Meat Lover'S Chunky Mushroom Pasta Sauce - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef
1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed (use mild or spicy)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 small green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 (8 ounce) package fresh small white button mushrooms (if your mushrooms are large slice in half)
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional or adjust to suit taste)
1 teaspoon dried basil
2 (25 ounce) jars classico roasted garlic and herb pasta sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
fresh ground black pepper (to taste)

Preparation

In a Dutch oven cook the ground beef and sausage meat until no longer pink; drain fat and remove to a bowl.
In the same Dutch oven heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
Add in onion, bell pepper, small whole mushrooms, chili flakes and dried basil; cook stirring for about 7-10 minutes or until well softened.
Add the beef mixture back to the pot then add in the pasta sauce; bring to a simmer over medium heat stirring.
Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 30-35 minutes, seasoning with salt and black pepper about halfway through simmering.