Description
This classic Grandma’s Meat Sauce Pasta with Burrata is a comforting Italian-American dish featuring a rich, slow-simmered meat sauce layered with aromatic herbs and spices. Served over perfectly cooked pasta and topped with creamy, fresh burrata cheese, this hearty meal delivers deep, satisfying flavors that bring family and friends together at the table.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Pasta and Garnish
- 1 pound cooked pasta, such as rigatoni or spaghetti
- 2 balls fresh burrata cheese
- Chopped fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped yellow onion and cook for about 5 minutes until soft and translucent, releasing its sweetness.
- Add garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, being careful not to let it burn, to bring out its aroma.
- Brown the beef: Add the ground beef to the pot. Cook it over medium heat, breaking it apart with a spoon, until it is browned evenly and no longer pink inside.
- Incorporate tomato paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen its flavor and help thicken the sauce later.
- Add liquids and seasonings: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and beef broth. Then add the dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, bay leaf, granulated sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer the sauce: Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce heat to low and cook uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes. Stir occasionally until the sauce thickens and flavors intensify.
- Finish the sauce: Remove the bay leaf. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed with additional salt or pepper.
- Toss pasta and serve: Add the cooked pasta directly into the pot and toss to coat thoroughly with the meat sauce.
- Plate and garnish: Transfer pasta to serving bowls. Tear the fresh burrata cheese into pieces and place on top of each portion. Garnish with chopped fresh basil before serving.
Notes
- For a richer, more developed flavor, you can simmer the sauce for up to 1 hour.
- Consider substituting half the ground beef with Italian sausage for another layer of taste.
- If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of beef broth or reserved pasta water to loosen it.
- To make this dish gluten-free, substitute the pasta with a certified gluten-free variety.
