Pasta with meat sauce is a classic comfort food recipe rooted in Italian-American cuisine, celebrated for its rich and flavorful meat sauce that perfectly complements a variety of pasta types.
Ingredients
Scale:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 cup red wine (optional)
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 ounces spaghetti, penne, or your preferred pasta
Salt for pasta water
Fresh basil leaves, torn
Additional grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
Add the ground beef or ground turkey to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
Season the meat with dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
Pour in the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste, stirring until the sauce is well mixed. Add the red wine if using, and let the sauce simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes.
Stir in the sugar and Parmesan cheese, adjusting seasoning as needed. Continue to simmer the sauce for an additional 10 minutes until thick.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
Toss the cooked pasta in the skillet with the meat sauce, adding reserved pasta water if needed to achieve desired sauce consistency.
Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil leaves and additional Parmesan cheese.
