Description
This Ground Beef Pasta In Tomato Sauce recipe is a quick, comforting, and hearty meal perfect for busy weeknights. Combining tender lean ground beef with rich tomato sauce and perfectly cooked pasta, it’s a family-friendly dish full of savory flavors. Easy to customize with your favorite herbs, veggies, and cheese, this nourishing and satisfying recipe can be prepared in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 cups tomato sauce (canned or homemade)
- 8 ounces pasta of your choice (spaghetti, penne, fusilli)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (basil, oregano, thyme blend)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Optional Ingredients
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Step 1: Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onions and minced garlic. Cook until soft and fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes, creating a flavorful base for the sauce.
- Step 2: Brown the Ground Beef: Add the lean ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook until fully browned and no pink remains, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed to prevent greasiness.
- Step 3: Add Tomato Sauce and Seasonings: Pour in the tomato sauce and stir well. Sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to low and allow the sauce to simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes to develop deep, rich flavors.
- Step 4: Cook Pasta Separately: While the sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water following package instructions until al dente. Reserve a small amount of pasta water before draining.
- Step 5: Combine Pasta and Sauce: Toss the cooked pasta into the skillet with the tomato and beef sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water gradually to loosen and help the sauce coat the noodles beautifully.
- Step 6: Serve and Garnish: Plate the pasta and sprinkle generously with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Garnish with chopped fresh herbs such as basil or parsley for added flavor and color.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to keep the sauce light and reduce greasiness.
- Don’t skip the simmering step to unlock the sauce’s full depth of flavor.
- Reserve some pasta water to help bind the sauce and pasta perfectly.
- Season gradually and taste regularly to avoid over-salting and balance flavors.
- Add fresh herbs at the end of cooking to retain their bright flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing and Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: ground beef pasta, tomato sauce pasta, quick dinner, family-friendly pasta, easy weeknight meal, Italian ground beef pasta