
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Leftovers taste even better next day.
Variations
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Neapolitan-style: fewer meats, more tomato-forward
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Pork-only gravy (very old-school)
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Red wine version: deglaze with ½ cup dry red wine
If you want a New Jersey Italian-American version, slow cooker method, or meatball-only sauce, say the word