Easy Ground Turkey and Sausage Meat Sauce
This Easy Ground Turkey and Sausage Meat Sauce is rich, hearty, and packed with flavor. Made with lean ground turkey, savory sausage, tomatoes, garlic, onions, carrots, and herbs, it’s the perfect homemade pasta sauce for spaghetti night, meal prep, and freezer-friendly family dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 MINS
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 8-10 SERVINGS 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: STOVETOP
- Cuisine: ITALIAN INSPIRED
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 pound turkey sausage
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 large carrots, shredded
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 (12-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.
- Add ground turkey and turkey sausage. Cook until browned, breaking the meat apart as it cooks.
- Stir in the diced onion, shredded carrots, and garlic. Cook for 5–7 minutes until softened.
- Add the balsamic vinegar and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, thyme, crushed red pepper flakes, sugar, salt, and pepper.
- Stir until well combined.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30–45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Serve over cooked spaghetti or your favorite pasta and garnish with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Freeze leftovers in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
- This sauce tastes even better the next day.
- Great for spaghetti, lasagna, baked ziti, stuffed shells, and manicotti.
- For a richer flavor, substitute Italian sausage for the turkey sausage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 285G
- Sugar: 7G
- Fat: 15G
- Carbohydrates: 12G
- Fiber: 3G
- Protein: 25G