Description
Luxurious 3-ingredient pasta whisks home cooks through Italian culinary magic with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Simple ingredients create an elegant meal packed with comfort and deliciousness you will savor from first bite to last.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef or turkey
Pasta:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (rotini, rigatoni, or farfalle)
Seasonings and Sauce:
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) salt
- 1 jar (approximately 25 ounces or 709 grams) marinara sauce
Garnish (Optional):
- Grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat a spacious cooking vessel over medium-high temperature, introducing ground beef and fragmenting it with a sturdy utensil until thoroughly caramelized and fully cooked, approximately 6 minutes. Season with salt for enhanced flavor.
- Reduce heat to medium, incorporating marinara sauce and replenishing the empty jar with water, creating a liquid base. Gently integrate all components.
- Introduce pasta directly into the simmering sauce mixture, ensuring complete submersion and even distribution.
- Allow the culinary blend to reach a gentle bubbling state, maintaining a consistent low-intensity simmer. Stir periodically to prevent pasta adherence and promote uniform cooking.
- Monitor liquid levels, supplementing with additional water if necessary. Continue cooking, stirring attentively until pasta achieves optimal tenderness and sauce reaches desired consistency, roughly 25-30 minutes total.
- Elevate the dish’s presentation by delicately sprinkling freshly grated parmesan cheese and scattering vibrant basil leaves across the surface. Serve immediately while maintaining optimal temperature and texture.
Notes
- Customize pasta types by using gluten-free or whole wheat options for different dietary needs.
- Enhance flavor intensity by adding minced garlic or Italian herbs during ground beef browning stage for deeper taste profile.
- Prevent pasta sticking by stirring consistently and using a large, wide pot that allows ingredients to move freely during cooking.
- Reduce sodium content by selecting low-sodium marinara sauce and controlling additional salt quantities.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg