SPICY SAUSAGE MEATBALL SAUCE

Spicy Sausage Meatball Sauce image

I threw together three favorite veggies and spicy sausage for this incredible sauce that makes our mouths water the whole time it's cooking. Besides serving this with pasta (refrigerated tortellini is best), we've had it with brown basmati rice, as "sloppy subs" on toasted Italian rolls and as a "stew" with garlic bread. -Ann Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 5h40m

Yield 12 servings (3-3/4 quarts).

Number Of Ingredients 17

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Ingredients

2 cans (28 ounces each) crushed tomatoes
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
3/4 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
5 garlic cloves, minced
4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 large sweet onion
1 large green pepper
1 medium sweet red pepper
1 medium sweet orange pepper
1 medium sweet yellow pepper
10 hot Italian sausage links (4 ounces each), casings removed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons canola oil
Hot cooked pasta

Steps:

Place first eight ingredients in a 6-qt. slow cooker. Chop onion and peppers; stir into tomato mixture., Shape sausage into 1-3/4-in. balls; roll in flour to coat lightly. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; cook meatballs in batches until lightly browned, 5-8 minutes, turning occasionally. Drain on paper towels. Add to slow cooker, stirring gently into sauce., Cook, covered, on low 5-6 hours or until meatballs are cooked through and vegetables are tender. Serve with pasta. Freeze option: Freeze cooled meatball mixture in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Place meatball mixture in a large skillet; heat through, stirring occasionally and adding a little water if necessary.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 343 calories, Fat 23g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 51mg cholesterol, Sodium 984mg sodium, Carbohydrate 22g carbohydrate (11g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 15g protein.