For dinner the other night I was really craving some pasta. (gotta love carbs in the winter). So I decided to make a penne pasta with meat sauce. It is so tasty, and you can prepare the sauce and let it sit in the crock-pot all day, and then just make the pasta when you are ready for dinner!
Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce
1-1 1/2 lbs ground beef (or ground turkey)
1 box of penne (use whatever you like)
1 green pepper
1 sweet onion
1 jar of your favorite tomato sauce
1 can of diced tomatoes
2-3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
salt and pepper
*it's also good to have some seasonings like basil and garlic salt on hand
1. Diced up your pepper and onion. In a small frying pan heat the olive oil and garlic over medium heat until the garlic starts to cook through a little (you don't want it to burn). Add the pepper and onion and sauté about 5 minutes. Set aside.
2. Brown your beef and drain. In your crock-pot, pour in the jar of sauce, the can of tomatoes, the sauteed onion and pepper, and the meat. Mix well. Season with salt, pepper, basil, and garlic salt. Let sit in crock-pot on low heat for about 4 hours, stirring occasionally.
3. When you are ready, cook your pasta and combine with sauce. Top with some fresh grated parmesan and serve with a side of crusty Italian bread.
4. Enjoy!
*if you do not have time to utilize the crock-pot, I have made this dish just by heating the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes on the stove in a sauce pan, and then adding in the peppers, onions, and meat once they were cooked. If you let it all heat on the stove about 20 minutes over low heat it will still get a delicious flavor!
Alternative options- I utilized the Barilla Plus pasta when I made my penne. It has fiber, omega 3, and protein. This is a good alternative pasta for people who hate whole-wheat pasta (my dad).
However, this dish is delicious when prepared with whole wheat pasta and turkey meat, and also lower in calories!
*the sauteed power greens came together in a bag from A&P. It includes spinach, kale, and red chard. They are sauteed in olive oil and salt and pepper over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Delicious!
Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce
1-1 1/2 lbs ground beef (or ground turkey)
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| My favorite options |
1 green pepper
1 sweet onion
1 jar of your favorite tomato sauce
1 can of diced tomatoes
2-3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
salt and pepper
*it's also good to have some seasonings like basil and garlic salt on hand
1. Diced up your pepper and onion. In a small frying pan heat the olive oil and garlic over medium heat until the garlic starts to cook through a little (you don't want it to burn). Add the pepper and onion and sauté about 5 minutes. Set aside.
2. Brown your beef and drain. In your crock-pot, pour in the jar of sauce, the can of tomatoes, the sauteed onion and pepper, and the meat. Mix well. Season with salt, pepper, basil, and garlic salt. Let sit in crock-pot on low heat for about 4 hours, stirring occasionally. 
3. When you are ready, cook your pasta and combine with sauce. Top with some fresh grated parmesan and serve with a side of crusty Italian bread.4. Enjoy!
*if you do not have time to utilize the crock-pot, I have made this dish just by heating the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes on the stove in a sauce pan, and then adding in the peppers, onions, and meat once they were cooked. If you let it all heat on the stove about 20 minutes over low heat it will still get a delicious flavor!
Alternative options- I utilized the Barilla Plus pasta when I made my penne. It has fiber, omega 3, and protein. This is a good alternative pasta for people who hate whole-wheat pasta (my dad).
However, this dish is delicious when prepared with whole wheat pasta and turkey meat, and also lower in calories!
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| Penne pasta with meat sauce and a side of sauteed power greens. Yum! |
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