Authentic Sunday Sauce Recipe (with Meatballs)

Homemade Sunday sauce just like Nonna’s! Rich tomato gravy and savory meatballs. Easy, step-by-step Italian gravy recipe.

The aroma of simmering tomatoes and garlic? That’s Sunday in my family. With roots tracing back to Italy, my great-grandparents’ journey through Ellis Island sparked a lifelong love for authentic Italian flavors.

Growing up in New Jersey, surrounded by incredible restaurants, nothing beats the homemade Sunday sauce my mother and grandmother perfected. We called it ‘gravy’ as kids, but ‘Sunday sauce’ works too. What’s your family’s name for it?

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Why is It Called Sunday Sauce?

Although Italian gravy is really a ragu (sauce with meat in it), people started calling it Sunday sauce because their grandmother’s would serve it at big Sunday gatherings with the family after mass.

What is Sunday Sauce or Italian Gravy?

Whether you call it Italian gravy or Sunday sauce, it brings up lots of memories of Sunday family gatherings where either my mother or grandmother stirred a huge pot of tomato sauce and meat all day long. 

Sunday sauce is tomato sauce that has been stewing meatballs, sausages and any other kind of meat you can throw in there. For me, I typically make it with meatballs and sweet Italian sausage.

Some cook the meat right in the sauce. But I prefer to pre-cook the meat so it’s browned. I start my Sunday sauce in the morning and let it sit on the stove top all day long so the flavors can marinate. And my family loves it.

As an aside, I like baking both the sausages and meatballs before fully cooking in the sauce is so much easier than frying them up. But making the meatballs will always be a messy endeavor no matter which way you make them.

I try to remember to take my rings off while I’m making them so they don’t get all cruddy. But half the time I forget before it’s too late! Do you do that too?

Making the meatballs is a good way to get the kids involved with the dish too. They love rolling them and knowing they helped make dinner. And I love the crispy outside of the meatballs. Of course its not the same as fried, but it’s still really good. And a lot healthier for you too.

How to Make Authentic Sunday Sauce (Italian Gravy) With Meatballs

I typically make a big pot of Sunday sauce on, well…Sundays. But also love to make it when we are up at the Vermont cabin skiing or before a good snowstorm. It’s a great dish to make because it feeds many and you have lots of versatility with serving options.

Sometimes I’ll keep it simple and we’ll make sandwiches. Others times I’ll serve it over some sort of pasta. We love to make pizzas out of the leftovers. And seriously, the possibilities are almost endless.

While it’s pretty easy to make this recipe for Sunday sauce, you want it to simmer and then sit for several hours so the flavors come together all day long. I usually start it around 9 or 10AM so it’s ready to serve by early evening.

Ingredients for Authentic Sunday Sauce

When making Italian gravy, the fresher the ingredients the better, but I usually make mine from cans of crushed tomatoes.

• crushed tomatoes
• garlic
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• oregano
• basil
• Meatballs
• Sweet Italian Sausage

If you aren’t sure how to make the meatballs, click here for my super easy recipe.

Directions to Make Italian Gravy

Making Sunday sauce is pretty easy to do and takes no time to make. But you need to allow it several hours to simmer on the stove.

Prepare the Sauce Base

To begin, sauté garlic in extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the garlic becomes fragrant, about 30 seconds, add the crushed tomatoes. Season generously with oregano, basil, salt, and pepper, remembering to taste and adjust the seasonings to your preference. Heat the sauce for a few minutes, then reduce the heat and let it simmer gently.

Bake the Sausage

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the sausage on a baking sheet and pierce each sausage a few times with a fork. Bake for 30 minutes, or until cooked through. Once baked, remove the sausage from the oven and add it directly to the simmering tomato sauce.

Bake the Meatballs

While the sausage is baking, prepare your meatballs. Place the meatballs on the same baking sheet used for the sausage. Bake for 25 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove the meatballs from the oven and add them to the simmering sauce.

Simmer and Develop Flavor

Allow the sauce, sausage, and meatballs to simmer for several hours, stirring occasionally. This slow simmering is crucial for developing the rich, deep flavors of the Sunday sauce. Continue to simmer throughout the day, or for a minimum of 3 hours. Make sure you stir frequently so the sauce doesn’t burn when it is on the heat.

Serve and Enjoy

When ready to serve, heat the sauce thoroughly. Serve your delicious Sunday sauce with your favorite pasta, such as spaghetti, rigatoni, or penne. It’s also fantastic for making hearty meatball or sausage sandwiches on crusty Italian bread. Garnish with fresh basil or grated Parmesan cheese for an extra touch of flavor

Storing Your Sunday Sauce With Meatballs and Sausage

• Refrigerator: Allow the Sunday sauce to cool completely before storing. Transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate. It will keep for 3-4 days. To reheat, gently warm the sauce on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, or microwave in intervals until heated through.
• Freezer: For longer storage, freeze the cooled Sunday sauce in freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags. Portion it into sizes suitable for your needs. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw, place the frozen sauce in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost setting on your microwave. To reheat, follow the same instructions as for refrigerated sauce, ensuring it’s heated thoroughly.

Final Thoughts About Making Homemade Sunday Sauce (Italian Gravy)

More than just a recipe, Sunday sauce is a tradition, a taste of home, and a way to gather those we love. For me, it’s the aroma that fills the house, the slow simmer that signals a day of togetherness, and the shared smiles around the table.

Growing up, Sundays meant family, laughter, and a pot of this rich, comforting sauce. Now, I cherish the opportunity to recreate those moments, to pass down a piece of my heritage, and to create new memories with my own family.

Whether you call it gravy or Sunday sauce, the heart of this dish remains the same: it’s about bringing people together. So, take your time, savor the process, and enjoy the delicious results. From my family’s table to yours, may your Sundays be filled with warmth, love, and the unbeatable taste of homemade tradition.

If you want to learn how to make your own tomato sauce from fresh garden tomatoes, check out this recipe from the Kitchn.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Enjoy your day! xoxo

More Italian Recipe Ideas

I’m a huge fan of Italian food and make dishes all the time for my family. It’s part of my heritage and the food is delicious! Here are some easy recipes to try.

• Baked Shrimp Scampi Recipe
• Grandma’s Recipe for Bruschetta Tomatoes
• Caprese Salad
• Grilled Sausage and Peppers
• Italian Seafood Stew
• Proscuitto and Brie Appetizer Bites
• Caramelized Pear Flatbread Recipe