Description
Grandma’s Meat Sauce Pasta with Burrata is a comforting Italian-American classic featuring a rich, savory meat sauce simmered with tomatoes, herbs, and a hint of spice, served over perfectly cooked pasta and topped with creamy burrata cheese for a luxurious finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Pasta & Toppings
- 12 ounces pasta (rigatoni or spaghetti)
- 8 ounces burrata cheese
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Meat Sauce: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the pan and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain excess fat if necessary to keep the sauce from becoming greasy.
- Add Tomato Elements and Seasonings: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes to deepen the flavor. Then, add the crushed tomatoes along with dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes if using, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Simmer the Sauce: Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop richness and allow flavors to meld. For an even richer taste, you can extend simmering up to one hour.
- Cook the Pasta: While the sauce simmers, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta thoroughly once cooked.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Toss the drained pasta with the meat sauce ensuring every piece is well coated with the flavorful sauce.
- Serve and Garnish: Divide the pasta among serving bowls. Place a generous piece of burrata cheese on top of each serving. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese immediately before serving.
Notes
- For a richer, more developed flavor, simmer the meat sauce for up to an hour instead of 20–30 minutes.
- Burrata cheese is best served at room temperature; remove it from the refrigerator while the sauce simmers to allow it to soften.
- If burrata is unavailable, fresh mozzarella is a suitable substitute though the texture and creaminess differ.
