Best Recipe for Sunday Sauce With Braciole, Meatballs, and Sausage
Ingredients
- 2 medium onions, cut into 1" pieces
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
- 3 (packed) cups basil leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup finely grated Parmesan
- 2/3 cup chopped parsley
- 1/2 cup fine breadcrumbs
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 6 slices beef top round (about 1 1/2 pounds total), pounded 1/4" thick
- 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 pound ground beef chuck (20% fat)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 6 sweet Italian sausages
- 1 pound pasta, such as spaghetti
- Kosher salt
- Finely grated Parmesan (for serving)
- Butcher's twine
Instructions
- Purée onions and garlic in a food processor until very finely chopped.
- Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy ovenproof pot over medium-high. Cook onion mixture and 1/2 tsp. salt, stirring often, until liquid is evaporated and bits on bottom of pot are beginning to brown, 10–12 minutes. Add tomato paste, oregano, and red pepper flakes; cook, stirring, until slightly darker in color, about 2 minutes more. Add 1/2 cup water and cook, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pot. Add tomatoes and their juices and 1 cup water; stir to combine. Stir in basil, season with pepper and remaining 1 tsp. salt, and bring to a simmer. Keep warm, stirring occasionally, until ready to use.
- Make the breadcrumb mixture: Combine cheese, parsley, breadcrumbs, and garlic in a medium bowl.
- Combine cheese, parsley, breadcrumbs, and garlic in a medium bowl.
- Prepare the braciole: Preheat oven to 300°F. Lay beef flat on a work surface; season with 3/4 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Sprinkle evenly with 1/2 cup breadcrumb mixture. Working one at a time and starting at the short end, roll up beef, then tie in a few places with butcher’s twine to secure. Season braciole with remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Working in batches and adding remaining 1 Tbsp. oil to skillet as needed, cook braciole, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes per batch. Transfer braciole to pot with sauce, cover, and bake 1 1/2 hours. Wipe out skillet and reserve.
- Preheat oven to 300°F. Lay beef flat on a work surface; season with 3/4 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Sprinkle evenly with 1/2 cup breadcrumb mixture. Working one at a time and starting at the short end, roll up beef, then tie in a few places with butcher’s twine to secure. Season braciole with remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper.
- Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Working in batches and adding remaining 1 Tbsp. oil to skillet as needed, cook braciole, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes per batch.
- Transfer braciole to pot with sauce, cover, and bake 1 1/2 hours. Wipe out skillet and reserve.
- Prepare the meatballs and sausage: Mix ground beef, eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and remaining 1 1/4 cups breadcrumb mixture with a fork in a medium bowl. Shape into 12 (1 1/2") balls. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in reserved skillet. Working in batches, cook meatballs, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes per batch; transfer to a plate. Working in batches and adding remaining 1 Tbsp. oil to skillet as needed, cook sausages, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes per batch. Transfer to plate. After braciole has baked 1 1/2 hours, using tongs, gently lower meatballs and sausages into sauce. Cover pot and continue to bake until braciole is very tender and meatballs and sausages are cooked through, 25–30 minutes more.
- Mix ground beef, eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and remaining 1 1/4 cups breadcrumb mixture with a fork in a medium bowl. Shape into 12 (1 1/2") balls.
- Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in reserved skillet. Working in batches, cook meatballs, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes per batch; transfer to a plate. Working in batches and adding remaining 1 Tbsp. oil to skillet as needed, cook sausages, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes per batch. Transfer to plate.
- After braciole has baked 1 1/2 hours, using tongs, gently lower meatballs and sausages into sauce. Cover pot and continue to bake until braciole is very tender and meatballs and sausages are cooked through, 25–30 minutes more.
- To serve: Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Transfer sausages, meatballs, and braciole to a platter; remove strings from braciole. Spoon some warm sauce over. Drain pasta and toss with as little or as much sauce as you like. Serve topped with Parmesan.
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Transfer sausages, meatballs, and braciole to a platter; remove strings from braciole. Spoon some warm sauce over.
- Drain pasta and toss with as little or as much sauce as you like. Serve topped with Parmesan.
- Do Ahead Sauce can be made 3 days ahead; cover and chill, or freeze up to 6 months. Braciole, meatballs, and sausages can be made 3 days ahead; submerge in sauce, cover, and chill, or freeze up to 3 months.
- Sauce can be made 3 days ahead; cover and chill, or freeze up to 6 months. Braciole, meatballs, and sausages can be made 3 days ahead; submerge in sauce, cover, and chill, or freeze up to 3 months.
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