20-Minute Fresh Tomato Meat Sauce Pasta

This easy meat sauce pasta is one of my go-to dinners for busy weeknights. It comes together quickly with ground beef, fresh tomatoes, tomato sauce, garlic, and pasta—and it’s something my whole family actually enjoys.

I season the ground beef with 7 spice and a touch of cinnamon because that’s how my mom always made meat sauce growing up, and now it’s how I make it for my family.

I also use Barilla Protein+ pasta for an easy boost of protein, but you can use whatever pasta your family enjoys. No need to sneak vegetables into the sauce or blend cottage cheese into it to make it a “better” dinner. Sometimes dinner can just be simple, satisfying, and something everyone actually wants to eat.

Servings: 5–6
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15–20 minutes
Total Time: About 20–25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound Barilla Protein+ pasta, or pasta of choice

• 1 pound lean ground beef

• 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus a little extra for the pasta

• 1 small yellow onion, diced

• 2–3 cloves garlic, minced

• 2–3 ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped

• 1½–2 cups Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon 7 spice

• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• Salt, to taste

• Black pepper, to taste

• Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water.

2. While the pasta cooks, add the fresh tomatoes to a blender and blend until mostly smooth. Set aside.

3. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, until it begins to soften.

4. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.

5. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, 7 spice, and cinnamon. Cook until the beef is browned and cooked through.

6. Pour the blended fresh tomatoes into the skillet, followed by the Rao’s marinara sauce. Stir everything together and let the sauce simmer for several minutes so the flavors come together.

7. Once the pasta is al dente, reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta.

8. Return the drained pasta to the pot and drizzle with a little olive oil. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water and toss over low heat for about 1–2 minutes, until the pasta is glossy and the liquid is mostly absorbed.

9. Add the prepared meat sauce to the pasta and toss until everything is well coated.

10. Serve warm with freshly grated Parmesan on top.