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Homestyle Ground Beef Pasta Sauce Recipe

This comforting sauce combines lean ground beef with a medley of fresh vegetables and herbs to create a hearty, layered flavor perfect for busy weeknights. Ready in just over 30 minutes, it pairs beautifully with any pasta, rice, or polenta, and can be easily adapted with your favorite substitutions.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 485
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 1/2 pound lean ground beef
  • 2 diced tomatoes
  • 1 minced onion
  • 1 minced carrot
  • 2 minced celery stalks
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder or use 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 1/2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 6 ounces tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder or crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon basil
  • 1 cup water possibly more if needed
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • Medium pot
  • Wooden spoon

Method
 

  1. Place a medium pot over low heat and add the lean ground beef, minced onion, and garlic powder (or minced garlic). Sauté gently for about 5 minutes, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon until the beef browns and the onions become translucent.
  2. Add the minced celery, diced tomatoes, minced carrot, tomato paste, tomato sauce, chili powder (or crushed red pepper flakes), and paprika. Stir everything together and cook on low heat for another 5 minutes, allowing the vegetables to soften and meld with the meat.
  3. Pour in the water and add the bay leaves and basil. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 20 minutes so that all the flavors can blend and the sauce reduces slightly.
  4. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, give the sauce a final stir, and remove from heat.
  5. Serve hot over your favorite pasta, rice, or polenta. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator and often taste even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop.

Notes

This homestyle ground beef pasta sauce is a versatile, comfort food classic that packs layers of flavor without the fuss of long hours. You can easily swap ground beef for turkey or plant-based crumbles, and adjust the seasonings to your taste. The sauce pairs wonderfully with a variety of pastas, rice, or even polenta, making it a perfect weeknight dinner solution. Leftovers are a bonus as the flavors deepen with time.