If you grew up in an Italian family like I did, chances are you had Sunday Dinner (at 1:00 PM) each week with your family. And, if you were lucky enough like I was, that included your extended family. Each week from when I was a child until well into my 20’s, we were all at my Nani’s house every Sunday for dinner and it was ALWAYS Sunday Sauce (If you are Italian and you aren’t eating Macaroni and a red sauce on Sunday, is it even Sunday? lol)
Maybe you are wondering about Sunday Gravy? Let me help settle the debate…it’s always Sauce and never Gravy (LOL). Italian Sauce vs Italian Gravy really depends on what it’s called in your Italian family. Another commonly used term you may have heard for the traditional italian sauce is Sugo.
This tradition, though I didn’t appreciate it at the time, was something that just isn’t possible in today’s world of activities, sports, and other obligations. Looking back now, it’s those family dinners became a big part of who I am. Whenever possible, l will have family dinner and make my Authentic Italian Sunday Sauce and try to keep the tradition going in some way.
Authentic Italian Sunday Sauce (NOT Sunday Gravy :))
When my Nani was sick, I spent all those hours in the hospital talking to her about her recipes that I knew only existed in her head. I wanted to be able to continue the traditional foods for our kids, and for our kids to pass them down to their kids
This Sunday Sauce, or you may call it Italian Red Sauce, is based on my Nani Rita’s recipe (and therefore my Mom’s too) and the meatballs come from her sister, our beloved Aunt Pat, who recently passed away at the age of 94 as the matriarch of our family.
While this isn’t exactly a low calorie, “diet” (I hate that word) recipe I have adapted it to be my own version of healthier by using organic ingredients, grass-fed/antibiotic free meats, and baking instead of frying. I think they would approve. One thing I don’t mess around with is the Farberware pot that I use. I’ve tried other, more expensive pots and I always go back to my Farberware!
I get all of my meat from Butcher Box Meat Delivery Box service and I absolutely LOVE it! Butcher Box delivers 100% grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, humanely raised pork, and wild-caught seafood directly to your door. Choose from four different curated boxes or completely customize your own box based on your and your family’s tastes. Plus you get a FREE Meat Bundle with your first order!
I always use San Marzano Crushed Tomatoes. They are the most delicious and authentic in both taste and texture. They are available in most grocery stores, as well as on Amazon
My Sunday Sauce recipe is very rustic-there aren’t a lot of exact measurements (a handful IS a measurement from an Italian Aunt.) Just go with it-I promise! It is important to season the sauce at every step. It uses simple ingredients and is as authentic as you will ever get and its delicious. It will be the only Italian Sauce recipe you need!
Make the Meatballs
I bake my meatballs for the sauce instead of frying them because not only are they healthier, I find that they stay together better and there is less mess. I love to cook, but I hate to clean!
I like to use Rigatoni because this shape pasta holds the sauce really well! Feel free to use whatever pasta you like. For low carb, pasta alternative options, check out my favorites Here
We may not have weekly Sunday dinners anymore, but at least I can carry on and share the food traditions and pass them down to my daughter.
More of my authentic family recipes:
Authentic Italian Meatballs in Sauce
What are your family’s traditional recipes?
Authentic Italian Sunday Sauce



The only recipe you will ever need for authentic Italian Sunday Sauce !
Ingredients
- 1 pound Sweet Italian Sausage (there are about 4 sausage links per pound)
- FOR THE MEATBALLS:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 lb ground veal
- 6 handfuls italian seasoned bread crumbs (2 handfuls for each pound of meat)
- 3 handfuls grated parmesan cheese (1 handful per each pound of meat)
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 3 eggshells of water (just do it lol).
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
- FOR THE SAUCE:
- 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1 small can Tomato Paste
- 2 cans of water (use tomato paste can). Or alternatively 1 1/2 cups
- 2-28 ounce can Crushed Tomatoes (I like San Marzano tomatoes)
- 1/4 cup red wine
- 1 carrot, grated (for sweetness instead of using sugar)
- Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the Sausage: Preheat broiler to high. Place sausage on a broiler pan and broil for about 15 minutes, turning once. They will finish cooking in the sauce
- Make the Meatballs:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Combine. all meatball ingredients in a large bowl. Mix on lowest setting until ingredients are just combined. Don't over mix or your meatballs will be tough. I use my kitchen aid mixer, but if you don't have one it is fine to use a large bowl and a mixer or even your hands.
- Lightly brush a baking sheet with Extra Virgin Olive oil. Form meat mixture into meatballs and place on baking sheet about an inch apart. Bake until lightly browned, approximately 20 minutes. You don't want them cooked through, just browned so they hold together. They will finish cooking in the sauce.
- MAKE THE SAUCE:
- Heat Olive Oil in a large pot. Add onions, a little salt, and cook until softened.
- Add garlic and cook another minute. A
- dd the Tomato paste, water, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to lowest setting, cover partially and simmer for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Increase heat to medium high. Add crushed tomatoes, wine, grated carrot, and season with some more salt and pepper. Bring to a slight boil, reduce heat back to low.
- Partially cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add in the meatballs and sausage and cook for an additional 90 minutes(still partially covered), stirring occasionally to ensure the sauce doesn't stick to the bottom.
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Lol I haven’t made it yet but this was exactly what I was looking for. I’m not Italian so I never really had a desire to make sauce but my husband has been asking me to please try and make a sauce from scratch. So I have chosen yours to try and make. I’ll be making it this weekend and I will write you back to let you know how it came out. I’m a little nervous but excited to try and make my own Sunday sauce.
Omg this reminds me of Sunday dinner at my girlfriend’s house in jersey. It started at 1 and 10 courses later ended at 6. 50 years later I thought I would never have a sauce that good again but yours took me there again. THANK YOU
Do you add dry spaghetti and cook it in the sauce or pour the sauce over already cooked spaghetti?
You don’t ever put dry spaghetti and sauce. You cook the spaghetti separately and a spoon the sauce over each persons phone when you’re done.
Hi Anna! I do cook whatever macaroni Im using separately. I don’t add dry pasta to my sauce!i do mix some sauce into the cooked macaroni before serving. I then put extra sauce on the side so people can add more if they like!
Tried this but my guests got upset when I spooned the sauce on their phones :/