There’s really nothing quite like an Italian Sunday gravy. Some may think it’s just spaghetti sauce, but this slow-simmered succulent sauce is so full of flavor that standard spaghetti sauce can’t even compare.
I promise that once you make this absolutely decadent Sunday sauce you will never look at sauce for pasta the same!
What is Spaghetti Sauce or Sunday Gravy?
Sunday gravy is similar to spaghetti sauce — it has the same ingredients. But the difference is that Sunday gravy is a long-simmered sauce that takes time to conjure up all of the flavors from the ingredients and bring them together for rich, flavor-packed, and tomato-based goodness that no one can resist.
What Makes this Sunday Sauce Stand Out?
Many tomato sauces used to dress pasta are easy-peasy to make but lacking in deep flavor. You won’t find that with this sauce!
- Full of flavor. Simmered for hours, this sauce packs a punch of flavor that can’t be beat. Even that amazing, renowned, store-bought sauce (you know the brand!) can’t hold a candle to this homemade goodness.
- So simple. Even though it tastes like it took a whole lot of farmers to harvest the tomatoes and herbs for this sauce, it’s actually pretty accessible and super-easy to make.
- Easily batched. If you love this sauce as much as we do, you’ll want it all the time. Lucky for you, it’s easy to double or triple the recipe and store it!
Ingredients
These simple ingredients, and the warmth of your stove, do most of the work to bring this simple sauce together!
- Olive Oil – The heart of any authentic Italian sauce starts with quality olive oil. It’s essential for sautéing the onions and garlic and imparting a rich, velvety base.
- Yellow Onions – Onions add a subtle sweetness and a savory depth as they caramelize.
- Garlic – No pasta sauce is complete without garlic, especially Sunday gravy!
- Crushed Tomatoes – These are the heart of the sauce — they make it hearty yet bright.
- Diced Tomatoes – Adding diced tomatoes adds a bit of texture and flavor in contrast to the crushed tomatoes.
- Fresh Oregano – Fresh oregano gives the sauce a vibrant, slightly peppery flavor.
- Ground Black Pepper – A touch of ground black pepper adds just the right amount of subtle spice. You can increase it, too, if you want a little more oomph — just season to taste.
- Bay Leaves – These aromatic leaves add a unique, savory fragrance that brings everything together.
- Cooked Meatballs – Meatballs are not just a protein addition; they add tons of flavor! You can buy prepared meatballs at the store or make your own homemade meatballs. For the best results, form them into 1-inch balls before baking and then add them to your sauce.
- Italian Sausage – Italian sausage adds a bold, spicy kick.
- Canned Mushrooms – Even though they’re canned, these mushrooms absorb the rich flavors of the sauce and add earthy depth.
Variations
This is the type of sauce that can easily become your signature with a few spins on the standard recipe!
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – A pinch of red pepper flakes introduces a spicy kick of flavor!
- Fresh Herbs – Fresh basil will give the sauce a burst of fresh, herbal flavor but you can choose your other favorite herbs.
- Red Wine Vinegar – A splash of red wine vinegar adds acidity and a tangy note, balancing out the sauce.
- Meat – For a leaner option, ground turkey meatballs are a lighter alternative to traditional beef meatballs. You can also used pulled pork.
- Fresh Mushrooms – Fresh mushrooms are a great alternative — choose whichever variety you like!
- Salt – Add a pinch of salt to bring out the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Garnish – Give your final dish a pop of color with a sprinkle of chopped parsley or a little extra flavor with some parmesan cheese.
What To Serve Sunday Gravy With
We love to just simply serve this over our favorite al dente pasta. But it’s made even better with garlic knots or a simple garlic bread to soak up all that savory sauce. It’s also perfectly paired with a simple salad or minestrone soup.
You can also add apps or sides like a caprese salad or skewers, polenta, bruschetta, or easy broccolini. You can even spoon it over your morning eggs!
How to Make Sunday Gravy
While the cook time is lengthy for this sauce, the prep time is brief, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the aroma of this sauce wafting through your kitchen
- Sauté onion and garlic. Place the onions and garlic in the preheated dutch oven or stock pot drizzled with olive oil and sauté.
- Add tomatoes, seasonings and meat. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes along with juice as well as the oregano, pepper, bay leaves, meatballs, sausage, and mushrooms.
- Allow to simmer. Reduce to low heat and leave the lid slightly off while simmering for the recommended time and stir it periodically. Be sure to use your wooden spoon to scrape the delicious brown bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Remove bay leaves and serve over pasta. Remove bay leaves and serve over cooked pasta with desired garnishes like cheese or crushed red pepper flakes.
Storage and Freezing
This dish gets better and better as it all of the ingredients meld together — you’ll want to enjoy it for days!
Since the sauce’s flavors just elevate over time, as the ingredient have opportunity to mingle, you can definitely make the sauce ahead and refrigerate it until you’re ready to heat and serve.
How to Store Sunday Gravy
Store the sauce and the pasta separately in the fridge. It will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Can I Freeze Sunday Gravy?
Freeze the sauce for up to 3 months in a freezer safe container.
Common Questions About Sunday Gravy
The term Sunday gravy originated in the Italian-American communities in the northeastern United States and references the sauce’s unique thickness due to the slow, hours-long simmering process of making it.
Sunday sauce can be made with a variety of different ingredients, but at its heart the sauce is a combination of tomatoes and meat along with simple but flavorful seasonings. This recipe uses Italian sausage and meatballs but you can also incorporate short ribs or pork neck bones or bone-in pork chops with a good sear.
Sunday gravy is similar to what many people would refer to as spaghetti sauce but it’s a thicker and richer version.
More Savory Sauces
There’s nothing I love more than a good homemade sauce. Here are a few of our favorites.
Country Gravy
Chicken Nugget Dipping Sauce
Egg Roll Dipping Sauce Recipe
Sunday Gravy
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 medium yellow onions chopped *see notes
- 4-6 cloves garlic pressed or finely minced *see notes
- 84 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons fresh oregano minced
- 2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 bay leaves
- 1-2 pounds cooked meatballs
- 1 pound Italian sausage cooked and cut into bite-size pieces*
- 14 ounces canned mushrooms drained
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven or stock pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic, sauteing until translucent.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes, juice and all. Everything that is in the can.
- Stir in the oregano, ground black pepper and bay leaves. Add the meatballs, sausage and mushrooms.
- Lower to the least amount of heat possible. Cover with the lid ajar for steam to release.
- Simmer for 4-6 hours, stirring every so often to prevent scorching.
- When ready to serve, cook desired pasta.
- Remove and discard the bay leaves.
- Spoon over pasta and top with cheese or crushed red pepper flakes, if desired.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.
Notes
Amount of garlic will depend heavily on your taste and the size of your garlic cloves. It you are using a large head, use 4, a small head will call for 6. If you really love garlic, use more and if you don’t, use less. To cook sausage, bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes. Allow to cool, then slice into 1/2 inch pieces. Drain well on a paper towel lined plate before adding to sauce.
Nutrition
I love pastas and I am tried your recipe, my family loves it! thanks for sharing!
My family went crazy for this spaghetti sauce! I finally found the perfect recipe—it’s the BEST!
This recipe for sunday gravy was so tasty! Will definitely be making it again (and again!)
Omg this really was so much better than regular spaghetti sauce!! It was so much more flavorful and had a nice consistency that coated the pasta so well. I’m never going back to the jarred, store-bought version again!