Description
Hearty beef pasta merges Italian comfort with robust flavors, creating a soul-warming dish perfect for family dinners. Savory beef, tender pasta, and rich tomato sauce combine into a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 8 oz pasta (penne or rotini)
- 2 cups tomato sauce
Seasonings:
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Vegetables and Extras:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, sautéing chopped onions until translucent and slightly golden, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Introduce ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into small crumbles and cooking until completely browned and no pink remains, about 7-8 minutes.
- Sprinkle salt, black pepper, dried oregano, and garlic powder over the meat, stirring thoroughly to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Pour tomato sauce into the skillet, reducing heat to medium-low and allowing the mixture to simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Simultaneously, cook pasta in a separate pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8-9 minutes.
- Drain pasta and add directly into the meat sauce, gently folding to ensure complete coating and integration.
- Remove skillet from heat and garnish with freshly chopped parsley, mixing gently.
- Optional: Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top before serving for additional flavor complexity.
- Serve hot, ensuring each portion has a balanced mix of pasta and sauce.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with plant-based alternatives like crumbled tofu or lentils for a vegetarian version that maintains protein content.
- Use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising the dish’s rich flavor profile.
- Allow meat sauce to develop deeper flavors by simmering longer, around 15-20 minutes, which helps intensify the seasoning and create a more robust taste.
- Pat ground beef dry before cooking to ensure proper browning and prevent excess liquid, resulting in a more concentrated and caramelized meat texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg