This easy pasta sauce with ground beef is a favorite family meal in my house. It’s simple, hearty, and totally satisfying. It’s the kind of recipe that elevates a weeknight dinner without much effort. Perfectly seasoned, slow-simmered, and topped with DOP Parmesan, it’s a timeless classic that never disappoints.

See the video
Scroll to the bottom of the page for a printable recipe…
Follow Sip Bite Go on Instagram and YouTube…
Sauce ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 2 cans (28 oz each) tomato sauce
- ¼ cup water
Love simple weeknight meals? Try this easy pasta dinner with chicken…
What to serve it with
- 1 LB pasta, freshly cooked
- ¼ cup DOP Parmesan cheese, for topping
- Fresh basil leaves, if desired
For another weeknight meal my family loves, see my pulled pork pastry puffs.
Can I substitute ground beef with turkey or chicken?
Yes, both work well. Adjust the seasonings as desired.
How to make an easy pasta sauce with ground beef
The gist: Build in the layers of flavors to make this savory ground beef pasta sauce simmered to perfection with onions, peppers, and Italian spices. Then toss it with fresh pasta and top with Parmesan.
- Sauté the vegetables: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper, and cook for 3–5 minutes until softened.
- Cook the ground beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet along with the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and sugar. Stir well and cook until the beef is almost fully browned, about 5–7 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce and add the water. Stir to combine.
- Simmer the sauce: Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the flavors meld and the sauce thickens.
- Toss with pasta: Remove the sauce from heat and toss with freshly cooked pasta until well coated.
- Top and serve: Plate the pasta and sauce, then top with freshly grated DOP Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Pair this pasta with one of Sip Bite Go’s salad recipes.
Notes
- Feel free to adjust seasoning to taste or add a pinch of chili flakes for heat.
- Use your favorite pasta shape. I find both long noodles like spaghetti, or short pastas that hold sauce well – like rigatoni are equally great choices.
Next, taste the difference of this homemade chicken noodle soup…
Try these easy steak recipes…
See all steak recipes…
Upgrade Your BBQ Game
The wrong meat thermometer will ruin your food… see the BBQ meat thermometers I credit for getting delicious results.
Become better at home cooking…
I’m here to help you put together delicious meals, right at home. Let me know in the comments how yours turned out or what you’d like to see next.
Stay in touch on Instagram and subscribe to SipBiteGo on YouTube.
Happy cooking ~ Jenna
Browse the Sip Bite Go recipe collection…
Easy Pasta Sauce With Ground Beef
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 2 cans 28 oz each tomato sauce
- ¼ cup water
For serving
- 1 LB pasta freshly cooked
- ¼ cup DOP Parmesan cheese for topping
- Fresh basil leaves if desired
Instructions
- Sauté the vegetables: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper, and cook for 3–5 minutes until softened.
- Cook the ground beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet along with the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and sugar. Stir well and cook until the beef is almost fully browned, about 5–7 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce and add the water. Stir to combine.
- Simmer the sauce: Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the flavors meld and the sauce thickens.
- Toss with pasta: Remove the sauce from heat and toss with freshly cooked pasta until well coated.
- Top and serve: Plate the pasta and sauce, then top with freshly grated DOP Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Leave a Reply