Marinara Meat Sauce Pasta

Name: Marinara Meat Sauce Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 5 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound ground beef (lean); 1 yellow onion (medium, chopped); 2 clove garlic (minced); 1 can crushed tomatoes; 0.5 cup beef broth; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 0.5 teaspoon dried basil; 0.5 teaspoon salt; 0.25 teaspoon black pepper; 12 ounce penne pasta; 1 package garlic bread (pre-made); 1 package arugula; 2 tablespoon balsamic vinaigrette

Hearty ground beef simmered in a smooth, rich tomato marinara, served over penne pasta with garlic bread and a crisp arugula salad for a classic Italian family dinner.

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 15 min
Total: 25 min
Servings: 5
Cuisine: Italian
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: $4.43/serving

Dietary

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

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef (lean)
1 yellow onion (medium, chopped)
2 clove garlic (minced)
1 can crushed tomatoes
0.5 cup beef broth
1 teaspoon dried oregano
0.5 teaspoon dried basil
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.25 teaspoon black pepper
12 ounce penne pasta
1 package garlic bread (pre-made)
1 package arugula
2 tablespoon balsamic vinaigrette

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and chopped yellow onion. Cook, breaking up the beef, until browned and onion is softened, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Stir in crushed tomatoes, beef broth, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it gently cook for 10-12 minutes while preparing the pasta.
While the sauce simmers, cook penne pasta according to package directions in salted water until al dente. Drain well.
Bake or toast the pre-made garlic bread according to package instructions.
In a medium bowl, gently toss the arugula with balsamic vinaigrette.
Serve the marinara meat sauce over the drained penne pasta, with a side of garlic bread and the dressed arugula salad.

Notes

Using crushed tomatoes creates a smooth sauce, avoiding large tomato chunks your family dislikes. Pre-made garlic bread and bagged arugula salad keep this classic meal quick and convenient.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 610
Protein: 37.5 g
Carbohydrates: 65.3 g
Fat: 23.2 g
Fiber: 7.5 g
Sodium: 1100 mg
Saturated Fat: 9.5 g
Sugar: 10.1 g
Cholesterol: 70 mg