Get Creative: Canning Your Own Spaghetti Sauce with Meat

There’s something so satisfying about making your own spaghetti sauce from scratch. The aroma of tomatoes, garlic, and herbs simmering on the stove, the rich and flavorful taste of the finished product – it’s a true labor of love. And when you take it a step further and can your own sauce, it becomes a convenient pantry staple that will last for months.

Canning your own spaghetti sauce with meat is a great way to save money, reduce food waste, and have a delicious homemade meal at your fingertips whenever you need it. Plus, knowing exactly what goes into your sauce means you can control the quality of ingredients, ensuring a healthier and more flavorful end product.

To get started with canning your own spaghetti sauce with meat, you’ll need a few basic supplies: a large pot for cooking the sauce, canning jars and lids, a canner or large pot for processing the jars, and a few other utensils. Once you have everything you need, it’s time to get cooking!

Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for spaghetti sauce with meat that you can can at home:

Ingredients:
– 10 lbs fresh tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped (or 6 cans of whole tomatoes, drained and chopped)
– 1 lb ground beef
– 1 lb Italian sausage
– 1 large onion, diced
– 4 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 bell pepper, diced
– 1 cup red wine
– 2 tbsp olive oil
– 2 tbsp tomato paste
– 1 tbsp sugar
– 1 tbsp salt
– 2 tsp black pepper
– 2 tsp dried oregano
– 2 tsp dried basil
– 1 tsp dried thyme
– 1 bay leaf

Instructions:
1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned. Remove the meat from the pot and set aside.

2. In the same pot, add the onion, garlic, and bell pepper, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

3. Add the wine to the pot and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.

4. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, thyme, and bay leaf to the pot, along with the browned meat. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and cook for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened.

5. While the sauce is cooking, prepare your canning jars and lids according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

6. Once the sauce has thickened, remove the bay leaf and ladle the hot sauce into the prepared jars, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp cloth, then place the lids on the jars and screw on the bands until fingertip tight.

7. Process the jars in a boiling water canner for 35 minutes. Carefully remove the jars from the canner and let them cool on a clean towel for 12-24 hours.

8. Check the seals on the jars, then store them in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.

Now that you have your delicious homemade spaghetti sauce with meat canned and ready to go, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor whenever the craving strikes. Whether you use it as a base for pasta dishes, pizza, or even as a dip for breadsticks, you can’t beat the flavor and convenience of homemade canned spaghetti sauce. So roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and get creative in the kitchen – your taste buds will thank you!