Description
Grandma’s Meat Sauce Pasta with Burrata is a comforting Italian-American classic featuring a rich, slow-simmered meat sauce made from ground beef and pork, enhanced with aromatic herbs and spices. Served over your choice of rigatoni or spaghetti and topped with creamy burrata cheese and fresh basil, this hearty dish delivers a perfect balance of savory flavors and creamy textures, ideal for family dinners or cozy gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Pasta & Toppings
- 1 pound pasta (rigatoni or spaghetti recommended)
- 8 ounces fresh burrata cheese
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute to release its flavor.
- Brown the meat: Add the ground beef and ground pork to the pot. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Cook until the meat is browned and cooked through, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks to ensure even browning.
- Add tomato paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes with the meat and aromatics. This step deepens the sauce’s flavor by caramelizing the paste slightly.
- Combine tomatoes and herbs: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Add dried oregano, dried basil, sugar, and chopped fresh parsley. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer the sauce: Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. This helps to thicken the sauce and meld the flavors beautifully.
- Cook pasta: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the meat sauce. Toss together gently, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce and help it coat the pasta evenly.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and top with torn pieces of fresh burrata cheese. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and garnish with fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- For a richer depth of flavor, simmer the sauce for up to 1 hour instead of 30-45 minutes.
- Ground turkey can be used as a leaner substitute, or use only ground beef depending on preference.
- Add burrata cheese just before serving to preserve its creamy texture and freshness.
