I had some ground beef waiting in the refrigerator, so I flipped through my Everyday Food cookbook hoping for something new. I chose this recipe, because it looked just different enough from our usual spaghetti to spark my interest. With nutmeg and a bit of milk, this was a delicious variation on one of my family’s favorite meals. Everyone at the table, baby included, enjoyed this meal. The fact that it took me less than 30 minutes from start to finish makes this recipe a great find.
Pasta with Easy Italian Meat Sauce
Recipe adapted from and with thanks to Everyday Food
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 sweet onion chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves minced
- 3/4 pound ground beef
- 28 oz can of whole tomatoes
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon dried nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt adjust to your taste
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper adjust to your taste
- 1/2 pound fettuccine or wide egg noodles
- Parmesan cheese freshly grated for serving
Instructions
- Start a large pot of water to boil for the pasta. Meanwhile, heat the butter and oil in a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and the garlic. Saute for a few minutes and then add the ground beef. Cook until it turns brown, about five more minutes.
- Add the tomatoes and their liquid, crushing each of them with a large spoon. Stir in the milk, bay leaf, thyme, nutmeg and salt and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes. While this is simmering, cook the pasta in the boiling salted water. When the pasta is done, drain it, reserving 1/2 cup of the water for later.
- Return the pasta to the warm pot and pour the meat sauce on top of it. Stir gently to combine. Add the reserved pasta water if the pasta seems too dry. (my sauce was fine without the extra water, but it's always a good idea to reserve some water each time) Serve sprinkled with Parmesan. Enjoy!
Mellissa says
This screams comfort food, so delicious!
The Walmart Ninja says
I'm so adding this to the grocery list!
Jen of My Tiny Oven says
YUM! I want this for dinner!
little t says
This is one of my ultimate go-to dinners.
Craving pasta now… it looks so yum.
The Slow Roasted Italian says
Looks yummy Miss Mary. I like easy meat sauce, may have to try this next month (this month is going healthy – I may have plans at the end of the month).
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
I have been thinking about pasta so much lately! Thanks for an idea that will hit the spot.
Charissa says
Mmmmm….I think I`m going to move to Italy. My Dad is gluten free, so we hardly ever have pasta. Sniff…looks really great!
B. Spence-Taylor says
Thank you for the comment on our blog. The truck is fixed and we head out tomorrow.
Your recipes are actually perfect for our new lifestyle, so keep them coming.
Julie says
That looks like my kind of meal…yummy 🙂
Chrissy @ [email protected] says
Simple and delicious! Sometimes that is just the perfect meal!
The Starving Student says
People don't realize it, but the secret ingredient to a killer bolognese is the dairy. If you want to try something a bit richer, add heavy whipping cream instead of the milk. Not exactly figure friendly but the taste cannot be beat!