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    Home » Recipes » italian

    Mama's Sunday Gravy (Sauce) Recipe

    First Published: October 14, 2021 . Last Modified: April 24, 2024 lisa45 Comments This post may contain affiliate links

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    pin for Sunday Gravy

    Hearty and meaty Sunday Gravy (or Sunday Sauce) is classic Italian-American comfort food. Served over pasta, Mama's Italian Gravy is a flavorful and rich tomato sauce filled with meat and perfect for serving to the entire family or when company's coming for special occasions. This is my original family recipe.

    A plate of pasta and a bowl of Italian Sunday gravy.

    If you have never made slow-cooked tomato gravy, you have to try my best Sunday gravy recipe. Your house will smell wonderful and you might even have the neighbors come running over. My family tradition was to have this often as an Italian Sunday dinner.

    I always make extra. Just in case.

    While this recipe has a long cooking time, it is well worth it. It simmers in a large pot on the stove and the cooking process is not a hard one, so you can do other things. On Sunday, I usually relax with my family, watch football, have a glass of wine or just listen to some music. 

    Jump to:
    • Sunday Sauce Versus Sunday Gravy
    • Ingredients Needed for Italian Gravy
    • How to Make Sunday Sauce (or Gravy!)
    • Leftovers and Storage
    • More Italian Recipes perfect for Sunday Dinners
    • RECIPE

     

    A bowl of Sunday sauce.

    Sunday Sauce Versus Sunday Gravy

    Being from a part Italian family, on Sunday we always had gravy with our pasta. Different Italian families have their own spin on Sunday sauce but simplified down, Italian gravy is red sauce usually with some type of meat in it and served with pasta. So to many Sunday Gravy and Sunday Sauce are the same thing.

    My husband always refers to gravy as the brown kind, served with pot roast or pork chops and mashed potatoes, but to me, that is "brown gravy."

    But this Sunday gravy recipe contains country-style pork ribs. It's thick and meaty and SO much more than a sauce. I switch meats depending on what's in the freezer but chicken, pork or beef can be used. I also like to add pan fried meatballs and hot Italian sausage to my Italian gravy. Simply put, this is sauce, but in my family we call it Sunday gravy!

    Raw sausage and pork used for this  recipe.

    This is another great food debate that depends on your ethnic background and where you grew up. My roommate from college grew up in an all-Italian town and also had Sunday gravy. If you go to places like South Philadelphia, any Italian restaurant will have gravy on its menu.

    A pot of Italian sauce with dried herbs

    Ingredients Needed for Italian Gravy

    • Olive Oil – Or use any light, neutral flavored oil.
    • Country-style Pork Ribs – Country-style ribs are actually blade steaks and not ribs at all. I prefer to use bone-in becuase I think they add more flavor to the gravy. You do have to watch for bones, so if you don't want to pick them out, cubes of boneless pork shoulder works great too.
    • Sausage Links or Meatballs - These are my family's favorite additions and add a ton of flavor to the sauce but you could use other types of meat such as boneless short ribs or stew meat.
    • Fresh Garlic Cloves – 6 cloves of garlic is going to add a warm earthy flavor to this recipe.
    • Red Wine – You don't have to use expensive wine but the splash of red wine added should be something you'd enjoy drinking.
    • Tomatoes – Add both crushed tomatoes and tomato puree. As the sauce cooks down it will thicken and absorb all the flavors of the meat, garlic and other ingredients. For a real treat, but San Marzano tomatoes. They are more expensive but really the best tomatoes to use in this Italian Sunday gravy recipe. If you want an even thicker sauce, add a few spoons of tomato paste and that will thicken your sauce nicely.  
    • Seasoning – Onion powder, dried or fresh basil leaves, red pepper flakes and salt will boost the flavor of the gravy. I prefer fresh herbs as they also look great to garnish your dish.
    • Salt and pepper - A little bit of salt and black pepper goes a long way in seasoning this dish.
    • Sugar – There is a big debate over whether sugar belongs in tomato sauce and gravy. Sugar can tone down the acidity of the tomatoes and that's how this Mama does it but I add just a little bit.
    • Pasta – Pour this tomato-based sauce over your favorite pasta. I love making these homemade pasta noodles from scratch and cooking al dente pasta! This is also great with some hearty tortellini or ravioli. Now that's a good stick to your ribs Sunday dinner!

    How to Make Sunday Sauce (or Gravy!)

    1. In a large stock pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil and brown pork in a single layer.
    2. Remove meat and add garlic and sausage to the pan. Cook for a few minutes or until garlic is slightly golden and sausage starts to brown.
    3. Deglaze pan with red wine. Add tomatoes, puree, onion powder, basil, sugar and pepper.  Stir well with a wooden spoon.
    4. Place ribs back in pot and cover. Simmer on low heat for about 2 to 2 ½ hours or until meat falls apart and sausage links are tender.
    5. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve over pasta.
    Pllate of pasta with meat and sausage.

    Leftovers and Storage

    The best part is the leftovers.  Drizzle some olive oil in a large frying pan. Heat the pan and then fry the spaghetti or other pasta until warm and the edges are slightly crisp. Try my recipe for Fried Leftover Spaghetti and you will never make it another way!

    I prefer to heat the leftovers in a pan but if you are in a hurry, microwaving them will do.

    I always make extra pasta because leftovers are fantastic for lunch the next day. Make sure to keep any leftovers in an airtight container in your refridgerator for up to 4 days.

    I don't recommend freezing cooked pasta but this Italian gravy recipe with meat can be frozen in your freezer for a month. Defrost and reheat in a pot for an easy dinner. While the sauce is reheating, you can easily boil some pasta.

    More Italian Recipes perfect for Sunday Dinners

    • Italian Stovetop Stuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey
    • Italian Sausage and Pepper Pasta
    • Healthier Shrimp Scampi
    • Angel Hair Pasta with Blush Sauce
    • Italian Pot Roast via Food Fanatic

    If you like this red gravy recipe, please leave a 5-star rating.

    RECIPE

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    5 from 5 votes

    Mama's Sunday Gravy

    This meaty Italian pot of Gravy or Sunday Sauce is a hearty dinner that pairs well with pasta.
    Course: dinner
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 333kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 to 2 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 to 3 lbs country style pork ribs
    • 1 lb pork sausage links
    • 6 cloves garlic slivered
    • ½ cup red wine
    • 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
    • 28 oz. can tomato puree
    • 2 teaspoons onion powder
    • 1 Tablespoon dried basil
    • 1 Tablespoon sugar
    • pinch of crushed red pepper
    • salt to taste
    • pasta for serving

    Instructions

    • In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil and brown ribs.
    • Remove ribs and add garlic and sausage to the pan. Cook for a few minutes or until garlic is slightly golden and sausage starts to brown.
    • Add wine to deglaze pan. Add tomatoes, puree, onion powder, basil, sugar and pepper.
    • Place ribs back in pot and cover. Simmer on low for about 2 to 2 ½ hours or until meat falls apart and sausage links are tender.
    • Add salt to taste and serve over pasta.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 333kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 277mg | Potassium: 1343mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 973IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 6mg

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    Comments

    1. John and Lisa Howard-Fusco says

      March 05, 2009 at 11:54 am

      Oh my. I can't wait until Sunday for this. Looks great, Lisa! - John

      Reply
    2. Lucy says

      March 05, 2009 at 12:01 pm

      I just love this sauce made w/pork, wonderful flavors.

      Reply
    3. Stacey Snacks says

      March 05, 2009 at 12:25 pm

      Looks excellent.....who is Mama?

      Reply
    4. Peter M says

      March 05, 2009 at 12:30 pm

      Damn, I wish it was Sunday so I could have some right now!

      Reply
    5. Pam says

      March 05, 2009 at 1:05 pm

      Mmmm. The sauce sounds heavenly. Total comfort food.

      Reply
    6. Mary says

      March 05, 2009 at 1:59 pm

      This does sound good, Lisa. Sauce made from pork is a childhood favorite.

      Reply
    7. Karen Brown Letarte says

      March 05, 2009 at 2:02 pm

      Oh, my, this looks wonderful! My Darlin' Companion is extremely partial to pork, so I will have to fix this for him very soon. I am saving your recipe right now!

      I love the beautiful reds in your blog template-- it looks so inviting!

      Reply
    8. Maryann says

      March 05, 2009 at 2:23 pm

      Lisa,
      This looks so good!..on ANY day of the week! Thanks so much for joining the festa and bring such a gorgeous dish!
      Maryann xox

      Reply
    9. Barbara says

      March 05, 2009 at 2:43 pm

      Oh Lisa, I'm so glad you posted this recipe. My hubby and I have a friend (that is Italian) and would make this for us when we were first married. I never had the recipe before. I'll have to surprise my hubby. Thanks so much.

      Reply
    10. Allie says

      March 05, 2009 at 3:24 pm

      Next time I get some ribs I'll have to set some aside to try this before my hubby takes them all to BBQ.

      Reply
    11. Melissa says

      March 05, 2009 at 4:16 pm

      Oh my, that looks too good!

      Reply
    12. The Food Hunter says

      March 05, 2009 at 4:39 pm

      So glad you call it gravy too. But then your from NJ what else would you call it. 🙂

      Reply
    13. Jennifer says

      March 05, 2009 at 5:12 pm

      Fried spagetti? slow cooker gravy? never heard of these. Myh list to 'to try' is getting very long my fellow foodies. Gaald you are feeling better.

      Reply
    14. NatNibbles says

      March 05, 2009 at 5:38 pm

      Looks awesome...I bet it tastes even better!

      Reply
    15. The Blonde Duck says

      March 05, 2009 at 7:39 pm

      I'm glad you're feeling better! This looks divine.

      Reply
    16. Debbie says

      March 05, 2009 at 8:05 pm

      Looks very good. Is it Sunday yet??

      Reply
    17. Proud Italian Cook says

      March 05, 2009 at 10:29 pm

      I love gravy with country style ribs, this looks excellent Lisa, just perfect for our festa! Thanks so much for joining us!!
      xox, Marie

      Reply
    18. Cathy says

      March 05, 2009 at 11:09 pm

      You won't catch me calling that sauce -- that is GRAVY, and mighty fine looking gravy at that! This really does look like the perfect Sunday dinner. I hope that your recovery from tonsillitis is going smoothly!

      Reply
    19. Aggie says

      March 06, 2009 at 9:08 am

      Oh I can just smell that sauce from here Lisa!! That looks so delicious!

      I hope you are feeling better...

      Reply
    20. kat says

      March 06, 2009 at 11:15 am

      Looks so good. Glad you are feeling better

      Reply
    21. black eyed susans kitchen says

      March 06, 2009 at 12:00 pm

      I will be showing this post to my husband Lisa. He is Scandinavian, but loves Italian food. Especially authentic Italian food, and this is right up his alley. Looks like Sunday dinner to me.
      ♥, Susan

      Reply
    22. ♥Rosie♥ says

      March 06, 2009 at 2:55 pm

      Oh Lisa you poor love with tonsillitis!! I am pleased you are feeling better!!

      This looks divine - soon be Sunday ;0)

      Rosie x

      Reply
    23. Katrina says

      March 06, 2009 at 4:36 pm

      Hope you're feeling better. I have a really annoying cold! Bring on spring--it's 70+ degrees here today, so I guess I can't complain.
      This dish looks so good! Printing.

      Reply
    24. tamilyn says

      March 07, 2009 at 9:55 am

      I had to laugh at the comment that we are to call it gravy and not sauce. Yep, here in the midwest-it is sauce. Gravy is brown and goes on mashed spuds. However, I will call it gravy since I don't like regular gravy and I love the look of your 'gravy'. How many times can I use the word gravy?

      Reply
    25. Dawn says

      March 07, 2009 at 12:50 pm

      I hope you're feeling better. I had that once and I did not take care of myself and it got so much worse.
      This gravy is looking so good for dinner tomorrow night.

      Reply
    26. HoneyB says

      March 07, 2009 at 1:01 pm

      Have a great time Lisa!

      Your pork gravy looks yummy!

      Reply
    27. Clumbsy Cookie says

      March 07, 2009 at 3:56 pm

      Are you on Facebook! I need to find you then! Lovely meal, I can almost smell it from my screen! Those roasts are truly the best!

      Reply
    28. Kevin says

      March 07, 2009 at 4:44 pm

      That pork and pasta looks tasty!

      Reply
    29. Recipe Girl says

      March 07, 2009 at 7:05 pm

      great use of the country spare ribs which I often find on major sale. Will print this out and use.

      Glad you feel better

      shannon

      Reply
    30. Bridgett says

      March 08, 2009 at 3:36 pm

      Ah, tonsillitis is the worst so I hope you are feeling better. This looks so good! So comforting!

      Reply
    31. Culinary Cory says

      March 08, 2009 at 11:47 pm

      Wow, this looks hearty and delicious!

      Reply
    32. Paula says

      March 09, 2009 at 3:58 pm

      Oh Lisa, I always get so hungry when I visit! This looks so good; I swear I can smell it! Yum, yummy, yum! 🙂

      Reply
    33. Paula says

      March 09, 2009 at 4:00 pm

      Oh, and I meant to say that I hope you are fully recovered! Tonsillitis is nasty! Hope you had a fun retreat!

      Reply
    34. Jan says

      March 10, 2009 at 1:51 am

      I have been on a liquid diet, and I have been on a soft food diet so I totally hear where you're coming from. Great looking pasta. I hope you feel better real soon.

      Reply
    35. Bunny says

      March 10, 2009 at 9:10 pm

      I love this! I love using my crock pot for dinners like this too!

      Reply
    36. Annie says

      March 10, 2009 at 9:13 pm

      Ok now I'm drooling...
      Nothing like Sunday Gravy!

      Reply
    37. Karen Brown Letarte says

      March 11, 2009 at 5:54 pm

      We had your Sunday gravy last night with spaghetti! It was SO delicious! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe. It is the closest thing I have tasted to my mom's homemade spaghetti sauce. She doesn't remember how to make it and no matter how I've tried to replicate it, it never tastes quite right. But your Sunday Gravy is wonderful!

      Reply
    38. culinspiration says

      March 18, 2009 at 10:54 am

      This looks amazing! Could I start it in a pot and then move to a Crock Pot for the long simmer? How long should I leave it in there?

      I love a good slow-simmered sauce.

      Reply
    39. SJerZGirl says

      June 09, 2011 at 3:36 pm

      I have a pot on the stove right now. I didn't have any tomato puree, so I used two cans of crushed tomatoes and four pork chops I had in the freezer, thawed and browned. Can't wait to try this!! I'm so hungry!

      Reply
    40. SJerZGirl says

      June 09, 2011 at 5:51 pm

      I have to tell you - this is superb!!! I've never been able to make decent sauce/gravy from scratch. This is wonderful, even with all crushed tomatoes.

      Reply
    41. Jen says

      November 18, 2021 at 10:50 am

      5 stars
      Love the addition of pork ribs. Will never go back to just sausage.

      Reply
    42. Sisley White - Sew White says

      November 18, 2021 at 10:56 am

      5 stars
      This looks like such a brilliant combination of gravy and italian super foods.

      Reply
    43. Dannii says

      November 18, 2021 at 12:03 pm

      5 stars
      This is very different from the gravy we know here in the UK. But it looks incredible.

      Reply
    44. Toni says

      November 18, 2021 at 12:07 pm

      5 stars
      This was so good!! It quickly became a favorite for my kids! Totally irresistible!

      Reply
    45. Michelle says

      November 18, 2021 at 12:16 pm

      5 stars
      I need a good Italian dinner and this looks amazing!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Lisa

    I love creating recipes and cooking for my family and friends. It's great to bring everyone to my kitchen to talk, laugh and eat. I also like to spread my love for cooking to others. So grab an apron and let's do it together. I promise my recipes will be easy and delicious!

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