Description
A hearty and flavorful Beef Pasta in Tomato Sauce recipe that combines tender ground beef and savory marinara sauce with perfectly cooked pasta. Finished with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, this dish is a delicious and comforting meal ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz pasta
Sauce and Beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp instant bouillon cube (chicken or beef)
- 1 (15 oz) can marinara tomato sauce
- 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Finishing Touches
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well and set aside to keep warm.
- Prepare Sauce: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until translucent and softened, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, instant bouillon, and Italian seasoning, cooking until fragrant for about 1 minute.
- Cook Beef: Add the lean ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink, approximately 5 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Simmer Sauce: Pour in the marinara tomato sauce and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally to meld the flavors.
- Combine: Adjust seasoning with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Add the cooked pasta into the skillet and stir thoroughly to coat the pasta with the sauce.
- Finish: Stir in the fresh chopped parsley and shredded Parmesan cheese. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted and the flavors have combined well. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and keep the dish light.
- Instant bouillon adds depth of flavor; choose chicken or beef based on preference.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with plant-based meat alternatives and vegetable bouillon.
- Parmesan cheese can be replaced with a vegan cheese substitute for a vegan diet.
- Reserve a small amount of pasta water if the sauce seems too thick; add it to loosen the sauce when combining.
