Pasta Meat Sauce for Two: Quick, Flavorful, and Perfect for Small Dinners
Pasta meat sauce for two is rich in flavor, and simple to make. It’s just the right size for small households and perfect to serve on pasta night.
Pasta is the ultimate easy dinner, and homemade sauce makes it even better. In this simple pasta sauce, ground beef, garlic and fresh basil create a rich, hearty flavor that compliments any pasta perfectly. It’s comforting, delicious, and is easy to make. Pair it with garlic bread or a simple salad for a complete meal. Perfect for busy nights when you want something homemade but simple.
Why you will love this recipe
- Quick and Easy! This recipe can be made in under an hour.
- Flavor! Even though it’s a quick sauce to make, it’s packed with flavor.
What you Will Need
This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make this recipe and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredient List
- Any combination of canned diced tomatoes, strained tomatoes or tomato sauce
- Onion
- Ground beef
- Basil
- Garlic
How to make meat sauce for two
Step 1: Heat olive oil in a heavy pot of medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the garlic and onions. Cook for a minute or two until they begin to soften. Add the ground beef and cook until the meat is almost cooked through.
Step 2: Add the tomatoes or tomato sauce and reduce the heat to low heat. Simmer for 20 minutes, add the fresh chopped basil, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes longer.
Step 3. Stir in the chopped basil and simmer for a few minutes longer.
Recipe variations
Vegetables – Add some veggies such as diced carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, or mushrooms to the sauce.
Herbs and spices – Change up the flavor and add dried or fresh oregano or a bay leaf.
Spicy – Add a dash of red pepper flakes.
Meat – Replace ground beef with any combination of ground pork, ground turkey, ground chicken, or sausage.
Vegetarian– Replace the meat with diced portobello mushrooms and chopped walnuts along with diced veggies of your choice.
Serving suggestions
Serve this tasty meat sauce over your favorite pasta and a salad. You can also use meat sauce to make baked ziti. Mix a quarter to half cup of ricotta cheese with pasta and sauce, top with mozzarella cheese and bake it until the cheese melts.
How to store leftovers
If you end up with leftovers, once the sauce has cooled to room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge for up to four days. For longer storage, freeze it in a sealed container for up to three months. Thaw the frozen sauce in the refrigerator overnight before using.
Make ahead tips
This recipe is great for making ahead. Cook the meat and seasonings early, then just add the sauce and simmer when you’re ready. Alternatively, you can fully prepare the sauce while making another dish and store it in the fridge until needed.
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Cooking for Two Tips
Make cooking for two easy with these tips and tricks.
Recipe FAQs
You can use diced tomatoes, with a little tomato paste to make this recipe. You can also use tomato sauce or strained tomatoes. I like to use a combination of strained tomatoes and diced tomatoes.
If there is an excess amount of fat in the pan, it’s a good idea to drain it from the meat. If you use lean ground beef (90/10) you may not need to drain the fat.
Tips for making the best meat sauce
- Control the sodium content and use low sodium tomatoes and add salt to taste while cooking, but go lightly as salt intensifies as the sauce simmers.
- If the sauce is too tangy, adjust the acidity by adding a small pinchof sugar or baking soda.
- Add depth of flavor to your meat sauce with a dash of balsamic vinegar or worcesershire sauce.
- If the sauce is too thin, simmer longer or stir in tomato paste.
- If the sauce is too thick add water, wine or tomato sauce.
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 pound ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1/2 cup onion
- 14 ounces diced tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a heavy pot over medium heat. Once hot, add 2 cloves garlic and 1/2 cup onion. Cook for a few minutes until they begin to soften. Add 1/4 pound ground beef and cook until the beef is almost cooked through.
- Stir in the tomatoes and reduce to low heat. Simmer for 20 minutes and add the chopped basil, cook for at least 10 minutes longer.
