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Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions, this Easy Beef Ragù & Rigatoni recipe features tender ground beef simmered in a rich tomato sauce and paired with thick rigatoni pasta. Ready in under an hour, it’s a simple meal your whole family will love.
There’s something undeniably comforting about a hearty bowl of pasta, especially when it’s paired with a rich and flavorful sauce. I think of this meat sauce as sort of an easy cheater pasta sauce, born out of ingredients that I simply had in my pantry on a cold winter’s night when I was too tired to go to the store. Perfect for a cozy dinner at home, or an easy meal for guests, this yummy recipe brings the warmth and decadence of Italian cuisine straight to your kitchen with minimal effort and maximum taste.
Whether you’re an experienced home chef or just trying to get food on the table, this recipe is straightforward and satisfying, using just a handful of pantry staples! Pair it with a crisp green salad and a glass of your favorite red wine for the ultimate Italian-inspired dinner experience. Let’s get cooking!
Everything You Need to Make Easy Beef Ragù & Rigatoni
- Pasta: You can really pair whatever kind of pasta you want with this meat sauce! Rigatoni is one of my favorites that I usually keep in my pantry, so that’s why I used it.
- For the Sauce: To make this meat sauce, you’ll need ground beef, olive oil , butter, minced garlic, white onion, carrots, cammed diced tomatoes, tomato paste and beef broth.
- Herbs & Spices: This recipe calls for Italian seasoning, oregano, onion powder, a bay leaf, salt and pepper for extra flavor.
How to Make Easy Beef Ragù & Rigatoni
- Cook pasta in salted water according to package instructions, then drain and rinse.
- While pasta is cooking, cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until meat is browned. Remove beef from skillet and set aside.
- Add olive oil, butter and minced garlic to skillet and let cook for 1 minute, then add onion and carrots and cook until onion looks slightly translucent, about 3-5minutes.
- Add canned diced tomatoes, (include contents of the whole can,) along with tomato paste, beef broth, Italian seasoning, oregano, onion powder, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for about ten minutes over medium heat.
- Add ground beef to skillet and stir to combine, followed by pasta. Thoroughly combine pasta with sauce and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Serve immediately with freshly grated parmesan and basil leaves.
Kitchen Essentials
Check out my list of trusty kitchen tools and serveware that I just keep going back to!
I really hope you enjoy this easy pasta recipe! If you’re looking for more cozy weeknight meals, check out my Classic Crockpot Pot Roast or Southwest Sweet Potato Chili.
Easy Beef Ragù & Rigatoni
Ingredients
- 8 oz rigatoni
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 medium white onion diced
- 1/2 cup carrots diced
- 15 oz canned diced tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 bay leaf
- salt & pepper to taste
For Serving
- grated parmesan optional
- fresh basil optional
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water according to package instructions, then drain and rinse.
- While pasta is cooking, cook ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until meat is browned. Remove beef from skillet and set aside.
- Add olive oil, butter and minced garlic to skillet and let cook for 1 minute, then add onion and carrots and cook until onion looks slightly translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add canned diced tomatoes, (include contents of the whole can,) along with tomato paste, beef broth, Italian seasoning, oregano, onion powder, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for about ten minutes over medium heat.
- Add ground beef to skillet and stir to combine, followed by pasta. Thoroughly combine pasta with sauce and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Serve immediately with freshly grated parmesan and basil leaves.
