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Sunday Sauce with Sausage and Braciole

This traditional Sunday sauce with sausage and braciole is the ultimate celebratory Italian-American feast. A rich, high-protein ragu, it features three different cuts of meat: succulent pork ribs, savoury sausages and tender beef braciole stuffed with seasoned breadcrumbs and Pecorino. By slow-cooking these meats directly in a thick tomato sauce, the flavours meld together to create a deep, complex gravy that is far superior to any quick weeknight pasta dish.

Traditionally served as a multi-course meal, the sauce is first tossed with large tubular pasta like rigatoni before the tender meats are presented as a secondary course. It is a comforting, homemade masterpiece that actually tastes even better when made a day in advance, allowing the herbs and garlic to fully infuse. Serve it with a simple green salad and plenty of crusty bread to mop up every last drop of the flavourful sauce.

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Ingredients for Sunday Sauce with Sausage and Braciole

  • 220g fresh breadcrumbs

  • 60g finely grated Pecorino

  • 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

  • 1/4 teaspoons hot smoked Spanish paprika

  • 7 garlic cloves, finely chopped, divided

  • 60ml olive oil, divided

  • 900g beef top round, thinly sliced by a butcher for braciole

  • Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

  • 1 freshly ground pepper

  • 900g hot or sweet Italian sausage, halved crosswise

  • 450g baby back pork ribs, cut into 3- to 4-rib pieces, or pork spare ribs, cut into individual ribs

  • 1 large onion, finely chopped

  • 2 anchovy fillets packed in oil, drained

  • 60ml tomato paste

  • 2 800g cans crushed tomatoes

  • 2 800g cans whole peeled tomatoes

  • 675g large tubular pasta (such as rigatoni or tortiglioni)

Spread out breadcrumbs on a baking sheet and let sit uncovered at room temperature until dried out, about 12 hours.

Combine breadcrumbs, Pecorino, parsley, red pepper flakes, paprika, 1 chopped garlic clove, and 2 tablespoons oil in a medium bowl.

Trim beef slices into 6x2" pieces; season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle each slice with about 2 tablespoons breadcrumb mixture, roll up, and secure with a toothpick or twine; set braciole aside. Set remaining breadcrumb mixture aside.

Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat and cook sausage, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, 5–8 minutes. Transfer to a large rimmed baking sheet.

Season ribs with salt and pepper; cook in same pot until browned on all sides, 8–10 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet with sausage. Cook reserved braciole in pot, turning occasionally, until browned, 5–8 minutes; transfer to same baking sheet.

Reduce heat to medium-low and cook onion, anchovy, and remaining garlic in pot, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, 8–10 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until slightly darkened in colour, 5–8 minutes.

Add crushed and whole tomatoes, crushing whole tomatoes with your hands; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened, 1–1 1/2 hours.

Add sausage, ribs, braciole, and any accumulated juices on baking sheet to sauce. Cook, partially covered, stirring occasionally and skimming surface as needed, until meat is very tender (rib meat should be falling off the bone), 2 1/2–3 hours longer. Season sauce with salt and pepper.

Just before serving, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente; drain.

Toss pasta in a large bowl with a little of the sauce and top with reserved breadcrumb mixture. Remove bones from ribs and remove toothpicks from braciole. Serve braciole, ribs, sausage, and remaining sauce with pasta alongside.

DO AHEAD: Breadcrumbs can be dried out 5 days ahead; store airtight at room temperature. Sauce can be cooked 2 days ahead; cover and chill. Gently reheat sauce, covered, before cooking pasta.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

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UK recipe editors

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UK recipe editors

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 28 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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