Basic Meat Sauce Recipe With Pasta – Easy Weeknight Dinner

Oh, how I love pasta and meat sauce! This very easy and very healthy basic meat sauce recipe with pasta is what this blog is all about. It’s naturally whole, deliciously comforting, and takes less than half an hour to throw together (most of the time the meat is passively simmering).

Growing up in South Africa, we called meat sauce and pasta “spaghetti bolognese.” Turns out, what I spent my childhood calling bolognese was actually just plain old meat sauce. Not that it’s plain or old – it’s just a different thing.

(And it takes a little less work, in my opinion). 

Meat Sauce Vs. Bolognese 

Bolognese calls for chopping celery and carrots along with onion, and traditionally comes with some form of creamy dairy mixed in. Meat sauce is more tomato-based: ground meat, marinara, and some seasonings. Bolognese also takes a lot longer, usually a couple hours of simmering and thickening. Meat sauce? 20 minutes. 

Basic Meat Sauce Recipe Ingredients

This basic meat sauce recipe is so easy, and yet is made even easier depending on your choice of marinara sauce. Not gonna lie, I often grab some organic Costco-sized marinaras for the week and sustain myself on lots of chickpea pasta. 

Of course, there is the option of homemade marinara sauce – which will always be a little better, a little fresher. 

In this case, unless you have a batch on hand already, there is no need to make the marinara above separately. Instead, you’ll do the same recipe but add and brown your meat before adding crushed tomatoes. Don’t worry, I’ll cover this in more detail below. 

Here are the ingredients you will need:

• Pasta of Choice (I love “Chickapea” brand pasta elbows)
• Olive Oil
• Ground meat (lamb or beef)
• Oregano
• Jar of Marinara Sauce

OR (instead of marinara sauce)

• Onion
• Garlic
• Crushed Tomatoes

• Optional: parmesan or sharp cheddar cheese for garnish. (I know parm is traditional, but I love some thick grated cheddar with this dish.)

Beef or Lamb For Meat Sauce?

I usually opt for lamb when making a basic meat sauce recipe. It is slightly fattier than beef and comes with a slightly meatier flavor of its own. I love how this basic meat sauce recipe comes out with lamb, but beef definitely works, too. I would lean towards 80/20% though (like that pun?). 

How To Make This Basic Meat Sauce Recipe With Pasta

Heat the Water and the Oil

Before all else, fill up a pot of water and put it on the stovetop on high (add salt to the water if you like). In a large separate pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. 

Chop and Sauté Onion and Garlic 

NOTE: If using jarred marinara, skip this step!

While the oil is heating up, chop the onion and mince the garlic. Add the onion and cook for 3–5 minutes, or until soft and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook about 10-20 seconds, being careful not to burn it.

Cook the Ground Meat

Add the ground meat to the pan, breaking it into small pieces with a spoon or spatula. Season with oregano, salt and pepper. Cook until browned and no pink remains, about 5–10 minutes. 

Add Crushed Tomatoes

NOTE: If using jarred marinara, add it now! (Not crushed tomatoes.)

Pour in the crushed tomatoes, stirring to combine everything.

Boil the Pasta and Simmer the Sauce

By now the pasta water should be boiling, so add in the pasta and set your timer according to package instructions. Reduce the heat to low on the meat sauce and let it simmer uncovered for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.

Drain the Pasta, Taste and Adjust Seasonings

Drain your pasta when it’s ready then return it to the pot. Taste the meat sauce and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.

Serve

Serve the meat sauce neatly over the pasta, or mix it all together in the large pasta pot. Garnish with grated Parmesan or sharp cheddar.

Store Leftovers

Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Looking for more comfort food entrees? If you love meat sauce with pasta, you’ll love…

• South African Sweet and Sour Lamb – Denningvleis
• Roast Leg of Lamb with Potatoes
• South African Chicken and Potato Stew
• Easy Bean Chili
• White Bean Soup