Bolognese Pronto with Penne Pasta

A quick and hearty ground beef Bolognese sauce simmered with tomatoes, herbs, and broth, tossed with penne pasta and finished with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

• Prep: 10 min
• Cook: 18 min
• Total: 28 min
• Servings: 8
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Easy
• Cost: $2.57/serving

Dietary

• Nut-Free
• Soy-Free
• Egg-Free
• High-Protein

Tags

• quick
• comfort food
• savory
• classic
• stir-fry

Ingredients

• 1.5 pound ground beef (80/20)
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 yellow onion (large, chopped)
• 4 clove garlic (minced)
• 2 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 pound penne pasta
• 1.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.75 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (shredded)
• 0.25 cup fresh basil (chopped)

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil for the penne pasta. Add the 1 pound penne pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
2. While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the 1 1/2 pounds ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
3. Add the 1 large yellow onion and 4 cloves minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened.
4. Stir in 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, and 1 teaspoon dried basil. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Pour in 1 can crushed tomatoes and 1 cup chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and let the sauce gently bubble for 5-7 minutes to meld the flavors. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 3/4 teaspoon black pepper.
6. Add the drained pasta to the Bolognese sauce, tossing to coat. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
7. Serve hot, topped with 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil if desired.

Notes

For a richer sauce, feel free to simmer longer if you have extra time. This bolognese freezes well for future meals.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 480
• Protein: 34 g
• Carbohydrates: 44.5 g
• Fat: 19 g
• Fiber: 4.5 g
• Sodium: 920 mg
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Sugar: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg