Quick And Simple Meat Sauce Recipe

Name: Quick And Simple Meat Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1/2 red onion, diced; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 1 bell pepper, any color, diced; 4 ounces cremini mushrooms, roughly chopped; 1 zucchini, roughly chopped; 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional); 12 ounces rao's marinara sauce, half a jar; 1 lb pasta, any kind; salt and pepper, to taste; parmigiano (optional)

Servings: persons

1 lb ground beef
1/2 red onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 bell pepper, any color, diced
4 ounces cremini mushrooms, roughly chopped
1 zucchini, roughly chopped
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
12 ounces rao's marinara sauce, half a jar
1 lb pasta, any kind
salt and pepper, to taste
parmigiano (optional)

1
Heat large, deep sided pan on medium to medium high heat.
2
Coat bottom of pan with a couple tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
3
Heat a large pot of water on high until boiling for the pasta.
4
Once the oil starts to ripple but before it starts smoking, dump in the onions, mushrooms and red pepper flakes. Stir the pan occasionally.
5
Once the onions start to soften and the mushrooms brown (about 5-7 minutes), season with salt and stir the pan.
6
Now add the bell pepper and zucchini and stir the pan occasionally.
7
Once the pepper and zucchini begin to soften, add in the garlic and season again with salt continuing to stir the pan occasionally.
8
At this point, the pot of water should be boiling. Season the water liberally with salt and add the pasta. Cook to al dente.
9
Once the garlic is very fragrant, stir in the ground beef and break it up into little pieces.
10
Continue to cook until meat is browned all the way through.
11
Stir in the marinara sauce. It will be pretty thick, so add in about 1/2 cup of pasta water to thin.
12
Bring sauce to a boil, then cover, reduce heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
13
Drain the pasta and put in bowls.
14
Once the sauce is done, pour over the pasta and then add some parmigiano cheese if you'd like!

881

kcal

Calories

Fat

121

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Feel free to swap in similar ingredients you already have on hand and adjust seasoning to taste.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 11 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 1 lb ground beef, 1/2 red onion, diced, 4 garlic cloves, minced, 1 bell pepper, any color, diced, and more.

Yes, Quick And Simple Meat Sauce falls under the Pasta & Noodles category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

That's it — enjoy your meal!

Quick And Simple Meat Sauce

Tips for the best results

Variations & substitutions

My Personal Notes

How did you like this recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions