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Hearty Ground Beef Orecchiette with Simple Tomato Sauce

A close-up, sunlit bowl of ground beef orecchiette pasta topped generously with grated Parmesan cheese.
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Make this easy ground beef orecchiette dinner for a satisfying weeknight meal. This recipe uses simple ingredients to create a savory pasta dish.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 pound orecchiette pasta
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off excess fat.
  2. Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the beef and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the crushed tomatoes. Add the oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes, if using. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. While the sauce simmers, cook the orecchiette pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water.
  6. Drain the pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the meat sauce.
  7. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water and the 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together until the sauce coats the pasta well. Add a little more pasta water if the sauce seems too thick.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • For best results when cooking orecchiette, cook it until just firm to the bite (al dente). The pasta will finish cooking slightly when mixed with the hot sauce.
  • You can add 1 cup of chopped mushrooms or shredded carrots when you cook the onion for extra vegetables.
  • If you prefer a creamier texture, stir in 1/4 cup of heavy cream with the pasta water at the end.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingzenith.com/ground-beef-orecchiette-pasta-recipe/