Marinara Pasta with Ground Beef

A classic weeknight pasta dish featuring savory ground beef simmered in a rich marinara sauce, served with spaghetti and a simple green salad.

• Prep: 10 min
• Cook: 20 min
• Total: 30 min
• Servings: 4
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Easy
• Cost: $4.13/serving

Dietary

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

Tags

• comfort food
• quick
• savory

Ingredients

• 1 pound spaghetti
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground beef (80/20 lean)
• 1 yellow onion (medium, diced)
• 2 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 jar marinara sauce
• 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper (ground)
• 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 5 ounce mixed greens salad
• 2 tablespoon Italian dressing

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 1 pound of spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente.
2. While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 pound of ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess grease.
3. Add 1 medium diced yellow onion to the skillet with the beef and cook for 3-5 minutes until softened. Stir in 2 minced cloves of garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Pour in the 24-ounce jar of marinara sauce, 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and let it gently simmer while the pasta finishes cooking.
5. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it thoroughly. You can either mix the pasta directly into the sauce or serve the sauce over individual portions of spaghetti.
6. Toss the 5 ounces of mixed greens salad with 2 tablespoons of Italian dressing. Serve the pasta with meat sauce alongside the salad. Garnish with optional grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Store any leftover pasta and sauce separately for best quality. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 670
• Protein: 37.8 g
• Carbohydrates: 70.2 g
• Fat: 27.5 g
• Fiber: 7.3 g
• Sodium: 750 mg
• Saturated Fat: 9.5 g
• Sugar: 9.8 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg