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Delicious homemade Beef Pasta is featured in this tempting image.

Beef Pasta Ultimate Dinner

This Beef Pasta is a hearty and customizable dish perfect for a satisfying meal. The recipe offers options for different cuts of beef and various flavor-building strategies for creating the perfect sauce, ensuring a delicious and comforting experience.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef 85/15 or 90/10 lean
  • 1 pound pasta penne, rigatoni, farfalle, spaghetti, or linguine
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/2 cup red wine optional
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce optional
  • Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
  • Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish

Equipment

  • Large pot or Dutch oven
  • Large skillet or frying pan
  • Pasta pot
  • colander
  • cutting board
  • Chef's knife
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • wooden spoon or spatula
  • Garlic press (optional)
  • Cheese grater

Method
 

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat.
  3. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more, until fragrant.
  5. Stir in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, red wine (if using), Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, bay leaf, and Worcestershire sauce (if using).
  6. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the more the flavors will meld.
  7. Remove the bay leaf from the sauce.
  8. Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
  9. Simmer for a few minutes to allow the pasta to absorb some of the sauce.
  10. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

For a richer flavor, use steak or stew meat instead of ground beef. Brown the meat well before adding it to the sauce. For a spicier sauce, add a pinch of red pepper flakes. You can also add vegetables like carrots, celery, or bell peppers to the sauce. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For a slow cooker version, brown the beef and sauté the aromatics, then combine all ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Add cooked pasta during the last 30 minutes, or serve over cooked pasta.